Recommendation? CNC shop for small-ish runs, fixed and folders

REK Knives

REK Knives

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Apr 3, 2011
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So I'm at an interesting point in my business to where I am doing runs that are large enough to where I don't want to do everything by hand (so I can maximize output) but small enough to where most companies don't want to mess w/ it. Batch sizes of say 50 fixed blades at a time. I have a few I work with but would like to expand my network and contacts in this arena so I can have multiple projects going at once. Eventually the goal is to get up to doing actual production levels of 200+ of any given model.

I need to find a reliable shop that is familar with knives and tolerances we use, and ideally is familiar with milling Titanium (for the folder side of things).

any recommendations please post up or send pm, much appreciated! 🙏
 
REK Knives said:
I looked that up but it looks like a one man shop who makes knives... Not sure what you mean here
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My advice was to "explore the production history," not take a quick glance at his page/site. Specifically, what you may find interesting is how he started making knives (i.e. what method of manufacture and at what scale), how that changed, how it changed again, and why. It's something that will require skimming through 5+ years of social media posts, and it's possible that many of the explanatory posts have since been deleted.

In short, he set out to do what you're asking about, did it for a few years, and then pulled the plug; in other words he has 'been there, done that' and the lessons he learned are ripe for the picking.

When I think of a list of knifemakers who make use of CNC milling, those who have sustainable success are those who do the CNC work in-house. Obviously I don't know what I don't know, but I can only think of a few makers who have sustainable success outsourcing CNC work - Darriel Caston is one who comes to mind.
 
P.Brewster said:
My advice was to "explore the production history," not take a quick glance at his page/site. Specifically, what you may find interesting is how he started making knives (i.e. what method of manufacture and at what scale), how that changed, how it changed again, and why. It's something that will require skimming through 5+ years of social media posts, and it's possible that many of the explanatory posts have since been deleted.

In short, he set out to do what you're asking about, did it for a few years, and then pulled the plug; in other words he has 'been there, done that' and the lessons he learned are ripe for the picking.

When I think of a list of knifemakers who make use of CNC milling, those who have sustainable success are those who do the CNC work in-house. Obviously I don't know what I don't know, but I can only think of a few makers who have sustainable success outsourcing CNC work - Darriel Caston is one who comes to mind.
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Ok I see what you are saying now. Yeah I don't have time to do that. He would also likely admit that he wouldn't be where he is today if he hadn't gone the route he did.

The end goal is to upgrade to a larger shop w/ a cement floor and get my own CNC eventually, but for now I'm forced to contract that service out, basically an 'interim phase' so to speak.

Yes I have done quite a bit of work for Darriel over the past 5-6 years and we were just chatting the other day on the phone, so I'm familiar. He has had his own share of headaches as you mention, but unfortunately it's a necessary part of the business.
 
Not necessarily the solution you're after right now but Tormach has some really small machines that seem like a good bridge from small scale, handmade, to small scale production. A few even run on 110v and could be run in a garage-sized shop at home.

I do not have one or experience with one yet but I have researched it considerably and it's a future route I'm budgeting for. My brother is a tool & die maker and machinist who would also use it for some side projects to help justify the cost for us, and mostly to keep it running so the ROI isn't as long. We want to take a trip and get a demo at some point this year.
 
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Other than Schenk Knives (who you are obviously aware of, lol), Leverwood Knife Works was only other company that got back to me and was willing to entertain the idea cutting a small batch of steak, paring, and fillet knives out of MagnaCut for me.
 
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