Making A Knife From Knives

[@virtusleather]

I think neil K said it best, make what YOU want to make and put it for sale. I make leather goods and I learned early that custom for clients is soooo stressfull and takes the joy out of it a bit. Make what YOU'RE passionate about, put it for sale and see how it goes. Just my 2 cents

[@JPsBladeworks]

I get plenty of comission builds asked for but i turn them down. I dont do this for a living currently. I do make some money so its hard to call it a hobby but the lasting i want to do is make something i dont want to make if you get what i mean.

[@virtusleather]

@ Yeah I hear ya bro. I started in wallets and have moved to heritage boots. To answer your question, I guess maybe $175-250USD for a non damascus knife, I know thats not high, but its real.

[@JPsBladeworks]

@virtusleather i think thats reasonable pricing if im doing batch work. One offs its harder to justify price.

[@jpatte55]

I would spend between $100‐$500 for a good knife. A good knife is worth every penny. Last you a lifetime if propery cared for.

[@JPsBladeworks]

Eaxactly. Unless your a butcher then it might not last as long. Have you seen bearded butchers? Them guys go through those knives in months.

[@CSMMaster]

Agree with @jpatte55. Would be willing to spend more to have a couple Damascus pieces for the larger blades.

[@jamesseegars57]

You should try mixing materials for your next canister. Try fishhook, ball bearings and something else. Should make a crazy pettern

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thats a cool idea. Maybe in a month or so since i have a lot of project already started.

[@KimP0612]

Beautiful. Interesting distribution of the different metals.

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thank you

[@osirisatot19]

That pattern is incredible! I get what you mean about wanting a power hammer, I don't have one or a press so I can't do nearly as much damascus as I'd like because it all has to be done by hand.

[@JPsBladeworks]

I can't imagine doing damascus by hand. Just the thought gets my arm sore.

[@osirisatot19]

@@JPsBladeworks I have only done it three times, and with somewhat small canisters. Two of them have meteorite in them so I haven't hammed them out to shape yet because I'm scared of messing up something that I'm over 500 dollars deep into for materials alone.

[@JPsBladeworks]

@osirisatot19 thats crazy. I havent tried meteorite yet.

[@Lvl90Shadowknight]

Paperclips, they can probably be used in a canister, and would maybe be making an interesting pattern. Combine different sized clips, different shaped clips, etc

[@JPsBladeworks]

I have some but they are single size. I am.planing to do a canister with them

[@TheCheeseManIsComingForYou]

@@JPsBladeworks Are they made out of a hardenable steel?

[@aviweisbach7816]

Another very nice knife. Initially I was really surprised by the pattern, but then I remembered you talking about how the blades tended to stack up after compressing them in the canister which kind of explains the raindrop-ish pattern. In any case, awesome result.

[@JPsBladeworks]

I was surprised as well. I expected more straightforward lines but it ended up looking like a highish layer damascus that what i figured it would look like.

[@brandonneverun1678]

Caffeine and JP is my Sunday morning ritual!!!!! I love everything that you do, my friend!!!!

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thank you. I just woke up myself and im about to get some caffeine in myself because the days are short in winter and lots must be done.

[@jahurtadon]

I'm sure you have a lot of scap canister material that'll be a cool build specially if you put the pieces in a pattern before hand.

[@JPsBladeworks]

I have plenty of scraps but i never thought of doing that. It sounds interesting.

[@dagnard5707]

good morning JP. just an idea for you. a Christmas knife. use those razor blade and break them apart first section a single piece, then 2 pieces so on and son. canoe canister and make them into tree pattern and maybe tiny ball bearing. amazing work love the pattern. when marking your pin hole i have started using a drill bit with the center spike. for more mono EDCs my pricing start at 60 for stock removal and 125 for a forged one. Merry Christmas to you and yours JP

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thank you for the advice and Merry Christmas to you and yours as well. I appreciate you.

[@bodiejay2859]

Beautiful knife J.P. Love the pattern. It came out great. ~Kevin

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thanks Kevin. I appreciate it.

[@MASI_forging]

The knife looks cool 👍👍

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thank you

[@peterskey8155]

Looking great JP❤❤

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thank you

[@CSMMaster]

I wonder what would happen if you tried using a collection of keys, brass, steel, etc? The crazy shapes that could be generated have my mind swirling.

