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Yotestalker

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Mar 5, 2019
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Hello all! So I’m in the process of getting setup to make knives. I built my first forge last week, a coal forge that I made out of a brake drum and a 55gl barrel. I picked up an old 12” craftsman drill press last week too that I traded an old welding table for. Have a large piece if RR track for a starter anvil. Now I need a grinder....
I plan to make my own. I plan to buy the lightning wheels from OBM when I get the cash, and scrounge around for whatever metal I can come up with. For now, I’m just going to run a direct drive setup with no soeed control. I’ll add a VFD later this summer hopefully. I still need to run a 220 line out to my shop but already have all the materials to do that.
It’s been a long hard winter so I’m running on fumes in the cash department. It’s litterally gonna take all the scrounging I can do to put this thing together but it’ll be a fun project. I’ve read hundreds of posts here for a couple of weeks now so I’ve got a good idea what I’m wanting and how to go about getting it done.
So anyways, glad to be here and have the wealth of knowledge that’s available by you all.
 
Thanks guys. I do plan to upgrade to the Atlas forge this summer when money allows. The coal can be touchy. I’ve burnt several tips off already from getting too hot.
 
Since you are not a kid who will act before thinking ( although I know some 45 year olds who haven't learned that yet), I will suggest you get a 4.5" angle grinder. You can do a lot of utting, profiling. and some basic beveling before you switch to files and sandpaper. They are cheap at [laces like HF/Northern, pawn shops, yard sales, and flea markets. The cheap wheels at HF/Northern will be fine. Take your time, don't push hard, ... and wear a full face shield.
 
Thanks Stacy. I actually already have three. I do a lot of metal work already, just never was into knife making until now.
I’ve got a nice hobart welder, a professional heavy duty Smith torch set, angle grinders, hammers, vises, drills, files, most everything in a well fitted shop. I do need a better anvil. I’ve got my eye on a 12”x12x48” of hardened steel that came out of the rock crusher at work.
 
And when I’m grinding, I’ve always got my welding mask in in grind mode. I was a safety rep at the quarry so I’m a stickler fir safety.
 
I’ve viewed so many various styles of grinders that I’m stuck on which one to build! I do know it’ll be mostly welded, I’ll use a shock instead of a spring for belt tensioner, and it’ll be made of heavy steel. I’ve got a whole sheet of 1/2” plate steel but man that is heavy stuff. Thinking 2x2 1/4” sq tube for the main chassis. Want to do a face mount motor. Don’t want to have to have my local machinist to do much of anything for me. Undecided whether to buy or build the mount for the platen rollers or not. Soooo many decisions....
 
Yotestalker said:
Hello all! So I’m in the process of getting setup to make knives. I built my first forge last week, a coal forge that I made out of a brake drum and a 55gl barrel. I picked up an old 12” craftsman drill press last week too that I traded an old welding table for. Have a large piece if RR track for a starter anvil. Now I need a grinder....
I plan to make my own. I plan to buy the lightning wheels from OBM when I get the cash, and scrounge around for whatever metal I can come up with. For now, I’m just going to run a direct drive setup with no soeed control. I’ll add a VFD later this summer hopefully. I still need to run a 220 line out to my shop but already have all the materials to do that.
It’s been a long hard winter so I’m running on fumes in the cash department. It’s litterally gonna take all the scrounging I can do to put this thing together but it’ll be a fun project. I’ve read hundreds of posts here for a couple of weeks now so I’ve got a good idea what I’m wanting and how to go about getting it done.
So anyways, glad to be here and have the wealth of knowledge that’s available by you all.
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Sounds great. Come on
 
I don't understand your posts. In this thread you talk about having money issues, then in the other thread where you insulted @DevinT you're saying that you're a business owner and a man who can buy any tool he wants but would rather get by cheaply because it CAN be done cheaply. Which is it? Your story is confusing because you contradict yourself.

Yotestalker said:
And I’m a man that COULD get online and order the best of everything I could possibly ever need to make a knife and not think twice. I’m choosing to do this as cheaply as possible...because it’s possible. I’m a business owner so making things happen as cheap as possible is built into me.
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Yotestalker said:
It’s been a long hard winter so I’m running on fumes in the cash department. It’s litterally gonna take all the scrounging I can do to put this thing together but it’ll be a fun project.
Click to expand...
 
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I think Yotestalker is just excited. I advised him to chill a bit and read more in the other thread.
 
Yotestalker said:
Ocelot -
I didn’t insult anyone at any time. I’ve read this site from front to back and have seen the comment he made posted here a few times. I simply said he read that somewhere because it wasn’t an accurate statement. Get your facts straight if you want to attempt to call people out.

Maybe you’re the type of person who will spend every available penny you have available to you however, not everyone is that way. I am a business owner and I do have money available if I NEEDED it but, not to waste on a hobby. I work on average 8 months of the year and save so I can take off the other 4 months. What money is in my account is there to support my family and not for toys. But I’m entering my 8 months of being swamped with work so I’ll be buying toys soon.
I certainly hope you don’t plan to stalk me on here analyzing every post I make. That’s sorta creepy.
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I'm not stalking you, you're a troll and I'm calling you on it. People like you make experienced and helpful makers leave this sub-forum, because they don't feel like arguing with someone who just watched "Forged In Fire" a few times and read some forum posts and think they are qualified to argue with someone who has devoted their lives to the craft.

Stacy gave you good advice you might want to follow it if you want to last more than a week here.
 
Yotestalker said:
Ocelot -
I didn’t insult anyone at any time.
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At risk of adding fuel instead of water to the fire here, I'll add my 1 1/2 cents in hopes that we all can do a better job at looking at things from someone else's point of view and potentially avoid further disputes.

In the topic that started this, you said at one point:
"And I looked at his website but I’m not entirely sure what you expected me to see? He makes knives. Okay... Isn’t there many here that do?"

I think the point of directing you to Hoss's website was to show that he knows what he's talking about and your response can be interpreted as quite insulting. Someone who has been do professionally for a while isn't just "someone who makes knives" just like a NASCAR driver isn't just someone who has a drivers' license.

Have fun and good luck with your projects! Look forward to seeing pics of your work!
 
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