Just started making knives, my tool list so far - Need Help!

J

js19

Joined
Feb 25, 2015
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Hey guys, i'm going to buy some tools later today/tomorrow to start my knife making crusade, so excited. I just wanted to see what everyone thought of the equipment I was thinking about picking up as to whats needed/whats not.

I'm going to start with all cheaper stuff from harbor freight, just to make sure I do in fact love it, and heres what my list looks like so far -

Belt Sander - http://www.harborfreight.com/1-in-x-30-in-belt-sander-60543.html Will upgrade to 2x42 eventually.

Bench Grinder - http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/grinders-buffers/6-inch-bench-grinder-39797.html

Some metal/wood files and sand paper. Probably buy a dremel also for touch up/detail work.

For cutting the blanks, I'm not sure what to get, Ill start off with a hand metal hacksaw for sure, but was debating getting an angle grinder as well - http://www.harborfreight.com/power-...duty-4-1-2-half-inch-angle-grinder-91223.html

I'll buy a drill press eventually as well, but for now just going to use a cordless to drill the holes in handle.

As for the forge, i'll either make a Coffee can forge or take it to a heat-treating place right next to my house.


Is this good enough to start making my knives? I sure hope so, I can't wait.

Thanks guys
 
Drill press makes a major difference. Square holes are hard to drill with a hand drill. I cut all my blanks out with a hacksaw, only takes 10 minutes or so. Then shape it up with files and my 1x30. I don't use a buffer. I'd recommend a drill press over the buffer. Get the harbor freight 12 inch file set, I use them guys all the time. Also the little file packs they have. Their sandpaper sucks. Do not waste your money on it. Buy the best sandpaper you can. Contractor packs are your best value. The 1x30 does suck. It's almost worth not wasting your time with it. Mine doesn't trAck right, I had to epoxy my drive wheel back on after it shot off and hit me in the face. And I had to re work my toolrest after that fell off one day. I've had it less than a year. But it still works. So I can't complain too much.
 
I would recommend taking the money for the bench grinder and the angle grinder and using it to buy a Portable Band Saw, http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-variable-speed-bandsaw-47840.html
I have this same saw. I used some angle iron to mount it to the wall (using the bolts for the t-handle), used some scrap 1/8" aluminum sheet to make a table around the blade (mounted using the screws for the blade guard), and got some quality metal saw bands to replace the cheap one that came with it (save it for cutting wood and micarta)
With this set-up you will be able to cut out blanks much more precisely than the angle grinder ever could and you won't need to do nearly as much profile grinding, so you don't need the bench grinder, just use the belt grinder and files.
 
Torque - Yea, I was looking at that and I think I will pick it up eventually, but for now hacksaws and an angle grinder will do for blanks. Im going to use the angle grinder for more then just cutting as well.

Viral - Yea, if I take to this like I think I will (I love working with metal, have ever since middle school) then I won't be with the 1x30 for too long, I just dont have the funds for the 2x42 at the moment, so i'm thinking the 1x30 will serve me well for a year tops.

About the drills press, the cheapest one I found is http://www.homedepot.com/p/Buffalo-Tools-4-in-5-Speed-Mini-Drill-Press-DP5UL/100660518?N=5yc1vZc2dj, and I really don't have room for that either right now, I mean I could get it but it would negate other purchases. I think I can get the job done for now with some center punches, a great drill bit and going real nice and slow. Well see on the drill press, 80 is a great deal, I might just get that asap. If I were to get that my list would look more like this -

Drill Press - 80$
Angle Grinder/attachments - 30$
1x30 Belt Sander - 45$
Files - 10$
Hacksaw - 10$
Bench Grinder - 40$

How do you guys feel about the angle grinder and bench grinder? Is it needed right away? Could I just get away with using an angle grinder?

Im watching a trollsky video right now, and hes using only an angle grinder/drill/files/sandpaper which is interesting.


Thanks again!
 
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I never use an angle grinder and I do not have a bench grinder. I got my drill press from Craigslist for $25. It isn't great but it is so much better than squirely holes with my dewalt drill
 
So Viral, you only use -

Hacksaws
Drill Press
Files
Sandpaper

That's cool, i'm sure much more laborious but still awesome.

I think ill skip the Bench Grinder for now, the files/angle grinder/belt sander will be more then enough I think.

I checked CL for drill presses, and nothing in my area that's a good deal but ill certainly keep checking.
 
That is all I use. 10 minutes to cut it out. I can file my entire bevel on both sides in 45min to an hour. Then sand paper. I can do a Scandi grind in 25 minutes.
I know it's not fast, it's not easy. But once you get the hang of it, it's not that bad.

I use my 1x30 for cleaning up my blank and for rough shaping my handles.ImageUploadedByTapatalk1424989337.720899.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1424989361.352608.jpg
 
Hey JS19,
Your list is an ok list to get started. The two items you will want sooner than later is the drill press and a better sander/grinder (instead of the 1x30), but they are ok to get a start on, but sooner or later you will find the limitations of the hand drilled holes and the 1x30. Trollsky is a marvel in many ways and he does some great work. if you follow his example you will not go wrong. I use an angle cutter/grinder on a lot of my work (it's just what I've grown accustom to), and it works great for the rough-out work.

Bottom line, your list is a good place to start and learn from. As you get better you will want better tools, e.g. ever see Trollsky's belt sander/grinder?, those you can get along the way and at the same time keep your HF tools for dedicated purposes in the shop. Best of luck and welcome to the knife making community!!!
 
Beautiful knife Viral, I love it.

Thanks Cactus, yea that's my goal for this list, is just some decent items to get started with. I realize I will want better equipment, and with my personality i'm sure it will be sooner then later. Yea I really enjoy Trollskys videos so far, along with 3riverblades, and about that angle grinder, I definitely feel ya, I myself am very proficient with one and I'm sure Ill get tons of use out of it.


This community is awesome, thank you so much everyone.
 
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