Knife making equipment

B

Bobzilla

Joined
Jul 31, 2000
Messages
5
Hi,
New to this. I want to start making knives. I have for years, but I just turned 50 and figure I better get busy. I have been doing kit knives for a while and rehandled some production and custon knives. I make jewelry and do lost wax casting. I know I need a belt grinder. I already have many hand tools like files, high speed handpiece with footcontrol, small saws etc. I also just inherited a Smithy Mill, lathe, drill press.
What other big equipment do I need?
How much can I do with the Smithy mill, lathe, etc? I don't know how to use it but I'm a fast learner. I have been doing precision hand work my whole life.
I would appreciate any advice.
Also, if anyone in the Seattle area makes knives and wouldn't mind showing me around their shop, I sure would be grateful.
Thanks,
Bob
 
Definately need an air filtration/dust collection system of some sort. Obviously a good grinder. Maybe a disc grinder depending on what you're gonna do with your knives. You already have the drill press/lathe/milling machine deal. Lot's of lighting both small and large. Shop vacuum. You have alot of hand tools and so probably have a lot of small storage for all those little parts lie pins and handle materials, adhesives, etc. Sounds like you're close to going. Good luck.....RDT
 
Hi Bob. Welcome to knifemaking.
Best advice I can give you is to read as many of the shop talk postings here you can, including the archives. You'll have dozens of questions answered before you even know what to ask. Your first decision is whether to start with folders or fixed blades. I suspect most start with fixed blades which means you won't have a lot of use for your Smithy other than the occasional guard slot. If you go with folders, there's lots of things you can do with it.

Either way you go, get the best 2x72" grinder you can afford with a variable speed motor. It will be your most used tool in knifemaking.
Have fun...
 
Best thing you can do is forget the mill. Just send it to me. I'll be glad to take it off your hands and I'll even pay the freight. Think of all the space you'll save!

You have a nice machine there. Someday I hope I can have one too. Mine are small but I love them.

I'll be 50 also this May. I too am getting tooled up to start my first knife. Hope my steel is here this week. With your experience you'll do well.

With the mill and lathe you may also have received tooling for them. Cherish the tooling. That is the bulk of the financial outlay. Lathing requires little tooling compared to milling. Milling machines can utilize a vast amount of different tooling and setup equipment. You will enjoy both machines and the drill press can be used as a convenience so that you do not have to change out the mill for a drill bit. To learn about these tools search about them on the web search engines (Google is good for that) and you might check my links page for the link to a U.S. Army paper published on the web concerning machine tools. Also, search for MSC, Enco, Phase II, Grizzley, and others to subscribe for their free cataloges. Within those you will gain both an understanding of the vastness and uses of tooling for your machines.
 
I don't know how much I could help, but I live about two hours south of Seattle right off of I-5, and I'm always willing to help somebody get started... let me know if you're interested :)

I'm really busy right now getting ready for the OKCA show this month, but after that I'll have more time. I'd highly recommend you come down to this show as it will be a huge eye opener and a great way to step into knifemaking.

at home (360) 785-4255
Merckman99@yahoo.com
table E-18 at the show

Let me know,
Nick
 
Gee Rlinger, you have another bandwidth error. You must have the hottest site around!:D
 
Bob,

Heres all I have to say, GO TO NICK WHEELERS I just wish I lived close enough, so I could get by Nicks. ;)

Bill
 
Bob, take Nick up on his offer. He does awesome work. Allan Folts did me the same exact favor. Even at the 2 hrs away thing too. I learned more in one afternoon in Allan's shop than in 15 years of reading every knife mag every month, and plugging away with a bench grinder. Having a "tutor" as it were, is a hell of a blessing. Be very careful though. Knifemakers are junkies and dealers all wrapped up in the same package. See they give you a "free taste" in the hopes that you will become addicted too, just like a drug dealer. But they do this in order to increase the pool of fellow junkies, so in a pinch there are more places to "score" materials. ;)
Seriously though, take Nick up on the offer.
Good luck, and watch them sparks.
 
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