Any wheelchair bound knifemakers out there?

[Wheelz87]

Hey guys I was just curious if there's any makers on her that are in wheelchairs. I recently upgraded to a 2x72 grinder. Which is amazing! I hear you guys talk about how stance is so important and I'm curious the best way of going about this. I built a bench at a good height but the only way I can really tuck my arms in to body like you guys do is if I roll up under the grinder with a knee on either side of the bottom wheel which seems like a bad idea for so many reasons. I've thought of making a sheet metal shield kind of funnel shaped that would flare out over my thighs and l everything. Or it crossed my mind to make a long work rest that I could set my elbows on for stability. Any thoughts? Right now I'm parking sideways to the grinder then readjusting when I flip the blade over but still if a belt came apart or anything my thigh would be right there to catch the belt I imagine. Other than that the grinds are coming out decent. I have some with no issues like the one with the red bone handle but my trouble area seeks to be as I get toward the tip and there's less surface area. On this other one you can see where the grind line meets the swede I dug in bit. Anyways thanks for listening to me ramble on and any advice is always welcomed

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[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

It is just a thought, but if your grinder will work that way, you may do better to reverse the motor and have the grinder throw the grit and sparks away form you. This will allow you to virtually straddle the wheel. Popped belts will be less of a fright that way, too.

IIRC, we have some very talented makers who are in wheelchairs. I and many other older smiths occasionally grind and even forge seated.

 

[David Stifle]

This is just a thought, but I have seen chairs that lift people to a standing, or at least to a semi-standing position while still supporting them. I don't know if that's possible or even beneficial to you. The fact is, judging b your knife, you are doing a hell of a job doing it the way you are now. Well done!

 

[Rhinoknives1]

While I'm not wheelchair dependent,
Due to have fusion in my lower spine and pain. I started grinding sitting down even though I was told by someone that has passed on, that it wouldn't work.

I taught myself to elevate the chair to a point where the bottom of the platen was belly button high on me. Tucked my arms in and slowly rotated my whole body on the chair.

Really, whatever you can do that's as safe as possible, I wear a ball cap always when grinding cuz it keeps me from grinding my nose off, grit out of my hair and when belts pop or rip. Its not quite as painful as they slap the hell outta my head!

Make sure you wear a good Respirator and eye & ear protection because its all right there! Also I wear a Large Full thick Cow hyde Apron that hangs past my knees to protect the family jewels and the arteries in my legs

You are in Redlands?

There is a Knife maker group, Cal Knives. We have monthly meeting and you are welcome to come check it out. No charge of Course.

There will be another meeting in September. It will be at another members place near me, by the Santa Monica Airport.

He will do a forging demo. My name is Laurence, Email/PM me and I can pass the info to you and we can chat a bit if you like.

Nice looking grinds by the way!:thumbup:

 

[LARRYZ10]

I have had spinal cord surgery and I have had both a knee replacement and a hip replacement surgery as well (I don't walk very well and have pain much of the time) . When I started to grind my own blades I set up a table at a height where I could sit down and even built a rest for my chair that is 4 inches high. I now cannot grind from a standing position and when I modified my KMG grinder for a second tool arm slot I spent a couple days lowering my table the same amount as the modifications. I don't see why anyone who has limitations cannot adapt to make his equipment work well and turn out first class professional knives. I do not compete with any one...only myself and I claim no special consideration in my quest to make beautiful and useful knives and no one else should either. My suggestion is for knife makers with some limitations is to use aluminum for tool bars and other parts to save weight. In the famous movie " Dirty Harry" Clint Eastwood says " a man has to know his limitations"....that is true enough but real men adapt to equalize their disadvantages in my opinion. Nice knife by the way. Never give up. We can all improve and achieve fine and good results. Larry

 

[stezann]

Nice knives!

I am not bound to a wheelchair, but i have always used my 2x72 from a sitting position.
I have the work rest above my tights and i slip my wrists left and right on it (i don't rotate my body). In my case i rest my elbows on my knees as pivots but you can do the same on the harm rests of your wheelchair if it's more comfortable.
If you have any doubts about what you could do in terms of production quality go google for Mr. Ken Erickson's knives!! He is on a wheelchair and he is one of the best knifemakers on the planet!

 

[Fish30114]

Nice knives!

I am not bound to a wheelchair, but i have always used my 2x72 from a sitting position.
I have the work rest above my tights and i slip my wrists left and right on it (i don't rotate my body). In my case i rest my elbows on my knees as pivots but you can do the same on the harm rests of your wheelchair if it's more comfortable.
If you have any doubts about what you could do in terms of production quality go google for Mr. Ken Erickson's knives!! He is on a wheelchair and he is one of the best knifemakers on the planet!

I ground the same way when I first got out of the hospital about 5 years ago, I was in a wheelchair for a long time, and it took me about two years to learn how to walk again--with braces--but stezann makes really good points, and that's the same way I ground for about 2 1/2 years--Oh and I think he meant 'thighs' not 'tights' I think....

Good luck!!

 

[Hengelo_77]

I have an other reason to grind sitting down.
This is how I do it.
I have a bucket of water under the wheel now.

 

[scott.livesey]

i have back and knee problems including a new knee, so i built my shop with chair accessible work tops. a 2' high work table is just about right, cheaper also as you get 4 legs from an 8' piece of 4x4 or 2x6.
scott