Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop, Revised

I have been wanting to try my hand at making knives for a long time and did not know where to really start. I have read all sorts of forums and websites but they all say pretty much the same thing, and involves buying a lot of expensive equipment to start with. That's not something I was looking to do. I saw this book on many sites as recommended reading and decided to buy it and read over it.I like the fact that the author made a good list of things you should have in order to start making knives. But to call it a $50 knife shop is a bit of a stretch. The author explains how he pretty much lucked up and got a lot of stuff for free, got things cheap at yard sales, and already had some of the items. It cost him $50 to put his shop together 40 years ago also. Listing items you paid $50 that long ago is a little misleading. I would say this is more of a $150 knife shop if you are lucky. Fortunately, I already some of the stuff he listed.As others have stated, there is a lot of the author mentioning all of the contraptions he has built cheaply using washing machine motors and stuff like that. There are a lot of pictures, although they aren't the best quality.Overall, I would say that this book does what it is supposed to do, and that is give you a basic idea of how to put together an entry level knife making shop on a budget, It also explains the difference between different types of forges, stock removal, and gives a lot of good tips. This is not a "Exact steps to make a knife" book. It is an overview. A guide. If you go into it knowing that, I believe you will get more out of it and will not be disappointed.

This was a useful book. A lot of good basic information for the beginner. Good read.

This is not a good book, it is a great book. I have been making knives for several years and have purchased different books over that time as points of reference. I've learned different valuable things from each of the different books.The $50 Knife Shop is head and shoulders above the rest of the knife making books in my collection (with the exception of Forging and Finishing the Brut De Forge Knife by Joe Keeslar.) Get the $50 Knife Shop first, then Keeslar's book, and you'll likely need no others.The $50 Knife Shop takes you from start to finish on making a knife. It is comprehensive in that it has directions on everything from how to make a Single Brick Forge, to heat treating, grinding, making heads on pins, making a belt grinder and disc grinder, even a section on how to get a tight handle fit with a hidden tang knife using rubber bands. I always used gravity to keep my handles straight, until seeing the color photos in the book. I could go on but you probably won't read any farther, and I'm ready to get out to my shop. There are really good books available on the craft of knife making, but I recommend these two without reservation. With the $50 Knife Shop you will be able to make a very good and serviceable cutting tool. (I wrote cutting tool simply because the "K" word is more than likely offensive to some people, and may soon become politically incorrect to use.)

good ideas very well explained

I took a knifesmithing class and was suggested to buy this book as a way to continue my studies and to get started with blacksmithing. I ordered it and began reading through it.While there's useful information, my biggest complaint is how SEVERELY dated this book is.For example, ignore the idea of setting up a knife shop like his for $50. If you, like me, lack even the most basic of tools, you'll be paying a WHOLE lot more to get started. You'll also notice that some of the items suggested aren't made any longer, aren't available at that low price, and you'll need a number of tools to make some of these tools. I spent nearly $200 on just making my first functional forge after everything was said and done.Even with the problems, Wayne Goddard knows his stuff. There's a number of really good tips on finding alternatives to the "essentials", tips for heat treating, and even discussions as to how to strike the metal.It does feel a bit lacking in the "how to forge a knife" department, though.For a beginner blacksmith or bladesmith on a budget, it's a useful book to go reading through. Otherwise, you may just want to pass.

Welcome to bladesmithing - collect up your million dollar workshop and start your 20 year apprenticeship.... not what you expected?How about collect up around $200 worth of basic hand and power tools (less if you have good secondhand gear, or own a basic set of tools already) and have a go following easy to understand instructions which give you inspiration, guidance and hints of common mistakes, and how to recover from them (including keep your very first knife to remind yourself of how far you've come over the journey of your experience)This book embodies the second philosophy - the "let's have a go" and "learn in a friendly, easy environment" approach. I have a few books on the baldesmithing arts, and whilst some of the designs are not my style, the techniques and approach is well suited to someone looking for a practical introduction to the art, who is above the hollywood myths of samurai swords cutting tanks in half.

A good book full of useful information. Many knifesmiths will refer you to this book when you're just starting out. Can you set up a knife shop for $50? Probably not unless you happen upon the perfect storm of junkyards, garage sales and gimme items from your buddies. In spite of that, the book does provide a wealth of information about every aspect of knife-making. While you might not be able to pull off a knife shop for $50, the book does give plenty of ideas on how to build your own equipment at a fraction of the cost of new, factory-built equipment. Combine the technical knowledge and the ideas on building your own equipment contained in this book, and it earns a solid five-star rating.

I have been doing a lot of reading on the subject of knife making and smithing in general. I have a small home set up useing a scrap metal anvil and various hand bodged tools and a home made gas forge and I've been working away at my skills such as they are for half a year now.On reading his book I find that there is much I could have done cheaper and easier to get the same results when I started up and it has given me more info on how things go together than I was expecting. It takes an afternoon to read cover to cover.In fact in the one day and an evening after receiveing this book, I now have a serviceable long belt grinder built from odds and sods in my garage, an old bandsaw motor, some decent hardwood and a pile of channel section and angle iron were utilised along with a lawnmower wheel and an old turned down pulley. Granted I had an idea prior to getting this book as to how to build it but this book got me started and a rainy saturday in the garage has now provided me a nice 72"belt vertical grinder for stock removal. I figure a little fine tuning over tomorrow will get it to be all I need for some time to come and allow me to return the borrowed one I've had for some months.. The only non stock mechanical part is my drive wheel which is 5"x 2" turned from MDF onto a keyed flange which is driven by a three speed pulley from the motor. This will be replaced when I get a good wheel but atm it seems to work well.Not saying that the book gives exhaustive plans but it does give inspiration and enough info to build your own on the serioulsly cheap. Living in the UK however it will be a challenge to do a lot of what is itemised in here. Finding stuff in the US is a case of spit in any direction and find a supplier. Finding suppliers of anything in the uk is a chore, unlike US sourcing, the internet is very little use and trudging round industrial estates and car boot sales is the only way to go. We do not have the style of scrap yards that the americans have I've been and seen and find the general attitude of UK scap merchants to be so unhelpful where the americans will pretty much welcome you in with open arms give you a coffee then chat about what you want to find - this has been a long standing complaint of mine as I am long eperienced at trawling for "useful" stuff.This book is a guide line and the one brick forge is something I find revelationary. My first forge started as a cut off, dented calor gas can lined with kiln fibre and a home made propane burner. It took time and money to perfect albeit not that much cash. The one brick forge is a mapp gas torch and an insulating brick :D I have drilled out one such brick already and am going to try it out tomorrow.If you have any intention to start learning any sort of smith work from knives to wrought iron I'd recommend this highly. It's a get out and do it book that certainly made me get out and do it.

Fast delivery! Arrived way ahead of time! Price was great too! Information is good and easy to understand! If youve researched and have alot of knowledge on the subject you may find it less interesting but very informative and fulll of info for those who have a new found interest in the subject!

A really good insight into knife making through primitive forging,stock removal & shop forging,it really does tell you how to set up a knife shop for $50 or there abouts a brilliant read if knife making interests you

Interesting book and his project shows more than any what can be done with limited resources very well . Some good ideas and worth the download on that point . Interesting in general from the experience of a master Smith with so many years under his belt it should it be overlooked

Thanks for very good insight into this hobby. Learned a lot and now I will try my hand at making my own knife. Best regards