SHOP UPDATES - Don Nguyen Knives

SHOP UPDATESadmin2019-07-16T06:22:36+00:00

donnguyenknives

I make knives for lovers of food (example: me) that enjoy emotive cooking process.
No DMs. Please email.
No custom orders.

Back in the day when I went more ham

Back in the day when I went more ham

Instagram post 17880454700380308

Instagram post 17880454700380308

If you ever need to dual wield in the kitchen.⁠

If you ever need to dual wield in the kitchen.⁠
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#donnguyen #makesomething #doitfortheprocess #thisistucson #tucson #chefsplateform #truecooks #chefstalk #foodie #gourmetartistry #ilovecooking #combatabrasives #foodlover #handmade #craft #artisan #chefs #chefknife #cheflife #culinary #chefsroll #design #designer #homecook #chefathome #discoveringchefs #teamcombat #realfood #chefsofinstagram #culinaryart

Closeup details of the shaping

Closeup details of the shaping

Dream state.⁠ ⁠ I'm so proud of these two new

Dream state.⁠
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I'm so proud of these two new pieces finished for a custom order. I'm expanding on the semi-fluted shape again, iterating and revising it more and more.⁠
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The goal is always to take the incredibly difficult and then turn it into (not easy) but more straight forward. The first time I tried this handle shape it took me like a whole damn week. Now I can get it mostly shaped in half a day, and I think I'm improving on the little details and overall flow of them.

It's happening again, WE'RE TEACHING ANOTHER KNIFE

It's happening again, WE'RE TEACHING ANOTHER KNIFE MAKING CLASS.⁠
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November 4-7, 2021, at @desertmetalcraft in Tucson, AZ.⁠
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Learn how to make a chef's knife. We'll be covering design, grinding, geometry, finishing, ergonomics, and handles.

If the little improvements don't excite you, then

If the little improvements don't excite you, then I actually don't know where I'm going with this I was trying to make some motivational quote or whatever.

One of my best executed handles. To outside eyes,

One of my best executed handles. To outside eyes, maybe it looks the same as all my other stuff. I mean, it kinda does.⁠
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But there are little details, ones I keep track of while building the handles and shaping them. The way certain lines sit, the way they point towards each other, the spacing between sections, the weight and flow, etc.⁠
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Ok it's starting to sound like mumbo jumbo - all I'm saying is I think I'm getting a hang of this.

A recent piece finished and sent to EatingTools. ⁠
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Several years ago I had the pleasure working with Abe when both our businesses were in much earlier stages. It's been pretty damn awesome to watch his business grow since then.⁠
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In the past few years I've been focusing on figuring out my rhythm, trying new things out, and experimenting. I think I'm finally starting to "figure" out my style, and what better time than to work with Abe again.⁠
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Expect to see more of my work through EatingTools once again.

Little peek at one that was finished recently.

Little peek at one that was finished recently.

Some new things coming up

Some new things coming up

There are moments where I feel like I'm making zer

There are moments where I feel like I'm making zero progress and I'm stagnating. It's frustrating and I feel like a fraud, like a newbie who barely knows what he's doing.⁠
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But those are moments where I'm too wrapped up in the small scale, the day by day, week by week. This kind of craft is year by year. Thinking on it on those terms, I'm doing quite well for myself I think. Compared to last year, I think I'm way more competent, and I can execute on ideas way better. I can troubleshoot problems with less frustration.⁠
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And importantly, I can make stuff SEEMINGLY straight-forward. I still fuck shit up all the time of course, but it's not on every single project.⁠
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MOST importantly, I'm hitting 10 years as a knife maker. That's insane. From the outside perspective it might seem like all rainbows and hot chocolate but there were so many moments where it could've crumbled or flopped - somehow I'm still in it, still completely engaged, still sustaining, still passionate.

I've been doing rounded and polished choils since

I've been doing rounded and polished choils since my first freakin' learning pieces in 2011. Satin blades, shiny choils, there's nothing better.⁠
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It's all about contrast and user interface.⁠
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#donnguyenknives #makesomething #doitfortheprocess #thisistucson #tucson #chefsplateform #truecooks #chefstalk #foodie #gourmetartistry #ilovecooking #knifefanatics #foodlover #knifemaking #knifeporn #kitchenknife #chefs #chefknife #cheflife #culinary #chefsroll #customknives #knifecollector #homecook #chefathome #discoveringchefs #chefknives #realfood #chefsofinstagram #culinaryart

I'm proud of my name and where I'm from.⁠ ⁠ I

I'm proud of my name and where I'm from.⁠
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I used to never think about my name and my culture. Sometimes it would even embarrass me because it was always a hassle to spell to other people, and in school sometimes jackasses would make fun of me for being Asian.⁠
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Now I wear that signature on my work with pride.

What questions y'all got?⁠
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#donnguyenknives #makesomething #doitfortheprocess #thisistucson #tucson #chefsplateform #truecooks #chefstalk #foodie #gourmetartistry #ilovecooking #knifefanatics #foodlover #knifemaking #knifeporn #kitchenknife #chefs #chefknife #cheflife #culinary #chefsroll #customknives #knifecollector #homecook #chefathome #discoveringchefs #chefknives #realfood #chefsofinstagram #culinaryart

Steady rhythm, making consistent steps forward. No

Steady rhythm, making consistent steps forward. None of that overglorified hustle BS.⁠
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What's your workflow like?

Shimmery silver beneath the silky black.

Shimmery silver beneath the silky black.

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