Class Description: Learn to make a stock removal chef knife in my style in a steel of your choosing from available pre-cut blank stock which will include 8.5" gyuto or western chef, 7.5" santoku, and 6.5" nakiri. Carbon steels available: 52100, W2, 80CRV2. Stainless: AEB-L. (Additional steels may be available upon request) If you choose W2, we will start by applying the clay to the spine to produce a hamon during heat treat. Other blanks will be pre-hardened, though I will walk you through the process upon request. Hardened blanks will then be finish ground on 2x72 grinders using a jig for easily reproducable results. Once finished at the grinder, we will handsand the blade to your desired finish (etch & polish hamon if applicable) and prepare for handlework the next day. I'll take you through my handle construction method and hybrid style shaping process before attaching them to the blades with fast set epoxy. Once set, we will finish them up by sharpening the edge using Japanese whetstones.
Total Cost: $750. This $250 non-refundable deposit* is required to secure your class slot, schedule your days, and prepare materials. The remaining cost will be due 2 weeks before your scheduled class day. *If a scheduling conflict arises, you may postpone and reschedule your class to a future date without losing your deposit.
Availability: I'll only be offering a limited number of spots per month (2) for the first half of this year (March, April, May, June.) Select your preferred month from the available list. You will be contacted via email within 1-2 business days after placing your deposit to begin scheduling which days you'd like to take your class. If you are local and don't need to travel far, the days do not need to be back to back and may be spaced out to accomodate busy schedules.
Location: My shop in downtown Manchester, NH. Less than an hour North of Boston and only 15 minutes from the Manchester Airport. There are several hotel options for sleeping accommodations within walking distance available. Free parking is available at the shop.
Experience Level: Though no knife making experience is required, you will be working with dangerous power tools so some experience with such tools or in a workshop setting is preferred and you will need to sign a waiver. This class is geared for the beginner or intermediate knifemaker looking to learn my process for crafting chef knives from start to finish.
Length: Class is formulated to be completed in two 9-10 hour days starting at 9am each day, though an extra day may be requested if you'd like to go at a slower pace to better focus on specific aspects of my making process or additional techniques. (ex: forging out the initial blank, wooden or leather saya making, compound grinding techniques, more in depth whetstone sharpening, etc) Will incur additional costs to final class price depending on what additional aspecs you'd like to learn.
Please feel free to reach out with any further questions.