Grinder or training

E

Eagle3delta

Joined
Dec 18, 2016
Messages
13
I have been making knifes for about a year and the grinder I use is a very cheap model. I have saved up enough money to buy a KMG. But now I'm wondering if I would be better off taking a class?
Opinions?
 
Since you haven't filled out your profile, it is hard to advise you. We don't know if you are 15, live in Ukraine, and are a siamese twin.

In a generalised answer, you will need the belt grinder no matter what. Training can come at any time. There are hammer-ins that cost $50 or less (some are free). Classes by the ABS and other groups at places like Haywood college ( in NC) are in the $300 range.The Moran school of Bladesmithing is much more expensive, but well worth it.
It may be best to get the grinder, work on your fit and finish as well as grinding skills, and start a savings to go to a school or other training.

By filling out your profile, someone may offer you some one-on-one lessons.
 
Hi Eagle. I bought a Pheer 454 without having any training and the learning curve has been steep for me personally. IMHO I think I'd still take the grinder as it's just a game changer for this hobby. You can pick up a bunch of wood or mild steel for cheap to practice grinding
 
I think if you go get some training on someone else's nice 2x72, you'll come home and not even want to turn yours on until you have one.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Since you haven't filled out your profile, it is hard to advise you. We don't know if you are 15, live in Ukraine, and are a siamese twin.

In a generalised answer, you will need the belt grinder no matter what. Training can come at any time. There are hammer-ins that cost $50 or less (some are free). Classes by the ABS and other groups at places like Haywood college ( in NC) are in the $300 range.The Moran school of Bladesmithing is much more expensive, but well worth it.
It may be best to get the grinder, work on your fit and finish as well as grinding skills, and start a savings to go to a school or other training.

By filling out your profile, someone may offer you some one-on-one lessons.
Click to expand...
Exactly, if he's a Siamese twin, he may need two grinders.. [emoji3]
 
Knowledge is more important than tooling, but the proper tooling makes tasks much easier to accomplish. There is a lot of free information available if you filter through the dabblers to get to the guys who know what they're doing.

I bought a KMG years back when I started, and while it is a fine machine, I feel like it is outclassed by what is available today. Multiple tool arm slots and the ability to flip from vertical to horizontal can expend what you can do with a single machine by quite a bit.
 
I'll go out on a limb: Buy a grinder get some steel and watch videos by Bob Loveless, Johnny Stout, and Steven Johnson. You will learn more from trial and error while grinding than anything else. You must grind to learn...there is no easy way...but it is more satisfying that way in the long run. Relax but be careful and the rest will come. Larry

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