Top Ten Knifemaking Tools for the Beginner 

I am an older guy, (78) and trying to get back to knife making. I am finding out that it is not like riding a bike, not for me anyway. Your videos are just the thing that I need to help me get back to where I was twenty five years ago.I remember helping some new makers along the way. One of those is now a master blade smith. I remember helping him building his first forge. His first knives were much better than most makers here in south Louisiana at that time. In any event, now that I can watch your videos, falling off of the bike is a little easier now. Denis De Priest.

I made knives for years with a 1x30 belt sander from harbor freight.... I have a 2x72 now, and I still the small one, great tool for $40

I really appreciate the way you make your videos Mr. Sorrells. You don't talk down to the beginner, but you give enough information that your viewers do learn a lot. Thanks a lot for yet another very informative video.

In 2004 I was stationed in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait when I got deployed. I worked 12 hour nightshifts in the Operation Center for a year with every other Wed night off. I got R&R about 5 months in, and mailed a bunch of basic tools back to myself. I ordered a piece of 1095 2"x18" from Jantz, and when I got back in country went to work every morning for a couple hours on a big bowie knife. I had a radio operator who was in an Engineering Battalion. I would go over and work on it everyday, then I used their cutting torch to differential heat treat it. I ended up welding the tangs on so I could have a second piece to build a hunting knife also. It came out awesome. I had to finish grinding it stateside because once heat treated no more files and sandpaper. 15" oal. I forged a piece of 3/4" brass round stock square to make the guard, and got frying oil from the DFAC to quench it. I had a civilian guy in the TOC working range control. I explained what I needed done and he took it home and tempered it at 350F for me in his kitchen oven. I got a piece of Black Walnut, and a piece of Mahogany (not the best but looks good)for handle from the carpenters. I bought a leather belt at the PX and made stacked leather in the handle. I made a wooden sheath for it that actually hangs on the wall with our unit shield to hold it in (hard to explain but came out great. My whole story being if you want to make it you can get it done just use your imagination to solve the problems.

Perfect timing, I was actually going to order my first tools in the upcoming days/weeks. Thanks for your helpful videos !

Walt is about as easy a human to listen to as there ever was. Thank you sir ! ! Will be suscribing and watching the rest of the video library.

I have been trying to get into knife making for a while but could never find a reliable educational source. Glad to say i finally found it. You are awesome!

Walter you are one in a million. Your videos are really fun and worth a lot. Thank you again and again.

I would love to hear more about this handcuff thing :D

Liking this series as I am just in the process of trying to set up... Grateful to al the 'makers who have offered start up advice and guidance. also ... Massive compliments on your work.

quick, consise, entertaining and valuable information. thank you so much! love your videos.

this is a wonderful video. thank you so much. been playin with the idea making a few knives/ other metal work and this gave me a starting point.

Great video! I will say that I would have to put the vise at the very top of the list, only because anything else you do, like filing or sawing, you must have your material secured for effective work.

I'm glad I found your channel. Great vids, very informative for rookies like me. Thanx and I look forward to watching more!

excellent video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and skills. I've learned a lot following your videos on youtube.

Thank you for taking the time to do this list.

Mr Walter I have enjoyed your tips very much thanks for the suggestions. They help a lot.

I love your videos and work Walter.Keep them coming

Fantastic video... well thought out and articulated ... I can't tell you how much I appreciate watching a video where every other word isn't someone saying basically

Such a useful video, thank you so much, just what I was looking for

Thanks Walter for making these videos! I'm a retired VN vet and this will be something to try.

A very interesting and helpful video! Thanks!

im really interested in learning to make knives and this video was a great help on where to start when it comes to tools . thank you

Nice job on this! I'm just say'n!! Good list well put together. Thanks

The best tool ever? Patience

You da man! Walter! 👊 Thanks for your awesome videos!

Great informative video thank you for sharing.

Great vids! Always lots of help. Thanks.

Thanks Sir, really informative and motivating!

great video... the first 5 tools on the list all i tend to use, i just love the feeling of doing something completely by hand. but i dont put out dozens of knives and i also dont look to make mine to very tight tolerances. all depends on what you do of course

I was able to order everything on this list for just under $600 Australian, including a belt grinder, a very low quality belt grinder, but should be good for starting out, thanks for this list man, great stuff!

This was very helpful and the examples with the handcuffs are hilarious.

thank you so much for that wonderful lecture

It would be really cool if you did a knife using just the basic tools so that the beginner can see what these tools are capable of with a skilled hand. I suppose that would be super time consuming though,..

downtime while deployed has allowed me to become a fan of all your videos. Thanks! ~John

Very informative and to the point. Thank you sir.

