Anyone in MD willing to help a guy out?

S

SLiuGraphite

Joined
Aug 4, 2011
Messages
98
Hey everyone! I've been making knives for almost a month now and it's ridiculously difficult filing in the bevels by hand on the
big knives I want to make.
Anyone near Montgomery County that would let me use their belt grinder?
I know it's kind of a weird thing to ask but I thought I'd try it out.
Of course I'd be willing to provide my own belts.

Thanks,
Sean
 
some of the best learnign is slow and steady. make a few small knives and get skills together then think bigger and grinders (you can mess up a bar of steel in no time flat with a grinder ) when i went from my delta 1x42 to a 2x72 KMG i messed up a hand full of blades till i got into the right groove
 
If you lived around here (Houston), I'd help you out.

I purchased a KMG belt grinder before I ever started making my first knife. Everyone's got to learn sometime, and I don't believe that everyone should start the hard way before using power tools.

Good luck finding a good samaritan.

Mike L.
 
I understand that it'd be difficult to let someone you don't know with little experience into your shop
but how else would I learn? A teacher standing there would be more helpful than trying to figure things out on my own.
Hell, I'd sign a waiver relieving any responsibilities if it came down to it.
I'm having a huge influx of good chopper designs and would like to get them onto steel ASAP.
I guess I'll just go the cheap route and get an angle grinder.
And thanks Mike, I appreciate the gesture.
 
Why an angle grinder. Thats probably not gonna help ya out much besides making scrap metal.

Look on craigslist and see if ya can find atleast a 2x42 grinder or similar. Atleast around here there are usually all kinds of belt grinders/sanders.
 
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Last edited by a moderator:
Yup. By a 2"x42" Craftsman. Less than $200.

Or, buy a 1Hp, 1Ph 1725 RPM motor, and add a 9" disc for around $200 total and you're in business!

I will say, learning with an experienced knifemaker is extremely helpful. I do encourage you to find someone local to help you along. Good luck!
 
I saw a video of someone grinding in a bevel with an angle grinder and refining it with a file and sandpaper.
I actually never thought of getting a grinder on craigslist, thanks for that one.
 
SLuiGraphite,

Taking your time and learning slowly is a good method. Starting with big knives is the hard way to learn.

Having someone show you how to do things is also good. There are hammer-ins and knife making expositions, where you can learn a lot in a couple days. The next one near you is in Troy OH in a few weeks.
http://www.americanbladesmith.com/i...s&subsection=show_events_details&events_id=22

Also, there is the Blacksmiths Guild of Central Maryland , which also covers bladesmithing. They hold monthly classes and several big events.
http://www.bgcmonline.org/

And there is always Fire and Brimstone each spring.
http://www.baltimoreknife.com/brimstone/hammerin2010/index.htm

Maryland is full of makers and groups. They are a very helpful lot as a whole.

Do yourself a favor and fill in your profile with real and useful info, like age, occupation, etc.
"Knives, guns, and girls. That's all you can ask for", doesn't say much as far as sounding mature enough to invite to my shop.
If you are a high school youth, say so. Your profile and your posts seem to imply this.
21 people have viewed your profile page, every one might have offered help....but the info didn't help them decide.
 
Should you get a belt grinder, make sure you have LOTS of metal on hand to practice with. Once you have the machine and lots of belts, unless you are one in a million, you will need to spend many hours learning to grind with it. Sure, with practice, you will do it. Frank.
 
SLiuGraphite said:
Hey everyone! I've been making knives for almost a month now and it's ridiculously difficult filing in the bevels by hand on the
big knives I want to make.
Anyone near Montgomery County that would let me use their belt grinder?
I know it's kind of a weird thing to ask but I thought I'd try it out.
Of course I'd be willing to provide my own belts.

Thanks,
Sean
Click to expand...

Sean, I also believe that a part of what you are up against is how you have asked. You asked essentially for use of another persons shop: had you perhaps asked for some mentoring from a nearby maker I imagine that you would have gotten a different response. It's like being a young teenager asking a stranger if they can borrow their car to learn how to drive ~ not going to happen. However, if you reach out, make friends, then ask someone if the would be willing to TEACH you how to drive, you might get some assistance.

Best
Steve
 
From one noob to another:

IF you already own an angle grinder, with a steady hand and things clamped at the right height for you, you can do a lot with an angle grinder. You can cut out a blank and remove some material for the geometry to make filing easier, just be careful and realize you are going to have a heck of a time getting the proper angle so just rough it and leave enough material to make it right.

You can get the craftsman grinder for ~$170 shipped if you google up a coupon code before buying. It has some ouchy flaws though as has been pointed out to me by people with better equipment. Its fast, single speed, and I don't know of a way to put a rubber contact wheel on it.

Personally I didn't find it that hard to learn to use a belt sander. I am still a complete noob and not making quality stuff, but IMO I'm making much better stuff with the grinder than I could have made with files. Even the first knife I spit out on it. I started it with files and it was looking soso. Bought the sander and had it looking much better in minutes lol. As a disclaimer though, its also possible that I am just too lazy for proper file work lol.
 
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