2 Day Experience
Your Experience
Following the ongoing success of my one day knife making experience day I am now excited to offer a two day knife making day. The two day course provides more time to concentrate on the finish. It will allow for hand sanding instruction and a more complex handle construction. You will be able to make multi material handles with a ferrule. (See photographs below for examples of multi material handles and finishes).
Benefit from Teddy's SOS (Student Onward Support) – an initiative dedicated to encouraging and empowering the next generation of UK knife makers.
To book or for any enquiries please go to the contact me page - there you can either email me or call me. Classes run on week days and weekends.
Single/double student class.
Two full days of professional teaching.
£700 single student £1280 for double student (payment via bank transfer).
Aftercare Kit £35. Why not add an Aftercare Kit to your purchase. Please let me know when you book/order your day.
The days start at 9am and may be as long as 10 hours depending on how quickly we progress through the processes.
The course includes a minimum of 16 hours one to one professional instruction, all materials and safety equipment.
Weekdays and weekends available.
The two days must be booked together and run consecutively.
Food and drink: Tea and coffee and soft drinks available throughout the day, please bring a packed lunch.
Clothing: Natural fibre, old clothing you don’t mind getting dirty and no synthetics or shorts. Jeans are ideal. Leather shoes/boots.
See Google reviews for student insights.
How to book…
To book, please contact me via WhatsApp or email. For the fastest response, WhatsApp me at 07869735213. Email is teddysknives@gmail.com - if you have not heard from me within 24 hours please check your spam folder.
I typically respond the same day, and most payments and vouchers can be processed within an hour. If I'm teaching a class, I'll reply by the end of the day, and the transaction will be completed promptly afterward.
Booking directly with me reduces operating costs for my small business and ensures you get personalised service with your questions answered right away.
You can book a specific date (with a voucher if desired) or purchase a voucher, allowing the recipient to schedule at their convenience.
THIS IS NOT A FORGING COURSE
The knife is produced via what is known as stock removal. This means we start with a sheet of high quality high carbon tool steel and the knife shape is cut from it. High quality UK produced 80crv2 high carbon steel will be used.
The aim of the course will be to create a culinary knife with the maximum of a 20cm blade.
Your knife will be a hidden tang type knife.
THE PROCESS
Here are some links to Instagram reels of previous experience days:
Day 1
DESIGNING THE BLADE:
Together we will come up with a functional design. You will have plenty of design freedom. Time is spent to get this stage right.
CUTTING OUT THE BLADE:
Once your design has been finalised it will be transferred to your steel and then cut out with an angle grinder. This stage will be carried out by me unless you are already proficient in the use of an angle grinder.
HEAT TREAT:
A synthetic quenchant is used which is not only safer than oil but also produces a quicker quench and a harder blade.
This is carried out under instruction, dry runs will be carried out but if you would rather I do it I am more than happy. This goes for all processes during the day.
Your blade will be heated to over 800 degrees and carefully plunged into the quenchant. During this process the steel cools quickly creating a hard blade.
Following the quench, the blade will be incredibly hard, in this state the edge would be too brittle and prone to chipping. Tempering is then carried out to reduce the hardness to make it more resilient whist retaining a good level of hardness so it takes and holds a good edge. This takes two hours - this will be the last blade related step of day one.
MAKING YOUR HANDLE:
You will be able to choose from my extensive selection of materials and create a multi-material handle. This will take the remainder of the first day.
You will be taught how to construct, shape, hand sand and polish your handle to a stunning high lustre.
Day 2
BLADE GRINDING:
You will grind the bevels on the blade and finish the blade. A grinding jig will be used to assist in you grinding beautiful bevels on the blade. I will instruct and monitor throughout.
Various grades of grit will be worked through until the blade is ready to be hand sanded.
HAND SANDING:
Hand sanding refines the surface of your blade. You will work up through the grits and following this you will have the option of blade finishes.
BLADE FINISH OPTIONS:
- ACID FORCED PATINA
An acidic mixture is applied to the blade to create a stunning mottled look.
-SATIN FINISH
The blade is simply left with a clean hand sanded finish.
HANDLE AND BLADE FITTING:
You will then attach the handle to the blade - simple as that really, I will instruct how to fit up the handle to the blade.
SHARPENING:
I will complete the initial sharpening on my belt grinder using fine grits to achieve an extremely sharp edge. Following this the blade is stropped on leather.
MORE INFORMATION:
The exact order of the day may vary depending on the complexity of handle construction.
High carbon steel is used - it require more care than stainless steel. They will naturally build a patina over time. Full care instructions will be given during the course.
The whole course is carried out at your comfort level. It is meant to be fun and I am happy to do any or all of the making. Regardless of the amount of input, you will leave with a lovely knife which will spark happy memories for years to come.
AFTERCARE
Due to being asked frequently by previous students I now offer an Aftercare Kit. This consists of "Teddy's wood wax", a food safe wax which will keep your wooden knife handle in tip top condition and a ceramic steel which will keep your knife honed between sharpening. This is available upon request when you attend for the additional cost of £10 for the wax and £25 for the ceramic steel.
DISCLAIMER:
The aim of the two days is to have fun, make a knife and keep safe.
There are a number of processes involved in the day. Some are dangerous if not done correctly. I will explain each step thoroughly on the day and instruct how to carry out the process. I will monitor throughout and do my very best to ensure you complete the actions safely.
I may need to assist to ensure we keep to schedule.
Personal protective equipment will be provided including gloves, dust masks, safety goggles and ear protection.
In taking part in the day you are accepting that there is a level of risk involved in using the various power tools and the heat treat oven. I will do everything I can to ensure the risk is minimised but risk can never be entirely ruled out. Insurance is held.
If at any point you feel that you would rather I step in to do any of the processes, that is not a problem. It is intended to be a fun day, and I don't want you worrying about doing something you are uncomfortable with.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
By booking a knife making course are confirming that you are 18 years of age or over. All students must be over 18.
CANCELLATIONS:
Any courses cancelled within 24 hours of purchase will be fully refunded.
If you do wish to cancel your place, you can contact me and I will talk you through the process. I am afraid that any course cancellations made after 24 hours of purchase are not refundable.
If for any reason you are unable to make the booked date I will require a least 24 hours notice before the start of your day.
I will then work with you to re-organise your day.
No shows and late notice cancellations (under 24 hours) will not be refunded or re-booked.
In the unfortunate event that I am unable to conduct the experience I will provide you with as much notice as possible and ensure that your day is re-booked.
If on the day you are experiencing any symptoms of Covid 19 please carry out a lateral flow test prior to attending.
