Tansu Knives, metalwork teacher

Tansu Knives

Tansu Knives

location_on East Branxton, Newcastle

local_activity classes: Metalwork

5.0 (9)

Back in 2005 as a chef I wanted to use the best tools available to be more efficient at my craft and I soon realized common brand name knives weren’t up to the task.

They were made with “ease of production” in mind rather than the cutting performance, comfort, quality of the steel or the heat treatment; all of which determines the edge and the longevity of the tool.

After much research I moved from German knives to Japanese and then to custom ones made to my specs by custom knife makers.

However even with the custom ones I felt like there were a few things missing to make the cutting more enjoyable so I decided to start making my own knives to use in my kitchen in 2013.

I visited well known makers here in Australia and in the USA to learn how to forge blades, make San Mai and Damascus. One year later I was getting custom orders for knives from all over the world and building a strong reputation for my knives cutting ability.

After winning best new maker and best kitchen knife at a couple of shows I was getting more and more requests for custom work and was being featured in knife magazines. In April 2018, I hung up my chef jacket to become a full time knife maker.






Classes







Reviews

(9)


Barrett Campbell Dec 2023


Mert, the instructor, was truly exceptional. His expertise and passion for knife making were evident throughout the workshop. He was patient, knowledgeable, and made sure we understood every step of the process. His ability to make complex concepts easy to understand made it a great experience.

Super happy with the knives we made.

Sarah Phillipson Feb 2023

19 ClassBento workshops attended • 19 reviews


This was a fantastic experience! I had never done anything like this before and Mert was a patient and informative teacher. I would recommend this class to anyone who is even vaguely interested in the idea of making a knife. I had a fun and interesting day and I'm super happy with the beautiful knife I went home with! (Picture doesn't do it justice, and after a bit of use it's begun to develop a blue/purple patina, it looks gorgeous)

Metalwork class review by Sarah Phillipson - Newcastle

Daniel Kalinin Jan 2023


When attempted welding of stainless to high carbon steel went belly up (my fault), Meet’s blue steel billet came to a rescue, still managed to get a nice knife out of it in a short time left.

Metalwork class review by Daniel Kalinin - Newcastle

Cathy Winston Jan 2023


What an amazing experience to take a small piece of metal and turn it into an actual custom-made knife! Mert was a gracious teacher who allowed two total beginners to fully participate in the entire process and only stepped in when needed. We learned so much! By the end of the day we had two unique blades that we will treasure every time we use them. A long day, but very enjoyable!

Forged Kitchen Knife Making Workshop review by Cathy Winston - Newcastle

Adrian Apps Dec 2022


A great day forging a functional kitchen knife that looks fantastic. Mert was an informative instructor explaining each step of the process clearly, also answering all the extras questions I had throughout the day. We also had a delicious lunch he prepared while we took a break. Whenever there were things I needed to correct he was right there to offer advice or step in if needed. Highly recommended for anyone who's interested in blacksmithing or knifemaking.

Metalwork class review by Adrian Apps - Newcastle

Brittany McBean Nov 2022


Mert was absolutely fantastic! We started off with just a square of steel and were able to forge, grind, sharpen and polish two stunning kitchen knives. We were complete beginners and Mert was so patient and helped us through every step. Lunch was also a big hit and can confirm he is an excellent chef - a man with many talents! Thanks so much again Mert, we can't wait to save up and make two more knives next year to complete our set. Well worth it and I encourage everyone to take a class as he is so knowledgeable, friendly and excellent at what he does.

Forged Kitchen Knife Making Workshop review by Brittany McBean - Newcastle

Ben Fetterplace Oct 2022


I had a great day with Mert (and Kaya)! Hard to believe that I made and walked away with a beautiful knife from what it began as. The process is very interesting and it’s very much a hands on experience. Mert’s skills and eye for detail are impressive Would highly recommend to anyone.

Thanks again Mert.

Metalwork class review by Ben Fetterplace - Newcastle

Bob Croft Sep 2022


This was one of the best experiences that I have had. The teacher (Mert) was very knowledgeable, skilled and helpful. I started with a piece if rectangular metal and finished with an excellent knife that I had created from scratch, guided, of course by Mert. He even cooked lunch for me. Everyone who has seen my knife is very taken by it's quality. I can only recommend this course to everyone. I had no previous metal working skills at the beginning of this class, but under Mert's guidance I managed to master skills during the day. I totally recommend this course to everyone.

Matt Chadwick Feb 2022


What an amazing day. Mert is an incredibly welcoming and engaging teacher. A depth of knowledge about all things knife making and so much more. Highly recommended for anyone interested in developing their beginner knife making skills. Can also make a great pot of Turkish tea Thanks Mert …

Metalwork class review by Matt Chadwick - Newcastle

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