After going back through your extensive list of videos and catching up to current I only have one comment which would apply to all of them... Thank you Mr Sorrells! Thank you for sharing your extensive knowledge and dry wit with all of us. I have seen a lot of videos from different knife makers and there are some really good ones around, but everyone has a different style and some are going to strike a chord more than others... Just sayin' :-) Would love to see how you would go about making a folder if you get bored or stuck for ideas for more videos. In all seriousness though, you have my very genuine thanks for sharing with us.

GREAT info! Thanks!!!

Very useful video, thanks!

You're a legend mate appreciate your videos alot

Super helpful video. I have zero skills in this arena but it actually seems learnable!

With the belt grinder , made quite a few knives with a 1x30 belt grinder from Harbor Freight . Had to improvise a longer platen , but with 40 grit belts , it works like a charm .

Great info. Keep the videos coming. Someday I'd like to make a knife.

You have convinced me to start knife making. You are knowledgeable, entertaining and I would pay to spend a day with you

I have a KMG and a Wilmont. The KMG is a tank and best for beginners and as a good fall back grinder . The Wilmont is a beast loaded with options and can nearly anything except make lunch. Love 'em both

Top video. Many thanks. Kevin.

Fun informative video, thanks

Awesome informational educational video experience Y'alls and Hey you guys

Walter Sorrells it seems is a natural born teacher. He uses deliberate and exacting language that leaves no question in the viewers mind what he's talking about. There are a lot of people who teach that get too much satisfaction from leaving a person feeling they know something you don't. That's not a good teacher. I don't get anything like that from this gentleman. I do have a question only because I'm wondering what's sandpaper, the most useful item in almost any kind of shop, if not a tool?

Great advice

A great video once again and really helps knife making newbies like myself ~Peace~

I just subscribed to your channel, I am trying to get a small operation going. You and Jason Knight have both shown me I can get going pretty easily. I have a lofty goal in mind, I want to eventually be a master bladesmith, but having never made a blade I have a long way to go.

Thanks your videos are special 🙏👌

Thanks, very helpful.

Very informative.

Tks Walt that helps a lot.

great stuff sir !!!

Hey Walter! I've been watching your videos for a while now and just started making my knives this summer. I am on a small property and don't have a shop or shed so my only option right now is using an angle grinder for stock removal and cleaning up my forged blades. Can you please make a video with any tips for using an angle grinder for making a knife? Any input on where to put the angle grinder down and pick up the file for pricison work? I have a pretty steady hand and am getting the trick of grinding evenly with the tool but making bevels with the angle grinder can be hell. Absolutely any advice would be amazing!

You got a new subscriber for the delivery of the handcuff joke.

I started out making my first knives with a flat file. I think it was a valuable experience and recommend it on at least a couple of blades.

Hi Walter, thank you so much for your video/s! I've started building up my tools. There's lots of bargains to be had if you look around. I was wondering if you have any hidden tang knife videos?

Great video, thx!

Just need the belt grinder....but to add to your clamps collection: Snap clamps by Vise Grip/Irwin. LOVE those clamps in my welding shop.

Great video Walter, Ill also ad that if one hits auctions those prices can be had for 2/3 less and end up with higher quality tools. Even seen a Bader at one!

I concur Walt. A project is appreciated more if it's made by hand with fewer electric tools. Nice video.

You are good at videos buddy. Makes me feel like I can do this.

Hi Walter, firstly thank you for your great video's. In this particular clip you mentioned that machinist's get upset when you call a drill a bit. In Australia it's the opposite, a drill bit is a 'bit' not a drill. Anyhow this is of no real consequence. So I thank you for your awesome videos. You do some great work and I love watching your video's.

Ty love videos my son 14 wants to try making knives. He has been mig welding since 12. Ty

Thank you sir! You're a badass 👍🏼. Subscribed!

Thanks, great video. And yes, you are right, the 2x72 is a must!!!! My 1x30 just is NOT doing the job, but it has to suffice until I can afford the grinder of choice. Just not sure which one will suit my needs best. Oh, and the handcuff reference was awesomely comical. Fell off the chair on that one.

Lovely video, for a cheaper belt sander I had a 1x30" belt sander which for me works fine, and costs about $60 which is a bargin. Probably not a tool designed for metal but for a beginner it works great

I built the revolution belt grinder from brian house at house works, did it in steps, the laser cut steel chassis, then the wheel kits, the motor and vfd, I started forging a year ago

Sage advice for all. I would only add that a good quality used item is a better buy than a non descripti cheap import. Garage sales and markets are solid hunting ground. Nothing bought new has the same buzz as finding a diamond in the rough at a yard sale!

thank you sir Walter

Made a visit to your website, you do beautiful work. I only wish I could afford tamahagane, one of yours would be perfect for my practice.

Perfect list. Start where you are and eventually you will have a world class workspace. Same goes for all disciplines of handcraft.

