You will regret getting a bench grinder over a belt grinder. Just saying. And the respirator is for anything that creates dust. You don't want to be breathing metal dust, or resin dust, or any other kind of dust.
Give some thought to why pretty much every professional knifemaker has a belt grinder. I realize that you're going to do what you're going to do, but if I can help you avoid some of the mistakes that I made when I started out (relatively recently), I figure that will be a good thing.
If you want to waste money, do it your way. You'll quickly realize why you're getting the recommendations that you are. I mean, we don't say "get a belt grinder" just for the heck of it. Even the folks like tryppyr who do a fantastic job with a set of files, end up getting a belt grinder eventually. I use my bench grinder, but it's not that useful in comparison to my belt grinder (and the belt grinder takes up the same amount of bench space, just requires more vertical space), and I really wish I'd have saved the money I spent buying all kinds of cheap tools and just picked up the craftsman (or even a real knifemaking grinder) much much sooner.
If I were going to sum up what I've learned about starting out in knifemaking so far in four rules, it would be this:
1. SAFETY FIRST! Get a good respirator. They'll look expensive at first. Then think how expensive your hospital bills will be if you get lung cancer, or tumors, or lung infections, etc. Get eye protection, especially for anything that throws sparks. Losing an eye sucks. I also recommend a shop apron that will protect your clothes from the sparks. I burned holes in several pairs of pants before I learned that lesson. I like to wear gloves in my shop, although many don't. My gloves saved me from losing a finger to my own stupidity coupled with a faulty buffer. I'll keep wearing them...
2. You get what you pay for. If I were going to do it over, I'd start with files, to find out if knifemaking really is for me. If you can do it with files, and still want to make more, then you'll want to buy good tools. I regret starting with the equipment that I did. I think I probably spent a good 600 dollars all told on stuff that I barely use now. I love my angle grinder (don't regret that one at all), and my drill press, and I do like the Craftsman 2x42. I also use my cheapo HF 4x36 for handle work a LOT. I could probably use a better quality one, but this one will do for now. The scroll saw, 2 1x30's, bench grinder, and battery powered dremel were all bad ideas, in my estimation. Oh, and there's clamps, vices, stuff for making sheaths, etc. There are a good many things that you'll probably find that you want or need, and it all adds up. I've regretted virtually every cheap tool I've purchased, with the exception of my awesome costco dremel.
3. Take your time. The other biggest problem I've had is that I'm really impatient. You get a much better project if you take it slow, use a light touch, and proceed as methodically as possible.
4. Shoot to make every knife better than the last one. Never cut corners, and try to learn and improve with every new knife. Darrin told me that when I sent out my very first blades to him for heat treat, and I think his advice is a large part of why I've gotten to the point where I have. I have so much more yet to learn, but it's really exciting to look back at those first knives and see how far you've come.
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