Daddy needs some tools!

Chiro75 · May 10, 2005

I spent about 10 minutes with a 3/8" piece of Micarta clamped in a vice and a hacksaw and miter saw hand cutting the piece in half for scales. I REALLY need a bandsaw! I know it was "only" 10 minutes, but something I've noticed is that I spend an enormous amount of my time cutting things, whether handle material or especially blades, and profiling them ad naseum. A bandsaw would make thngs SO much better. I have one knife out there, one paid for in advance, one spoken for and one more that will be up for sale on Thursday, so the $$$ won't be a big deal if I Harbor Freight it, but it's just annoying to not have what you need when you need it, you know? Also, my 1/4" drill bit has dulled just a touch and it grabs and spins everything I try to drill. I did prove to myself that I have a pretty strong edge on a recent knife, as it was blasted into the metal pole that the drill press head is on repeatedly, but I'm so sick of buying bits, buying this, running out for that, opps more epoxy and latex gloves needed, oops forgot that, better go back... And I'm only part-time!

J.Wade · May 10, 2005

buy everything in bulk. most of the time you get a better price too. takes money to make money.

cya
jimi

Laredo7mm · May 10, 2005

Just my $0.02 but I would buy the equipment that has the biggest impact on the quality of the finished knife first, not necessarily what saves the most time.

Here is the sequence and price that I bought/built my equipment:

1) Forge - $40
2) Grinder - $0
3) 152# Anvil - $75
4) Drill Press - $35
5) Power Hanmmer - $600
6) High Temp Salt Pot - $150
7) Drill/Mill - $1000
8) Band Saw - $1050
9) Hydraulic Press - $500
10) Surface Grinder - $155

As you can see the stuff that saves the most time seems to cost more $$$. Well at least in my case since I built alot of the other stuff and had to buy the bigger play toys.

All the little stuff like drill bits, epoxy, reamers, screws etc...they can be a bit of a pain in the butt. That is why I have mt credit card number memorized and McMaster Carr loves me.

Oh, yeah, I think I would be considered part-time too.

NickWheeler · May 11, 2005

Chiro-

The husband and wife duo that own/operate the Chiropractic Clinic I go to drive brand new Land Rovers and live in a 5,000square foot house... What's this nonsense about "affording" things?!?!?!?!

-Nick-

blgoode · May 11, 2005

Drill bits are going to get dull. If you dont want to buy latex gloves your going to get epoxy on your hands. Kind of say if you dont like the heat stay out of the kitchen I guess. I dont like having burnt fingers but I still belly up to the grinder knowing that I will more than not always have blisters or dirty fingernails. When You get the bandsaw you will next be frustrated that you have to make so many straight cuts and cant simply cut the shape you want.

That old saying..."Its always something".

Dan Gray · May 11, 2005

Steve there's no reason you have to have dull drill bits
sharpen them,, you make knives right . use your grinder..

NOW what is the complaint about time?

you use to use files to make knives right?

you'll find you can't do anything fast enough once you've leaned that tools
make things faster, the faster you go the faster you can see the end result.
it gets to be a tool monster tug of war. hehehe you got the bug bad now

blgoode · May 11, 2005

I also spray whater on my drill bits to keep them cool when I use them. Save the temper

Chiro75 · May 11, 2005

The husband and wife duo that own/operate the Chiropractic Clinic I go to drive brand new Land Rovers and live in a 5,000square foot house... What's this nonsense about "affording" things

How old are they and how long have they been in business? When you start off $160K in debt it's a bit of a rock to crawl out from under! As far as the knifemaking goes, my knifemaking/buying is a self-perpetuating hobby. Could I go out and buy seriously awesome equipment right now? Yes, however I am trying my best to keep the knife stuff separate from personal/business stuff, so if I need to buy a $250 tool and I haven't sold any knives, then it's time for me to wait, if that makes sense.

FWIW, I've solf just about everything I've made since I started getting more serious in March, so I have the $$$ for the stuff I'm bitching about, I just don't want to physically wait to buy it. I'm very impatient!

ddavelarsen · May 16, 2005

I got a kick out of Sean's post on what he acquired in what order; it makes perfect sense. For me, there are really only three "must have" tools, and in this order:

1. Belt grinder (2X72 if I'd known then what I know now) ($400 then $2000)
2. Drill press ($50)
3. HF band saw ($150)

I still say that $150 was the best money I've ever spent. Now be sure to buy bimetal blades for it, or you'll just be throwing bad money after good.

I found that many of my woodworking tools are indispensible too - table saw and band saw get used all the time.

As far as supplies go...there's no end to it. Belts, sandpaper, files, Dremel accessories, buffing compound, drill bits, epoxy, colorants, solvents, degreasers, solder, flux, torch, steel, various bolster/guard/pin barstock, forge, propane, leather, leather tools, clamps, videos and books and magazines ... and Handle Materials! Cripes, I know I'm not the only one who spends all their odd cash on every concievable handle material, always knowing that if I don't buy that piece right now I'll miss out on it forever... I must have $500 worth of Micarta of various configurations, and quite an odd collection of every kind of hardwood known to the Western world. It's a sickness. And then of course you've gotta have storage for all that stuff: benches, tool boxes, drawer organizers, trays, bowls...

I've been saving all of my change every evening for about three years now and finally have enough coffee cans full of it that I can buy that heat treating oven! Ya-Hoo! So then I'll be buying foil, bricks, quench plates, dewar...

I should have just been a collector.

Oh Hey! I am a collector! A tool collector! Sheesh.

Chiro75 · May 16, 2005

I hear you, Dave. I have enough wood and handle material to last me the next ten years, probably. The only thing I haven't really gone nuts with stocking up on is steel. I bought a ton of 1084 when I first started and consequently that was all I used for a long time, so now I am buying just a few yards at a time and experimenting. What's worse is that now I'm chasing the folder gauntlet again. When will I learn???

Might need a better drill press for that one, though. Or four so I don't have to change bits every five seconds!