[@JPsBladeworks]

If its metal i can do it. I cant really with brass or copper because it will melt before i reach forging temp for the steel so it will just turn into a blob

[@CSMMaster]

All good 👍🏻 I wondered how the variance in metals might mess with things. I’m still game with your crazy ideas and concepts. Too many of them are pieces I’d love to have in my own collection 🤣 For me, performance is much more important than appearance. If a quality of blade could be produced that was also appealing to my wife’s eye, I would be hard pressed to deny her the purchase of said blade (or set of blades).

[@edennis6446]

Keep on keeping on! Another Awesome build

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thank you i appreciate it

[@waylincaraway5013]

Great job man. I like both styles of video. I watch these videos because you have all the equipment to make knives and its easier to watch you make these videos then for me to buy all this stuff. Either way man youre getting much better as a blade smith. Knives are looking awesome.

[@fayvis]

I did not expect that pattern! Love the vids as always :)

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thank you. I also did not expect that psttern. I had to double check i didnt get my billets mixed up half way through the process.

[@michaelcrouse9334]

Have you heard about a Trex/dinosaur pattern? Alex Steele did a video on it. I would love to see you experiment with something like that. Though being a nerd, I would LOVE to see a Mythosaur (Mandalorain Skull) pattern one.

[@JPsBladeworks]

Is it the one they did a Stegosaurus on a few years ago? That would be cool. Definitely possible with an Edm machine. I might have to look into the cost of getting stuff cut on one of those.

[@andrewworley8946]

Here from the UK: Exchange @ 1.3 USD/GBP, shipping/import taxes not included. For a monosteel knife $150 - 200 depending on size/handle material. Low count Damascus (50?) $250 - 300 again depending. Hi-count/ladder/raindrop/tile by negotiation 😊

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate it

[@michaelplowman8674]

Not sure if they are made of hardenable material, but metal dice could make for a cool pattern in a fantasy style knife.

[@JPsBladeworks]

Not sure either

[@paullmight42]

that pattern came out great

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thank you

[@paranoiia8]

Great looking peace(that simple wood handle... nice). And congrats of getting that sanding machine :D After some time people realize how helpful it is for your hands. As for price of custom knife... Right now market for custom knifes is not super saturated but still its mostly run by super high prices art works that scare off most of people that often rather pick chinese made low quality knifes just because "they look cool"(read: laser printed Damascus pattern). Or pick more expensive german/japanese knife that have tad better steel but its just generic kitchen tool that still its in range of 100-180$. For average person its max what they will spend for kitchen knife, so when they see custom made knife for 400+ dollars they turn around saying NOPE. So right now only people that collect knifes or people that want that special knife will look at custom made one and still will look at 250-400 price range in the first place. BUT... even here its hard to go for custom when you have knifes from good companies that sell high end kitchen knifes in premium build quality and steel. Eden, Kai shun with their VG-max, Miyabi by Zwilling with MC63/MC66 powdered steel. All at average price of 300-400, good damascus patterns, premium build and most important, easy to get all around the world So yeah, its hard to push your custom product in that market. You have choice of making great peace of art that NEED to cost 500-700 bucks to be profitable for you and wait year or two to sell it, make quick simple random damascus knife with basic shape and wood handle for 200-300 and compete with premium knifes from big companies. Or make super simple basic knifes for 150 from materials you have lying around and compete with massive market of cheap kitchen knives from amazon/temu... its a mess. What small makers can do really is to pack their knives in nice box, find shops around their area to sell it or post them in bigger sites that sell custom work like ETSY, as own site is nice but... it will not work, as people will never find you like that. Etsy is not perfect but it will bring wider audience to you. Its just hard to advise anything else really unless you want to drop price so low that you end with 0 profits, build name and market for yourself and then slowly bump prices... there is not guarantee that it will work and it will take you years to make :/

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thanks for the feedback. I agree for the average person anything above a $500 mark is insane to pay for a knive. I know that i find it hard myself getting money together to buy from another maker. I would much rather spend that kinda money on more tools. I think the sweet spot is that $200 to $300 range and building up a client list and brand. As for now i figured its better to not try to spend time making knives that might sell and concentrate on building up my youtube brand and hoepfully having an audience that would by my product in the near future. Thats been my plan at least. KZbin asdsense pays me for ny videos and while not very lucrative it does provide for my builds while i keep expanding my reach. And i think that is a slow but safe way to go about it.

