Any old iron?

[Pattree]

That’s the difference between a hobby and a profession. When it’s a hobby, time isn’t important. I’m in no rush to finish my knife, it’s fun to invent/reinvent things as I discover ways to do them. It’s fun to try things I’ve never done before. Frustration at failure might have been avoided by study but if I got it right first time by following convention there wouldn’t be nearly as much learning, fun or exploration.
(For me) The learning is everything.

 

[slaine_23]

Yes indeed, and after all what’s the point in for example having flint and steel, and being able to use it, when one can use a gas contraption with electric starter. Not advocating going too primitive, each of us has our own balance, buts there’s no craic in just buying everything, that’s far too easy.

 

[HillBill]

Yes indeed, and after all what’s the point in for example having flint and steel, and being able to use it, when one can use a gas contraption with electric starter. Not advocating going too primitive, each of us has our own balance, buts there’s no craic in just buying everything, that’s far too easy.

If you're not bothered by the results of your time and effort, then sure. If you are... and don't like wasting your time, then maybe not. All depends what you're hoping to achieve at the end of it.

 

[HillBill]

That’s the difference between a hobby and a profession. When it’s a hobby, time isn’t important. I’m in no rush to finish my knife, it’s fun to invent/reinvent things as I discover ways to do them. It’s fun to try things I’ve never done before. Frustration at failure might have been avoided by study but if I got it right first time by following convention there wouldn’t be nearly as much learning, fun or exploration.
(For me) The learning is everything.

I'd say it more depends on what you hope to achieve. If you're not bothered about spending all that time to wind up with something poor, because you know the materials will yield poor results then fair enough.

 

[Pattree]

I’m not sure how “poor” can apply to what I’m doing. I’m making a knife for the pure fun of doing it.

I’m discovering all sorts of things that I could have found out from other sources but I’m establishing my own learning. I could have made my first knife a fixed blade but by attempting a series of steps I have ended up trying to make a swivel lock folding knife (like the Opinel) out of bits and pieces including a brass pipe fitting. It’s quite a challenge. The geometry is simple enough but it’s very precise.

The end result will be a working tool that does the very limited range of tasks that I ask of a knife.

Or It won’t, I can’t lose.

 

[HillBill]

I’m not sure how “poor” can apply to what I’m doing. I’m making a knife for the pure fun of doing it.

I’m discovering all sorts of things that I could have found out from other sources but I’m establishing my own learning. I could have made my first knife a fixed blade but by attempting a series of steps I have ended up trying to make a swivel lock folding knife (like the Opinel) out of bits and pieces including a brass pipe fitting. It’s quite a challenge. The geometry is simple enough but it’s very precise.

The end result will be a working tool that does the very limited range of tasks that I ask of a knife.

Or It won’t, I can’t lose.

Poor refers to end product being worthwhile making. Sure, the learning experience is never "poor" but the end product may well be. Also, shite steel wont teach you what you need to learn with good steel. Good steel is harder to work with. It needs proper heat treat etc. Why bother learning things which only teach you some of the things? This isn't nursery. Why dive in at the shallow end? If your feet can touch the bottom when you start... you don't learn much!!

Feel free to PM me questions... I admire your desire to learn. But i hate the fact you seem intent on wasting both time and money to achieve your goals. Just don't!