Knife-Making Business Going Strong
Ed Storch can turn old roller chain, steel cable, and any other kind of high carbon steel into a knife, dagger or sword. The Alberta farmer started making knives for fun but he not only makes knives, he also teaches knife making and sells the equipment needed to make knives. Last year business grew to the point that he rented out his farm and devoted himself full time to knives (see Vol. 25, No. 1).
"The business just keeps growing," he says. "I have more students and am traveling more all the time."
Storch has been traveling so much he even put together a special metal table equipped with tools to use at his workshops. The 5-ft. by 14-ft. table is loaded with 8 flat grinders, two 2 by 72-in. belt sanders, a couple of buffers, a small drill press and a small band saw. Stored underneath the table are heat treating forges as well as tooling and hand tools.
"I get so many requests for classes away from home that I needed a way to take my tools with me without having to load each one into my truck," explains Storch. "I just jack it up with camper jacks, back my truck underneath, and drive away."
Storch sells many of the tools he builds, including the belt sanders and flat grinders for between $1,000 and $1,400 (Canadian).
"I use 3-phase motors on a single phase line," explains Storch. "The new digital inverters let me change cycles by dialing down. They are so much more efficient; we use them on lots of machines for the farm."
Other tools for sale include an air hammer that strikes up to three times per second with four different sets of dies for $3,500. He also makes and sells a 42-ton hydraulic press with dies for the same price.
"Commercial machines are available and can be adapted, but they will cost several times more," he explains. "If people prefer to build their own, I have a video for $55 that explains how to make them and where to get the parts."
Commercial machines also may not work as well for the specialized knife making business. "With knives, you need to be fast to work the steel before it cools," he explains.
His rates for classes vary from $30 for a class in his shop to $180 for an annual symposium for knife makers. And one advanced class, for making Damascus knives, costs $450.
"Damascus knives sell for about $100 per inch," explains Storch. "For $450 my students learn to make the steel, make a letter opener, a 4 to 6-in. knife and take home enough steel to make two more knives."
Knife making is not just a guy thing. Storch reports about 10 percent of his students are women. His mother Florence is one of them. She just celebrated her 91st birthday by finishing her eighth knife.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ed Storch, RR 4, Mannville, Alberta, Canada T0B 2W0 (ph 780 763-2214; website: www.storchknives.com).
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Knife-Making Business Going Strong SPECIALTY/SERVICES Specialty/Services 28-4-7 Ed Storch can turn old roller chain, steel cable, and any other kind of high carbon steel into a knife, dagger or sword. The Alberta farmer started making knives for fun but he not only makes knives, he also teaches knife making and sells the equipment needed to make knives. Last year business grew to the point that he rented out his farm and devoted himself full time to knives (see Vol. 25, No. 1).
"The business just keeps growing," he says. "I have more students and am traveling more all the time."
Storch has been traveling so much he even put together a special metal table equipped with tools to use at his workshops. The 5-ft. by 14-ft. table is loaded with 8 flat grinders, two 2 by 72-in. belt sanders, a couple of buffers, a small drill press and a small band saw. Stored underneath the table are heat treating forges as well as tooling and hand tools.
"I get so many requests for classes away from home that I needed a way to take my tools with me without having to load each one into my truck," explains Storch. "I just jack it up with camper jacks, back my truck underneath, and drive away."
Storch sells many of the tools he builds, including the belt sanders and flat grinders for between $1,000 and $1,400 (Canadian).
"I use 3-phase motors on a single phase line," explains Storch. "The new digital inverters let me change cycles by dialing down. They are so much more efficient; we use them on lots of machines for the farm."
Other tools for sale include an air hammer that strikes up to three times per second with four different sets of dies for $3,500. He also makes and sells a 42-ton hydraulic press with dies for the same price.
"Commercial machines are available and can be adapted, but they will cost several times more," he explains. "If people prefer to build their own, I have a video for $55 that explains how to make them and where to get the parts."
Commercial machines also may not work as well for the specialized knife making business. "With knives, you need to be fast to work the steel before it cools," he explains.
His rates for classes vary from $30 for a class in his shop to $180 for an annual symposium for knife makers. And one advanced class, for making Damascus knives, costs $450.
"Damascus knives sell for about $100 per inch," explains Storch. "For $450 my students learn to make the steel, make a letter opener, a 4 to 6-in. knife and take home enough steel to make two more knives."
Knife making is not just a guy thing. Storch reports about 10 percent of his students are women. His mother Florence is one of them. She just celebrated her 91st birthday by finishing her eighth knife.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ed Storch, RR 4, Mannville, Alberta, Canada T0B 2W0 (ph 780 763-2214; website: www.storchknives.com).
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