[@matts7653]

60% of the time. It works, every time. 2:55

[@JPsBladeworks]

Truer words have never been spoken

[@old-fashionedcoughypot]

Double edge and/or injector razor blades with ball bearings and carpet tacks thrown in the mix for fun?

[@Frie_Jemi]

I would ask, have you considered the homemade treadle hammer 🔨? Easy frame, a big sledge.. some trampoline springs and some linkage. You can really do some serious work with one and it's a lot quieter than a big power hammer

[@JPsBladeworks]

My space it limited so a slege treadle isn't something im wanting. Also i cant something powered because i also need to cut down on work time anywhere i can. Thats why i invested in the sand shark sanding machine. I definitely do want to get something eventually though

[@robertbourke7935]

Lovely work.

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thank you

[@mgmcd1]

Will your shop floor be able to support a power hammer? The slab needs to be thicker than a standard floor.

[@JPsBladeworks]

Not anything big. Probably like a 50lb max or if i put it on some 4 x 4s to mitigate the force.

[@michaelzsizseri8015]

Really enjoy watching your videos being a heavy collision man in body work all my life. I enjoy watching people make things from metal. Your craft is awesome. 🎄🔪🙏

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thank you. I also like seeing people just make stuff. I think its very interesting.

[@Wildkirblet]

could i get some info on the specs of your most recent press? ive been looking to make one of my own and i would like to see what you used.

[@JPsBladeworks]

Sure thing. I might just make an update video on it and go over what i would do differently.

[@Wildkirblet]

@@JPsBladeworks thank you so much!

[@KageStelhman]

You could get a rolling mill as opposed to a power hammer just a thought

[@JPsBladeworks]

Ive been thinking about that too. The one Tyrell Knifeworks has seems to be very useful in his shop.

[@KimP0612]

I have a question, what is more expensive, belts for grinders or wheels for the angle grinder?

[@JPsBladeworks]

Belts run me around $10 to $20 a belt depending on what i need. Grinder Grinder wheels i cant say off the top of my head. I buy bulk whenever harbor frieght has a deal and pay pretty cheap for them.

[@alyssacatanese7222]

Some folks can spend 100 dollars on knifes ,don’t have to be perfect just well built to do the job

[@JPsBladeworks]

$100 knife would definitely not be perfect but it would be well built. A good quality steel and a good hardwood handle material.

[@AaronBosterMD]

🔥🔥

[@JPsBladeworks]

🙏🙏🙏

[@K_Factor_Random]

I’d be in on a mono steel Ko Bunka style knife 5.25” to 5.50” blade hidden tang with oval or octagonal handle. $60-$80 range.( comment made understanding the question asked was about viewers spending range and not a judgement on your talent and perceived value of that talent.)

[@JPsBladeworks]

There are makers that sell knives at that price but they tend to be production and not hand made. Sometimes they have them made else where and just sell them as their design. At some point i hope my brand can sell the quality of my knive and i dont have to do all the work myself but i will specificy that if the time ever comes I sell so much i cant keep up by myself. That would be cool though.

[@K_Factor_Random]

@ completely understood. You do awesome work and you are worth every penny you ask for your work.

[@APs.Custom.knives]

I sell my 10.5-inch "CAMP" knives for 150 usd with a leather sheath. Im an unknown maker so with that said i would think any chef knife base cost would start at 150 minimum. I would pay whatever i could afford at the time for a good knife anywhere from 100 to 1000 depending

[@JPsBladeworks]

The 10.5 in is including handle?

[@denniswaller7514]

How about trying some screw driver bits

[@EK--ry3lr]

Nice video again. No clue what a knife costs but good luck

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thank you

[@j.c.5480]

*Shoves hand into a bowl of razor blades* "Remember, kids, safety first!"

[@JPsBladeworks]

It was sketchy 😬

[@diegomartinez7180]

To your question: for a knife to cut my everyday greens and stuff, I'd pay no more than $30, and that's if the steel is really good. BUT, here's the thing... your knifes are hand-made craftsman's works of art. How much would you pay for a work of art? well, that's very, very subjective. If it's the type of art that you really like, you'll be eager to pay a lot more, so there'd be people only willing to pay just a bit more than the price of a mass-production knife and then there'd be the people who would bid for that thing and pay whatever amount for it.

