Grinding on a College Budget.

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Eldest Archer

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Oct 24, 2016
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Hey guys, so I am very new to knife making, but have very quickly realized the value of good tools and equipment. The problem is my budget. As the title of the tread implies, I am a college student and don't have much money to throw around. For the time being I have been using a set of files and occasionally a Dremel tool to shape my steel. I'm sure most of you have done this at some point, so you can see where I am coming from. Unfortunately I don't have much money to throw at a grinder, so does anyone know anywhere i could get a decent one for cheap? Or is there maybe something you recommend using in its place until my wallet gets a little thicker. I was thinking about getting an angle grinder and using that to grind as well as cut steel to shape. I have seen that done in a few videos.

Thanks a lot for taking the time guys and I appreciate any advice.
 
An angle grinder. I use one for the rough beveling and on my blades (all forged). They can be had for less than 50$ on kijiji or CL, and with a bit of practice can be quite accurate. With practice. This might take some time to learn. Then use a file jig to clean up the bevels to near finished.
 
Do you have a specific budget?

A lot of guys start out with a 1x30 from Harbor Freight, or a Craftsman 2x42. You may be able to find something on your local craigslist as well.

A 2x72 is preferable to most makers, but they can be a bit more money. You might check out the SLING grinders from Polar Bear Forge. They seem to be a pretty high value for the money.
 
I'm on a tight budget also so I feel your pain. Jump on Craigslist and look for an angle grinder to rough the blank.and a craftsman 2x42 for bevels and you'll be good to go.
 
I can say that of course it depends on what kind of budget you actually have--if you coul$d let us know that would affect what tips I would give you. I am actually one who says go with a smaller belt sander until you can go big, but a 2x72 is where you want to be--so for example you can get an AMK-77 http://amktactical.com/epages/3c926...26a50-9aba-43a5-9571-098ee03f1288/Products/33 for 1299 + $50 shipping and it is a great choice, just not a variable speed--you can upgrade to that later. If your more in the couple hundred $ range, I would go with a Rikon 1x30 which also has a 5" disc as well for $110 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/RIKON-Power-...=1477873497&sr=8-1&keywords=rikon+belt+sander I think this and a decent selection of belts will chew up most of your couple hundred--I'd combine this with a file guide and a few files if you don't have them already. I would make vise my next basic purchase--Next I would look for a drill press and then a assorted other tools. Good luck to you and let us know what your parameters are.
 
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My range at the moment caps out at probably around $250-$300. Though i'd like to keep away from those numbers and just spend around or at the $200 for now... So belt sanders will work? I was under the impression that their sfpm was too low to really be used effectively to grind steel.
Thanks again guys I appreciate all the help, and good idea Velferd, a party might just do the trick haha
 
Eldest Archer said:
My range at the moment caps out at probably around $250-$300. Though i'd like to keep away from those numbers and just spend around or at the $200 for now... So belt sanders will work? I was under the impression that their sfpm was too low to really be used effectively to grind steel.
Thanks again guys I appreciate all the help, and good idea Velferd, a party might just do the trick haha
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You can easily afford a craftsman 2x42 on that. Get some belts from supergrit or true grit. And you will be good to go. Actually the 2x42 runs too fast. It's pretty insane and takesa while to get used too.
 
Maelstrom78 said:
2x42 Craftsman grinder. Belts from Trugrit.com
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The Crapsman will get you started with belts from ^^^. Sell each knife for enough to make three more. 1/3 of the sales goes in a coffee can until you have enough to buy a big boy 2 x 72". That's what the late Bob Loveless told me to do.
 
It does run fast!

That's what I started with. I still have it and am still using the belts that I have for it from time to time.

For me it was a good starting machine before I got my VFD 2x72. By then I had stuck with it for some time and was sure it wasn't going to blow a lot of cash on something I won't stick with.
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
The Crapsman will get you started with belts from ^^^. Sell each knife for enough to make three more. 1/3 of the sales goes in a coffee can until you have enough to buy a big boy 2 x 72". That's what the late Bob Loveless told me to do.
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Wow some great advice from a legend.
 
Depending on your school, you might look around for a metal sculpture or art studio. I`m also a student, and I`m currently doing safety training to use the metalworking studio. Its a pretty nice space, with a grinder, plasma cutter, anvil, forges, blast furnaces, and all sorts of other random tools. And while looking I`ve found several other small metal shops scattered around campus. You never know what you might find.
 
It certainly can be done. Im currently a sophomore in college and started making knives as a junior in highschool. I would say for now dont even bother with online sales. Sell at good prices to people you know. Neighbors, parents friends, so on and so forth.
 
I guess the big question is this, what is your end gole. Are you doing it because it looks fun and you like knives or because it looks like a good money making opportunity. Let me be the one to say that making money making knives is not as easy as it looks. Not saying it's impossible but you have to have the drive, dedication and passion to do it even when it's not making you a cent and actually costing you money. I do it because I LOVE it and it's a good way for me to relax and have fun. But if I was doing it only for money I would have gone belly up along time ago. Im not saying you can't make money at this, you can but its hard work and absolute dedication to quality. A good way to get started is to give away your knives for the first year. After a year you will have some skills under your belt and can start moving twords selling. Honestly At first you will be lucky to cover material costs.

If your doing this for fun and because you love knives then have at it and enjoy every min of it and ignore my comments above about selling lol. Also just putting this out there so you know major talk about pricing and selling is reserved for paid forum members so just giving you a heads up.
 
See if you can get access to a machine shop either at your college or somewhere in the city. If they have the tools that you are looking for, you just need to go when barely anyone is there. That's what I did when I needed to use some tools that I definitely won't purchase myself. It was only $50 CAD for the month.
 
Good call on that one Park Swan, thanks... I'll definitely look into machine shops around me for future use at the very least, and I'll probably spring for a craftsman. Thanks again everybody for the advice and the knowledge!
 
I took a 20% off coupon to harbor freight and got the cheapo 1x30, ordered some belts and a ceramic platen and made a 6" petty knife from 52100 carbon on that thing. I will say it takes a while to profile and I rough in my bevels on it and sand them flat by hand pre-heat treat, then post-HT grind a lil more and hand sand flat again. With HF 1x30 or craftsman 2x42 I suggest ordering a ceramic glass platen from usaknifemakers or elsewhere, my ran me a whopping $10 (plus shipping but I needed other stuff) and it helps flat grinds a lot.
 
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