I have collected knives for many years, and I have always dreamed of being a knife maker. I began a year or two ago with knife kits, and although I have not mastered these kits, I really want to grind my own blades and try the stock removal method. My question is simple, what basic tools and equipment do I need to begin this grinding my own blades (please keep in mind I may be working with a limited budget)? Also, can anyone recommend a book about the basics to grinding blades or the stock removal method? Thank you for helping me try to make a dream come true.
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Grinding my own blades...a dream for the future
- Thread starter clevedog
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- Sep 29, 2009
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If you're on a limited budget I would recommend a Craftsman 2x42 belt grinder. Go to USA Knifemakers supply and buy this and install it on the metal platen the way it's described on the site. And I would also get this handy jig and with considerably less practice than trying it freehand, you can put together some decent looking grinds rather quickly. Practice on some paint sticks from a home improvement store for a while before you go through a few pieces of steel. Much cheaper way to learn.
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Read these books
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=603203
I like
Step by Step Knifemaking - David Boye
Watch these videos
http://smartflix.com/store/category/9/Knifemaking
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/499...femaking_Basics_-_Make_a_Mora_Bushcraft_Knife
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=603203
I like
Step by Step Knifemaking - David Boye
Watch these videos
http://smartflix.com/store/category/9/Knifemaking
http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/499...femaking_Basics_-_Make_a_Mora_Bushcraft_Knife
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2008
- Messages
- 156
I have that book as well. Great buy and its entirely for the stock removal. Even offers a chapter on leatherworking.
Exactly how limited is your budget? There are several ways of getting good results with minimal equipment. There's even a guy that makes knives with no power equipment at all. (other then a small drillpress, which can be replaced with your average handdrill and a steady hand..and this will only be needed for full tang knives) He does everything else with hacksaws, files, sanding sheets and polishing compound.
But what you need is something to use as a workbench. (there's been people using old bookcases, desks, porch railings..etc) Something to roughly cut out the profile of the knife (hacksaw would suffice for annealed steel..a drill would make this much easier/quicker), something to profile it to exact shape (good files would work for this as well as for forming the bevels), something to polish/finish the blade wtih (sanding sheets and pushsticks), something to hold the blade while filing the bevels and finishing (any cheap c-clamp), and something for handle/bolster work (again, files and sanding sheets would work here) Even though this method wouldn't require any power equipment (unless you using a drill to aid the hacksawing)..I still recommend getting a good dusk mask/respirator that could filter the metal and handle particles. If you can get a belt sander like Fletch mentioned..you'll need saftey glasses to. (and one of these would make profiling/grinding MUCH faster, it'll also be easier to mess up the blade though..so do consider practicing with the paintsticks as mentioned ) I also recommend getting a handdrill; I think you can "burn in" the tang on some narrow tang knife designs; but that greatly limits your choices of handle material imo as the heat would destroy others. A handdrill and files could prevent having to use this method, giving you more choices.
Exactly how limited is your budget? There are several ways of getting good results with minimal equipment. There's even a guy that makes knives with no power equipment at all. (other then a small drillpress, which can be replaced with your average handdrill and a steady hand..and this will only be needed for full tang knives) He does everything else with hacksaws, files, sanding sheets and polishing compound.
But what you need is something to use as a workbench. (there's been people using old bookcases, desks, porch railings..etc) Something to roughly cut out the profile of the knife (hacksaw would suffice for annealed steel..a drill would make this much easier/quicker), something to profile it to exact shape (good files would work for this as well as for forming the bevels), something to polish/finish the blade wtih (sanding sheets and pushsticks), something to hold the blade while filing the bevels and finishing (any cheap c-clamp), and something for handle/bolster work (again, files and sanding sheets would work here) Even though this method wouldn't require any power equipment (unless you using a drill to aid the hacksawing)..I still recommend getting a good dusk mask/respirator that could filter the metal and handle particles. If you can get a belt sander like Fletch mentioned..you'll need saftey glasses to. (and one of these would make profiling/grinding MUCH faster, it'll also be easier to mess up the blade though..so do consider practicing with the paintsticks as mentioned ) I also recommend getting a handdrill; I think you can "burn in" the tang on some narrow tang knife designs; but that greatly limits your choices of handle material imo as the heat would destroy others. A handdrill and files could prevent having to use this method, giving you more choices.
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You don't need need a drill press as you can use your vice and carefully use a hand drill to make your handle fastenings. The craftsman grinder is the one I'm going to be getting to start out.
I'm in your boat though, still saving up as my wife reminds me of all these bills. Oddly enough our HUGE house buying tax return is in her account and I don't get to touch it.. Although we used it to pay off her debt.. Lose.
