Beginner's Start-up kit, $500 budget

[Hesparus]

Blade steel isn't much more expensive than mild steel, so I'd just start with that.

 

[Pete84]

MDTT?.... not familiar with the acronym...

 

[Pete84]

Blade steel isn't much more expensive than mild steel, so I'd just start with that.

Yeah, I'd rather use blade steel. That way if I manage to turn out something usable, I can actually send it out for HT and have it be a knife!

 

[jaymeister99]

For a general use knife, I'd definitely agree with you. I also really like the idea of a convex grind, which I may try on my first blade. I'm a little torn.

Pete,

I don't know if I would do a convex grind. I actually wound up doing a convex grind by accident. The stock platen on my 2x42 didnt go out all the way to the belt. It was about 3/8" to 3/4" short of the belt. So I decided to do a convex grind since I didn't have a platen to rub directly against.

I just added 2pcs of 2"x3/16"x10" pieces of steel from Home Depot to bring the platen out further. When I get home I'll post a pic. The Craftsman grinder isn't perfect, but for the price IMO it can't be beat.

 

[Pete84]

Thanks, a pic would be great when you get a chance!

Why wouldn't you do a convex grind? I've had some really good performing knives that were convexed. Then again, I've also really enjoyed my FFG blades, as well. I guess the big question would be, which grind is most appropriate for the blade design at hand? I don't think I'll be properly equipped to do a good quality hollow grind, so it seems FFG and convex are probably my best options at the moment. Thoughts?

 

[james terrio]

The bigger the knife, the more it can benefit from a convex grind. The "apple-seed" shape helps push apart the material when you're chopping or splitting, for instance, and can still be very close to the same thickness at/just behind the edge as the same blade with a FFG. Of course with thin stock, regardless of overall blade size, the convex is going to be so subtle it probably won't make much difference.

If you decide to convex, please go at least halfway up the blade. I've seen a few highly-touted 5" blades that are barely ground at all, just a flat bar with a convex edge on them and I think that's pretty silly.

Then of course there's always big bowies and choppers with a FFG and a convex edge, which are pretty hard to beat cutting-wise, but intimidating for some folks when it comes to sharpening.

I don't think either FFG or full-convex grinds are more or less difficult to make. They both give me about equal amounts of grey hairs

 

[jaymeister99]

Thanks, a pic would be great when you get a chance!

Why wouldn't you do a convex grind? I've had some really good performing knives that were convexed. Then again, I've also really enjoyed my FFG blades, as well. I guess the big question would be, which grind is most appropriate for the blade design at hand? I don't think I'll be properly equipped to do a good quality hollow grind, so it seems FFG and convex are probably my best options at the moment. Thoughts?

A good convex grind IMO is a bit more difficult than a flat grind. But a good convex looks nice, and is probably the strongest type of grind. But if your platen doesn't reach the belt (like mine did), you may just want to do a convex.

I would definitely skip a hollow grind for now.

 

[thegeek574]

these are the MDTTs. small, functional, ugly, and very sharp.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/862454-MDTT-version-2
they do not put a whole lot of emphasis on being pretty, just getting the job done.

 

[jaymeister99]

For a general use knife, I'd definitely agree with you. I also really like the idea of a convex grind, which I may try on my first blade. I'm a little torn.

Sorry, correction. I meant to say 5/32" on there. 5/16" is bit too much!

 

[Los Angeles]

Two issues:

1) Hi Pete! You can go a long way with some nice files, sandpaper, a drill, epoxy, and sharpening stones. If you're feeling like you want to use a grinder, it will eat up most of your budget, but a lot of folks think it's worth it. Look to get a Craftsman 2x42. It's pretty good for the money.

2) A small request to the posters who like to copy the "Standard Reply to Newbies." The more I see that "standard reply" business, the more rude and unwelcoming it seems. This used to be a much more friendly and inviting community for people to post questions, even beginner questions were met with a reply and at least a welcome. At minimum, please say hello to Pete before you do this copy paste stuff. Thanks.

 

[jaymeister99]

Thanks, a pic would be great when you get a chance!

Heres the platen "extension" I made.

 

[Pete84]

For some reason, the picture didn't show up. Just says "403 Forbidden".

 

[jaymeister99]

For some reason, the picture didn't show up. Just says "403 Forbidden".

I put it back up with a different filename. Don't know why it did that.

 

[Pete84]

Thanks! ...Worth a thousand words, as they say.