[@JPsBladeworks]

I used to use $5 knives from Walmart myself. Once i started to get into knife making and learning the differences in steel and qualities I started to make my own and now i use my own and it is worlds apart from the cheap stuff but i could buy 100 cheap knives for one good knife. I want to make knives people like to use but that are more affordable than the high end stuff but is still reasonable to be hand made or semi hand made in America. That sweet spot is the difficult thing to get down.

[@ghose0809]

Have you made a knife from grade 8 or higher bolts?

[@JPsBladeworks]

There is higher than grade 8?

[@ghose0809]

@JPsBladeworks I'm not sure, not an expert on bolts, just think that would make an interesting pattern 🤔

[@JPsBladeworks]

@@ghose0809 i could give it a try

[@ghose0809]

@@JPsBladeworks I'd be very interested to see the results!

[@michaelyedlowski6674]

Beautiful blade. I dont really know what pattern i expected from the blades but that definitely wasn't it. 😂

[@JPsBladeworks]

Me either. For some reason i expexted random straight and squiggly lines. Im working on on made of chainsaw chains and i though i had mixed up my billets 🤣

[@michaelyedlowski6674]

@JPsBladeworks 🤣. That would make sense. I bet the chainsaw blade will look awesome

[@chrisb5986]

Get a power hammer! Nobody says "I wish I did not get the tool to automate my labor."

[@chrisferguson1911]

Try filling up a canister with scrap cutoffs from previous builds. 🤷‍♂️

[@JPsBladeworks]

I have a big 4 x 4 canister waiting to get a good amount of steel together.

[@Rysaber]

What I'm willing to pay is something different from what I can afford are two different things. I would pay for a good mono carbon steel blade around $200. What I can afford is much less than that. Don't under price yourself or your time. Make your stuff reasonable, and it will sell.

[@JPsBladeworks]

Yea, i have plenty of pieces i couldn't afford. Or maybe couldn't afford isnt the right phrasing. I cant justify to spend the money on since im not a collector. I would like to make consitently $200 to $300 if i could reasonably make 5 a week and they all sold. But for now thats really not feasible. One day i hope to though.

[@krissteel4074]

Knife pricing is very hard, mostly because of the time involved in making anything you've got to get back some money for the hours invested which for me at least, its often not even going to crack minimum wage + the materials if you're not careful. There are people who do that though- they work at Victorinox and Wusthof! As serious as getting a good product in someone's hand for a great price, you can't give out too many favours because in between all the family members and friends that want a knife you'll end up broke. This kind of thing doing all the steps between start to finish isn't something anyone can do, anyone can do it if they spend thousands on tools and hundreds of hours can, but they don't and you do so get paid. There are a lot of fantastic tool, carbon and stainless steels out there which become a whole other animal in the hands of a knife maker compared to a manufacturer. The best ones, yes they cost a lot too!

[@JPsBladeworks]

I agree. I personally dont make money in my knives right now. Just on ads youtube pays me and while that covers my cost to make the knives i also dont want to give away a $500 knife for a $100 because that will lower the price of my work too much. I dont have to make a huge profit, but im also not planning on giving away my work for pennies on the dollar just to get rid of it. I have pride in my work to a certain extent. I had a guy off me $100 for my jelly roll knife the other day, and i felt insulted. I had more than that in materials on that knife 🤣

[@russelljones1986]

I would be interested in buying a knife from you. It would be a gift for my son. I ruined a knife trying to sharpen it. Actually it had chips in it. I ground them out, but could not get it razor sharp afterwards

[@JPsBladeworks]

Sometimes i have issues sharpening knives myself. When that happens i go to my brothers house. For some reason that man can sharpen anything and always gets a razor sharp edge when i somehow cant. I still have much to learn myself hahaha

[@guillermoalfaro2714]

Hi 👋 bro?!! You're good what you do, but I wish you could make a custom knife 🔪 I know you can do it, buddy

[@JPsBladeworks]

What do you mean a custom knife?