You're going to want a work bench with great lightning and a good bit of surface, I've read somewhere that 6ft is nice but I plan on going with 8ft. A good thing to do is buy a few base cabinets (Four depending on width) and place them together with an opening the middle for you to sit and work. On top of the cabinets place a piece of wood for spacing (depending on your height) and finally place your work surface, a long ol' piece of wood. Peg board for the wall behind your work space with various pegboard hooks to hold your files, etc.
You're going to want files, I've read here that Nicholson makes some really nice files. A hacksaw, I think that a bandsaw would also come in quite handy and you can find one for just over one hundred dollars (given it's not the greatest, it'll do the job until you can begin upgrading single pieces). Various-sized drill bits, an oil to put on the bits as you drill through steel. You will also want a few various sized clamps to help with holding the blade, holding the handle to the blade, etc.
You'll want a good 4inch vice along-with a knife vice. A respirator and safety goggles. Also, you should get two ball-peen hammers, an 8oz and a 32oz as that should cover most of the peening you'll need to do. A soldering gun is a bad idea either. I got, How to Make Knives and there is a lot of good information in it. Step-by-step guides for making knives with machinery and without machinery of any type. There is also a section on sheath making, etc.
If anyone reads anything in my post that needs correcting please don't hesitate as it would be teaching me too. I have three days off next week and that's when I plan on assembling everything for my station!
Brett
I'm in your boat though, still saving up as my wife reminds me of all these bills. Oddly enough our HUGE house buying tax return is in her account and I don't get to touch it.. Although we used it to pay off her debt.. Lose.
You're going to want a work bench with great lightning and a good bit of surface, I've read somewhere that 6ft is nice but I plan on going with 8ft. A good thing to do is buy a few base cabinets (Four depending on width) and place them together with an opening the middle for you to sit and work. On top of the cabinets place a piece of wood for spacing (depending on your height) and finally place your work surface, a long ol' piece of wood. Peg board for the wall behind your work space with various pegboard hooks to hold your files, etc.
You're going to want files, I've read here that Nicholson makes some really nice files. A hacksaw, I think that a bandsaw would also come in quite handy and you can find one for just over one hundred dollars (given it's not the greatest, it'll do the job until you can begin upgrading single pieces). Various-sized drill bits, an oil to put on the bits as you drill through steel. You will also want a few various sized clamps to help with holding the blade, holding the handle to the blade, etc.
You'll want a good 4inch vice along-with a knife vice. A respirator and safety goggles. Also, you should get two ball-peen hammers, an 8oz and a 32oz as that should cover most of the peening you'll need to do. A soldering gun is a bad idea either. I got, How to Make Knives and there is a lot of good information in it. Step-by-step guides for making knives with machinery and without machinery of any type. There is also a section on sheath making, etc.
If anyone reads anything in my post that needs correcting please don't hesitate as it would be teaching me too. I have three days off next week and that's when I plan on assembling everything for my station!
Brett
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- Mar 4, 2010
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Hi Clevedog,
First thing is fill out your profile!!! You might have a master-smith 2 doors down and not even know it!!!
Believe it or not, there are a couple of us around. I am operating on bear minimums myself. I went out and got some Nicholson files, ball pein hammer, hacksaw, c-clamps, square w/ruler. I had a tape measure already, so I use that for longer measurements if it's longer than my 12" ruler. I already had a Dremel XPR and that thing has been a lifesaver for cutting and some quick sanding! I got lucky and hooked up with someone who helped me make a knife vise, which I mounted on my window sill in my efficiency! Another thing I found helpful was downloading and ordering Knife making supply store catalogs! Here is a link to a thread I created on Knifedogs.com, that lists tons of vendors. Hours and hours of fun!!!
Jeff's Giganto Supply Store Link Thread]
If you have further questions, pm me or email me, or just yell!
Fill out your profile!!!!
Jeff
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2006
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- 8,651
that's what i was going to say. if you where in my area i would welcome you over in a heart beat. i don't make great knives
but at least i can make steel dust 
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- Aug 28, 2009
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I am real good at making that too, maybe Sparks can make a new membership level right below Knifemaker called MetalDustMakerthat's what i was going to say. if you where in my area i would welcome you over in a heart beat. i don't make great knives
james terrio
Sharpest Knife in the Light Socket
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- Apr 15, 2010
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- 22,618
If I had to start over, I'd buy a drill press BEFORE a grinder. Crooked holes made with a hand-drill will make you mad as heck, trust me on that one. A Dremel or similar rotary tool is a very good first power tool for lots of reasons, not the least of which is versatility.