Getting Started: What am I missing

etp777

etp777

Joined
Aug 12, 2002
Messages
2,259
OK, I get my monthly paycheck on monday, and I am planning on getting myself setup better here. I still have limited money for this,a nd am stuck working in apartment, but here's what I have so far, and here's what I'm adding.

Already have my 1x30"/5" Belt grinder/disc sander.

Cordless Drill(that'll have to last in place of drill press for at least another month)

Files(more files than I know what to do with, flat, round, needle, etc). That's why some of them have turned into knives until I can get real steel stock.

Various belts and sandpaper, steel wool, etc.


Here's My shopping list right now for Texas knife:
Carbide Scribe
Black Paper Micarta Piece 1/4"
Black Linen Micarta Piece 1/4"
1/8"x1.5"x2'
5/32"x1.5"x2'
3/16"x1.5"x2'
These steels are all O1

And from Amazon, I have these three books that I'm going to order.
"Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop" Wayne Goddard
"How To Make Knives" Richard W Barney
"Custom Knifemaking: 10 Projects from a Master Craftsman" Tim McCreight



So what else should I be ordering? Any suggestions? Also, what do y'all use for pins for Micarta? I'm only dealing with fixed blade knives for now, and tend to be looking at "tactical" designs. ANy input on this would be greatly appreciated.
 
I think you should add a drill press to the list. The cordless is too easy to wobble and/or drill the pin holes crooked. There are very inexpensive drill presses at the Home Depot or harbor-frieght. The little ones work fine.

Also the steel is too thick for light tools. The 1/8" is about right.

Pins can be found at Welding Supply Stores cheap. The hidden bolt fastens are great but the drill press and a proper step drill is needed.

Bruce B
 
drill press. or at least one of those thingies you stick a drill in.
Course it will just make you mad and you'll go out and buy a drill press then anyway. So...:D
 
i prefer the loveless bolts but as peter said you will need a drill press and the step drill for these bolts is over twenty bucks you can see them on my site. o1 is a bi#@$ to grind with a 1x30 i would start with 440c. you can sed it to texas supply or paul bos for heat treat 1084 steel is a little better also. buy the way when i started i bought the book by tim mc crieght and still refer to it. the others are great picks too. i would recommend you just get the books first. that way you wont order stuff you down need and dont want. i was waiting to have a back surgery and bought tims book and read it several times in recovery.
 
Hate to admit it, but think your advice on buying the books first is probably best out there. Still gonna buy a few pieces of steel, as I wanna keep working on my grinding, but you are probably right about getting the books first. Oh wlel, I GUESS I can do that. ;)
 
My advice is to get out while you can! Dont make that first knife! Once you do, it's all over and you wont want to stop. If you think you spent a lot of money on custom and/or production knives for your collection, wait until you start making knives. All of a sudden, you will be collecting machinery, blade steels, handle materials in addition to the knives you collect. Get out while you can! :)
 
So ok, I'll loook into a drill press that can fit in my budget this month. Time for another trip to Harbor Freight. :)

ANd yes Bruce, thank you very much on the steel, decided to actually look at a ruler, and you are very right, that 1/8" is more than enoughf or anything I'm likely to do right now. :)

As always, thank you for all the advice.
 
watch for the sales at HF. I bought one of the little guys for $39.99
the stuff all goes on sale eventually. Check the spindle to make sure they don't wobble when extended. The 1/3 hp is kinda undepowered for any large bits. But you can't get hurt on it.
 
Yep, planning on making a trip down to HF next week. :)

I don't plan on drilling any relaly big holes, for instance, on this last one, used 3/32" pins. For just drilling holes to help me cut out profile(still using hacksaw for that), can use my cordless drill, as it doesn't matter if those are a little crooked.
 
Make that another vote for the harbor freight benchtop drill press,I too got the one on sale for $39.99,I figured it would do until I got something better but I havent seen a need to buy a better one.I would also recommend some nice plastic pliers type spring clamps,for holding handle slabs while the epoxt dries,get some c-clamps as well and buy some good quality cobalt drill bits while youre at it.etp777,e-mail me with your address and I`ll send you my old David Boye knifemaking book,it`s a bit dirty and the pages are dog eared but heck it`s free!
Scott Fulford
 
Thanks Scott, as always. WIll do. :)

I have the Craftsman Zirconium Nitride set now, their top of the line $90 set(though I didn't pay anything near that, advantage of working there. ;) I add titanium or cobalt bits as I lose or break the ZN ones. Unless I'm getting something just for wood, those are just HSS, got some of those for handles on last knife.

I do need some spring clamps, have a few c clamps, that I actually bought years ago to do my own serrations, still work, and still doing knife stuff, though quite a bit more now. :)

I'm sure I"ll have more questions for y'all as I progress. Hopefully the books will help limit that though.
 
If you don't find a drill press you like at Harbor Freight, check out a lowes or Home Depot, you can get an 8" delta for less than $100. Or if you get a discount on crafstmen, get their 8" drill press also less than $100.

I tried my hand at grinding with a 4X36 beltsander, it worked but the belts available suck. I bought an 8" bench grinder and like it alot better. Its not anywhere near as nice as a good belt grinder with a contact wheel but I can hollow grind a folder blade in a little over an hour as opposed to a day of flat grinding with my belt sander. Saves belt for handles and stuff.
 
Hey EPT, looks like you already caught the bug. I started out small with files, bench grinder, 1x42 belt sander/grinder and a hand drill, etc. Now the dang things have been breeding for over 10 years and the shop is getting cramped. Seriously though I would suggest a good first aid kit for you shop area. Those sharp pointy things can bite and so can any machine. I have used mine a few times and it has paid for itself.
Good luck and have fun
 
Hey EPT, I just noticed you are in OKC. Same here, give me an e-mail and if you want to you can stop by the shop. I will try to clean it up, but it is a lost cause I think.
 
The 3/16th steel might be a bit heavy unless you want to make some big knives. Your 5/32 inch is great for hunter size (approx. 8 inch OAL)and the 1/8th is okay too for that. I think you listed 3/32nd. That is the overall choice for smaller knives. Good choice. The O-1 steel is a very good choice.

I might suggest a thinner belt grinder even if it is a small one; I'm still working with a very cheap 1 X 30 grinder. You do need your 5 inch belt grinder though. I am remembering that you are working within an apartment. My place is about like that.

Don't forget a drill press, as suggested by others above. You can get a small one that will drill the holes you'll want. When room permits a small milling machine will open up more opportunities for you and also serve as your drill press - but a small drill press is essential to your knife making needs.

Do carry on.

Roger
 
Doesn't look like there is much more that I can add here..Just have fun and get the best tools you can afford when you get them,remeber you get what you pay for,ask me how I know? Lots of old machines have been pitched out my shop door over the years.
Bruce
 
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