2000 to spend on equipment

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crank78

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Dec 21, 2013
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if you was spending $2000 on equipment what would you buy. things i already have. 2x72 grinder, mig welder, plasma cutter, forge, anvil, bench grinder, polisher, dremel tool, plenty vises, table saw, scroll saw, angle grinder, band-saw, one for metal one for wood and a few other things i can't think of atm.

things i think i may need. im getting a cnc mill already the 2000 don't include that.
spindle sander, possibly a double wheel grinder, cnc router, looking to speed up the process. anyone got any ideas? i want to go to a few gun and knife shows and set up a booth.
 
any recommendations on a small surface grinder. thinking about a press for Damascus the surface grinder would have many uses in my shop.
 
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Definitely a furnace. If you want to do stainless and carbon, also get aluminum plates, AAA, Parks #50, a dewar for cryo and hardness tester and you can do proper heat treat and dial it in to best for your setup.
 
I was in the same spot a month or so back. I used the money to buy an evenheat, bunch of wood, bunch of sanding belts, different pins and tubes etc.. I didn’t have exactly 2,000 to spend, a bit less. I would recommend getting a kiln like the others said and a surface grinder. A surface grind would definitely get used a lot of your forging. And being able to accurately HT your own blades is great too.

If you have some money left over grab some nice scales or blocks, it’s nice to have extra laying around.
 
I don't spend big chunks of money on small chunks of wood. It's much harder to come across the large chunks of money so put it twords things that need large chunks. Handle material does not cost much and it's easy to dig that kind of money up when needed.
 
high temp heat treat oven (new or newer used with digital controller), oils/AL plate,

and manual mill which you use to make surface grinder attachment for 72incher!
 
Jrmysell said:
Definitely a furnace. If you want to do stainless and carbon, also get aluminum plates, AAA, Parks #50, a dewar for cryo and hardness tester and you can do proper heat treat and dial it in to best for your setup.
Click to expand...
is there a certain thickness of aluminum? i got plenty for making molds out of? its 1/2 thick.
 
running bird said:
I was in the same spot a month or so back. I used the money to buy an evenheat, bunch of wood, bunch of sanding belts, different pins and tubes etc.. I didn’t have exactly 2,000 to spend, a bit less. I would recommend getting a kiln like the others said and a surface grinder. A surface grind would definitely get used a lot of your forging. And being able to accurately HT your own blades is great too.

If you have some money left over grab some nice scales or blocks, it’s nice to have extra laying around.
Click to expand...
i got plenty wood for scales, but i am getting some micarta and g10 sheets. i also think ill make a kydex press and start making kydex sheaths.
 
le0ne said:
high temp heat treat oven (new or newer used with digital controller), oils/AL plate,

and manual mill which you use to make surface grinder attachment for 72incher!
Click to expand...
i plan on buying a cnc mill. they make some kits that you can still use manually to.
 
I've got one set of 3/4", and they're really on the thin side. I'd definitely recommend 1". Both my 3/4 and my 1" plates are 4" wide
 
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