That handcuff 'joke' (Though I suspect it wasn't) got you a new subscriber from down under. Good stuff, mate.

Very helpfull

Your videos are INCREDIBLE and so helpful. Can you tell me what kind of Hand Drill you have in this video. I've found alot of cheap plastic ones but the one in your video is all metal!

Mr. Sorrells. your videos are full of great information. Would you be willing to recommend some places we can get our blades heat treated at?

belt grinder has been on my wishlist for a long time

Hi, I am trying to start in this hobby, nice video for me, you mentioned the treated oven, what type and about how much. Cheers.

I made a knife yesterday (still needs heat treat) and I only used a drill press, bench grinder, hacksaw, and a file. And I hand-beveled the edges with the file. I mean, this is my first knife so I'd say it turned out well. Your videos taught me a lot.

great vid

I am constantly being impressed by Walter's videos. Great style, authoritative content. I do think there was an important oversight with the making of this video, however. I think that a very high priority should be given to safety equipment, and yet no mention here. Otherwise, though, I am, as ever, impressed.

Thanks for another great video Walter! Your instruction has been e big help for me starting this new hobby. I have watched all of them at least twice. By the way, did you record this while it was raining this weekend? I was in ATL and it was pouring Sunday! Thanks again!!!!

Thanks for sharing your expertise knowledge Walter What about an oven for tempering i.e. heat treating the metal , can the beginner get away with the wife oven in the kitchen ?

Hi, Walt, my congrats, nice report, hu ! anyway for an accurate capliper I suggest an analogic mabe by Mauser, the rifle factory.. ;-)

A old blown radiator hose or other arge automotive hoses work great for a beginner knife maker for a soft jaw vise cover. And as terrible sacrilege as it sounds harbor freight has cheap abrasives ... just remember you get what you pay for ....but they do work for beginners and it has an overwhelming amount of styles and grits usually in stock.. I know that's how I started doing my knife making. Also I want to thank you, I love your videos. You are a very informative and intelligent individual that inspires me and I'm sure many others in their knife working endeavors.

I got myself a little 1inch by 30 belt sander pretty cheap brand new for 70 its great for light small knife work

Thank you

This channel is really good :)

U inspire me master!!!

the 4x36 belt grinder is a GREAT alternative to the 2x72 for about 1/5 the price for a high quality one, though you may have to eopxy a plate on it for a grinding surface

Yeah right, your son's 'friend'. Really good and informative video as usual. I'm really thinking of getting into making knifes just from watching your videos.

Once I bought my 2x72 EVERYTHING got so much better. I will add if you spend the money for a nice 2x72, might as well go all out and get one that is 3 phase with a VFD. Being able to adjust the speed from full stop to wide open with a quick turn of a potentiometer is so key. Also flipping get a switch a reverse the belt is kind of nice for when I sharpen on my grinder. Mine is made by Pheer Grinders and was $1870 shipped with a 10" rubber contact wheel, flat platen, 2hp Baldor motor, and a kbac27d VFD.

Yeh thanks for the videos and for not talking down to us. And yeh also how great your shop is.

Belt sander in a vice worked for my first few knives

Thanks for valuable information Mr. Sorrels. I was working near the Turkish knifemaster as chief for 1 year. I found your youtube account after than I am improving my knifesmith skills . I want to ask a question about the hamon. I wonder about compononts of clay for hamon. And which steel types for usefull for this? If it's possible could you make a video for hamon. Have a nice days.

Your obviously a professional so I understand where you are coming from with this list. It sounds more like a dream list to beginners on a budget, my list as I happen to fall into that category would be a 1 dremel tool ( I have cut out whole blades from old saw blades with the cut wheels) obviously the sanding and shaping possibilities are unlimited. 2 angle grinder most have two handle holes and the ability to move the guard this makes them awesome for rigging a table top type saw that works pretty good at rough shaping, the grinding disks can also be used if you create a rig for beveling would be nice to have two or three angle grinders to not have to always reconfigure for other tasks. 3 a hand held belt sander works wonders it also can be used in rigs my issue is it ruins the belts too fast, this is why he says a large belt grinder is ideal I just don't see a beginner running out and dropping 2gs on one. 4 clamps he is right you can never have enough, I love the quick ones he shows but I have had several break on me.5 sand paper 6 a chop saw or table saw assuming you start with wood handles I have both but haven't used them with metal cutting blades yet supposedly you can. 7 a jig saw I want one I don't have one yet but they are cheap and I imagine you can use them or a band or scrolling saw to do just about anything with the right blades 8 files are great but I would use them as material if your starting or old saw blades. 9 trusty old corded drill or two 10 imagination to rig up or make what you do have work. also safety first I said it's possible to alter more common tools to achieve the results you need but always always always put safety first.