Greatest new knifemaking tool over the last 20 years

Tom Lewis

Tom Lewis

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Feb 24, 2000
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I thought a good thread would be for knifemakers to share what they think is the best new knifemaking development, tool, etc. to be developed over say the last 20 years.(I have sold knives for the last 22 years.)
My vote goes for two great improvements. One is the new Norax belts. They have been a tremendous help to me. I always liked the Trizac belts, but the Norax is much better, they are thicker, cut better, the splice runs smooth, and doesn't bump when using small wheels. I have been able to save lots of time and do a better job using the Norax belts. By the way, True Grit sells them.
The second great improvement is the Pyroceram Liner for platen grinding. Stephen Pryor sells them. His e-mail address is knives4u3@juno.com. The Pyroceram liner is a ceramic product that looks like glass. It's flat, doesn't get grooves cut in it and makes a platen work like they are supost to work. I had always covered my platens with graphite, but they would soon get uneven. I am amazed at how easy it is to get a great finish on the flats of a knife blade using this pyroceram liner.
Those two items get my vote, I'm sure there are other worthy improvements as well. Tom Lewis
 
My vote would be for the internet, I'm sure without it,the amount of creative people out there would have a harder time letting people see their work. The tremendous volume of information that can be had and shared has never been seen before in anybodys lifetime. I see other people work and get ideas and that translates into more ideas for others. This may be a simplistic comment but I think it applies.
 
I'd have to say the huge proliferation of knifemaking books. Twenty years ago the only book on knifemaking that I was aware of was David Boye's book "How to Make Knives". Now you can take your pick.
 
Video. Some things you just have to see in motion. :D

The Rotary Platen developed by Rob Frink and his collaborators. Even though I don't have one yet I can tell it's going to revolutionize the way I work.

Just two more cents...

Dave
 
I'll have to agree with tom about the pyroceram platen liners. These are being very well recieved by many makers. Some have ordered one for a sampling but end up ordering several more for other grinders they have. Thank you.

Steve
 
Maybe I haven't been around long enough to comment intelligently on tools and their evolution but my vote goes to the internet community without which I never would have been able to make knives. :)
 
You know I'd have to include the internet also. Jeez, I've learned as much from these forums as I have from my knifemaking books and catalogs that I lug around with me everywhere.

Dave, I looked the Rob's rotary platen over while I was at Blade and was immediately taken with it. I wish I had the funds for a new grinder because it would be the KMG without a doubt!
 
personaly, one of the best new developments in knifemaking in the last 20yrs is the makers themselves and the work they produce......nuff said.....really......think about it!
 
i would have to go with the internet and all the fine people that share their knowledge so freely. i started five years ago and did not even own a car at the time. it was books and then the internet. id say donna evans is a close second:)
 
Being a new commer to this love of ours, I can honestly say that this forum has been my greatest knife making machine. Some day before long I hope to contribute well to new knife craftsman too.

Roger
 
1) How about some of the clubs, societies, guilds and organizations. Big and small, they are responsible for promoting and preserving Knifemaking.

2) How about the suppliers. They bring material, books, machinery..etc to the shows. They too are responible for promoting knifemaking.


Without continous promotion, there would be no perpetuation....hence, the innovations from 20 years ago would simple die off with the makers that never had a youth to share them with.

-Rob
 
The Rotary Platen developed by Rob Frink and I am looking forward to trying it when he bring it up to the NECKA Hammer-In this Sept.
 
the buyers of our knives, with out them
we'd have a lot of knives to give away,
and we'd have an expensive hobby.:(
and The Internet.
 
I will also have to agree with everybody else here and then add my 2 cents worth..
I believe the gas forge and hydraulic press inovations over the years have do allot for knifemaking themselves:cool:
Heck if it wasn't for the press we wouldn't have some of the most beautiful Damascus being made now.and if it wasn't for gas forges we couldn't make as big of a piece of Damascus as we do and not burn up steel as easily,also there wouldn't be as many people forging now due to lack of good coal or just there location forbidding the black smelly smoke from the forge...
For me I have to also vote for variable speed grinders.
And of coarse All the Donna's out there standing behind there husbands that make knives without fussing at them about the late hours in the shop.And paying the bills when knives aren't selling very fast.And listening to us talk about nothing but knives all the time when all our buddies have left the country on us because they don't care about our knives.
Bruce
 
Robert, I just order some Norax belts so we see.
Bump , don`t forget yourself on that list an many,
many others. Evans,I`ll go with that. Donna:D.
 
Bruce, if you tell me Donna Cooks too??:)
then, I just don't know how you can stand it.
if you can teach her to use your calipers then you'll
have it all...:eek: :) :D
 
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