[@Lvl90Shadowknight]

I bet this knife will make the cut

[@JPsBladeworks]

It cuts for sure

[@Lvl90Shadowknight]

@@JPsBladeworks I'll continue to post bad puns as long as I'm able to think one up

[@Menisis1]

Great blade but where's you makers mark?

[@JPsBladeworks]

I forgot to put it on. Since i lazer them on now i can do it at the end of the process 😅

[@michaelritter2180]

60 - 100 I could pay, but if it's worth it and looks cool, I would push 200

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thanks for the feedback

[@Nobe_Oddy]

When you get the metal power are you able to get different metal types and sizes?? I ask because I know the patterning comes from different types of steel coming out black in the acid as opposed to others, and you mentioned the specked looked at the SAME EXACT TIME that I said to myself "Whoa that looks cool!" And so you could always experiment with mixing up you own patterns of powders with larger dark pieces or larger light pieces... but of course you'd have to know what metal types come out light or dark.... Well, now that I think about it, they probably don't have different size powders.... every powder I've ever seen used in knife videos has been the same consistency.... So I guess you'd have to add small 'chunks' in the power... like small ball bearings or buck shot... but you'd have to experiment to see which ones turn dark or light..... All of this is in order to not just make patterns with your typical style of using random things like knife blades, or metal shavings, bolts, screw, etc.... and you could make up pre-made mixes of powders that give different 'speckle' patterns ... and use them as the fill between the larger objects.... - - OHHHHH what about copper BBs ??? they would go great inside the powder because when the melt the very first time you put it in fire, they would pretty much liquify and spread through the powder before you do the first press/forge... and they might make different patterns inside the powder..... that might actually be a great way to incorporate copper... :D

[@JPsBladeworks]

I want to do copper powder with ball bearings then make it into the outer cladding for a copper layer knife with a high carbon core. I think that would look cool

[@OldGlaseye-gf7si]

About $150-$200 for a mono-steel, nice kitchen/cooking knife.

[@JPsBladeworks]

I think thats a good price depending on how long it takes to make and what handle materials are used.

[@dalechrist5580]

Have you made any steak knives?

[@JPsBladeworks]

No not that i can recall

[@Nikolay_Pikalov]

Обычно мы ждём от вещей чтобы они были хорошего качества и долго служили нам. Можно достаточно заточить хоть кусок пластика чтобы он резал бумагу и разрисовать его как угодно, но вряд ли это можно будет назвать хорошим ножом. Попробуйте больше делать упор на качество, а не на красоту, и тогда ваша продукция получит популярность и будет продаваться.

[@nathandrouin4730]

What about keys in a canister?..house keys car keys

[@TheCheeseManIsComingForYou]

For a mono steel knife I'd pay between $100-$200.

[@JPsBladeworks]

I think $200 is a fair price for a stock removal.

[@1underground747]

$300 Khukuri/Kukri knife

[@JPsBladeworks]

I havent made on in a while. I might have to try a brute de forge one sometime

[@Nightowlsenpia]

why dont you take all your left over or failure projects and forge a long sword or a Karambit or something

[@JPsBladeworks]

I have cut offs that im saving for a big canister. Once i have enough i hope to make something cool from it.

[@graphixkillzzz]

yo, i heard you like knives, so i made u a knife from a knife so you could knife while you knife 🤣👉

[@JPsBladeworks]

Its what i do 🫡

[@adamyeoman6613]

How about make a knife out of old steel toys? Like toy tractors? They say rolled steel and instead of looking further into it, I got distracted by, let's say...birds.

[@JPsBladeworks]

Were they at least beautiful birds?

[@--PAZ--]

Second

[@JPsBladeworks]

"If you aint first your last" - Ricky Bobby

[@cecilbennett2549]

First!

[@петрпервый-й6л]

Жопа

[@JPsBladeworks]

Im proud of you

[@federicogotta201]

Copper

[@JPsBladeworks]

Ill make a copper build soon

[@Davesknives]

Hi pal , i made my own hammer..40kg..about 80lbs ram and works off my air compressor..drop me a message and i will happily run you through it

[@JPsBladeworks]

Thanks ill keep that in mind.

[@Davesknives]

@JPsBladeworks pleasure..I've got no mech or engineering background and I managed..and I'm a twit!.. Best part is it bolts into my floor and isn't a pain