Advice for tool on a budget PLEASE help

tuffthumbz

tuffthumbz

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i recently started toying around with making knives. I am pretty broke and i have a few tool: Angle grinder, drill, the basics. but i need a belt sander. Are cheap $70 belt grinder/wheels garbage or are they good enough. I have pics of a knife i am working on and i cant seem to go any further withouht better tools. Any tools u could improve this with for under $200

Also could someone post a list of essentials for knife making. this would be soooooo helpful, i have no one to ask about this stuff around my home. Hardware store people look at me like im an alien.

knife so far
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I don't have the advise that you need, but I can tell you to keep up the good work. That knife looks great for your meager tools. Just remember:
The oxen are slow but the earth is patient.
In other words...you'll get there.
 
It's not under 70, but the Craftsman 2X42 is a nice little grinder. I think it's regularly 125 or so, but you can find deep sales and get a good deal on it. I don't do a lot of knife grinding, but I've ground a couple out with it. I imagine a 2X72 with a 1.5hp motor would make quicker work of it, but I wasn't in that big a hurry. and if you upgrade to the big grinder later, set the c-man up to work handle material.

before that I used a woodworking belt sander laid upside down on the bench. in fact I bought it specicially for how stable it sat in the "upside down" position. think I paid 30 for it at a pawn shop.

the other tools likely vary depending on what your getting into. the propane forge won't do a stock removal guy much good.
 
Pretty good for someone who "cant seem to go any further without better tools". Since you seem to be tight on money, my advice would be to learn to draw file. It's very effective in producing nice flat grinds when you get the hang of it. Practice on BS steel and stuff and eventually you'll be able to produce work that will look like you had some very expensive tools to your advantage. In the mean time, start saving up money for a Grizzly or a Coote as these are good starter machines that are in the $500 price range. I'm sure you can find a good draw filing tutorial here on BF. Good luck
 
BChou-E29 said:
Pretty good for someone who "cant seem to go any further without better tools". Since you seem to be tight on money, my advice would be to learn to draw file. It's very effective in producing nice flat grinds when you get the hang of it. Practice on BS steel and stuff and eventually you'll be able to produce work that will look like you had some very expensive tools to your advantage. In the mean time, start saving up money for a Grizzly or a Coote as these are good starter machines that are in the $500 price range. I'm sure you can find a good draw filing tutorial here on BF. Good luck
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im new to this so im not to familiar with draw filing but i will take that advise and learn it. I have a passion for this so im sure i will get the hang of it. thanks
 
First I would like to say Nice Job. Better tools help you make a knife faster not better. I find myself useing less and less of the tools I thought I had to have and useing more and more hand tools like files and flat steel bars wrapped in sand-paper. The most used tool in my shop is a 3/4 X 2" aluminum bar with a clamp on it for holding blades while I sand and file. Take your time. Do every step the best you can never say "That will do" Every knife will get better.
With that said. If I had to pick one tool under $200 it would be a 12" disc sander. They are about $140.00 at Harbor Freight.
 
Not sure what you think you need to go further. You can make a knife with a hacksaw, files, and sandpaper. That knife looks like it's most of the way there as it is. Once you gt to a certain point you're goinf to do a lot of the finishing by hand, which looks like you're about there.

If you want a decent belt sander for under 200 though I would get the Craftsman 2x48. However I see little use for it where you're at with that knife.
 
Come over to the dark side, start forging. Your stock removal needs are greatly diminished when you do so.
Whereabouts is Penndel? bruce
 
birdog4 said:
Come over to the dark side, start forging. Your stock removal needs are greatly diminished when you do so.
Whereabouts is Penndel? bruce
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I agree, you dont need to buy as much steel then either :) I buy 2 1/2" wide 3/8" thick flat stock and cut a length in 3 for 3 blades off one length. building your own belt sander isn't too hard either and their is a million and one tutorials to do so.

Get good with forging and clean up work takes next to no time.
 
All great advice:thumbup::thumbup:-But you already have the greatest tool ever,your brain-more tools just speeds up the process.I think that starting out with simple hand tools teaches you the important fundamentals of knifemaking, which you can then apply to your more advanced machinery.I found Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop was a goldmine of information for a budget conscious(see cheap b@$!@rd:D)knifemaker like me.
Shawn
 
somebody recently said they gfound a craftsman on sale for $83. good deal its a nice little grinder.
 
I don't know if you're looking for something appropriate for hollow grinding, but if you just want to do flat and convex grinds, you might be able to get by with a belt sander meant for wood working. I have a 4x36" sander for that purpose. These are much more common, and you might luck into one at a pawn shop, flea market, estate sale, etc for $30.
 
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