Need help on choosing bandsaw and disc/ grinder

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Carnage1

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Mar 29, 2013
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Can someone(s) please help me or tell me what kind of brand, model# etc you have. I need to get a 6inch or??belt/disc grinder and a bandsaw to cut metal. I can't find a lot on models for what Knifemakers a use.
If you can please give me some ideas.
I basically need the following-
1-Bandsaw for metal cutting
2- disc belt grinder
3- drill press
4- and of course the 2x72belt grinder. Which will probably be OBM.
So mostly the top 3 items. mostly be making medium size knives.
I can't find a lot of used stuff online here in Las Vegas so might have to buy new. Please tell me what you know works. Or have heard works good for knife makers
 
The small harbor freight type horizontal metal cutting bandsaws work okay if you are just cutting bar stock.
 
One of the popular choices for bandsaws are the portables like Milwaukee attached to a Swag Offroad table designed to mount the saw upright. They have a small foot print for bench mounting. You can also build a DIY mount for these if you choose.
Drill press is one of the most used pieces of equipment in my shop I drill something everyday. I prefer the floor models and although speeds are important I find flexability of mounting large items easier on floor models.
 
If the belt disc you're talking about is one of the 4x36, I'd pick a plain 12" disc over that. If you're looking at the 6x48 belt 12" disc combo, those are a good option as well.
Bandsaw I'd echo the previous recommendations, and add that the 14" delta vertical metal saws (they have a gearbox and are not the same as a wood saw) are brilliant machines if you can find a used one.
Drill press I'd suggest a used floor model. Powermatic, walker Turner, Rockwell, clausing, and many others made good old ones. The old delta dp220 is a great machine, very common, and usually quite affordable. One of mine was $25 on Craigslist
 
Geoff Flato said:
If the belt disc you're talking about is one of the 4x36, I'd pick a plain 12" disc over that. If you're looking at the 6x48 belt 12" disc combo, those are a good option as well.
Bandsaw I'd echo the previous recommendations, and add that the 14" delta vertical metal saws (they have a gearbox and are not the same as a wood saw) are brilliant machines if you can find a used one.
Drill press I'd suggest a used floor model. Powermatic, walker Turner, Rockwell, clausing, and many others made good old ones. The old delta dp220 is a great machine, very common, and usually quite affordable. One of mine was $25 on Craigslist
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The Older floor models are really nice heavy machines and easy to rebuild if you can find one...Love those old machines!!
 
I may have 4 drill presses.... I just can't pass up a really good deal, even though one is already in storage... Even if I'd never use it, I'd sooner have it sitting in my storage room than be scrapped.
 
I guess I'm wondering what your plans are for these tools. If your intention is to make knives, I think you have your tool priorities backwards. The drill press should be number one. A small table top press will work to start out. If you get a bigger press in the future, you will still find a use for the small press. Just about every maker I know has more than one drill press. My first press was a Craftsman and that was 10 years ago It still works like a champ and I use it on every knife I make, even though I also have a Powermatic 1150.
A disc grinder is really helpful, but not necessary to making knives. If you have the money to get one, just get a 9" disc from USA Knifemaker Supply and find an old used 56 frame motor. Add a power switch and you have a disc grinder. Variable speed and reversing is VERY useful (but not necessary) on a disc grinder, meaning you will need a 3-phase 56 frame motor. They just about give these things away because not many people want to deal with 3-phase. You will need to add a VFD for the reversing and variable speed.
The best deal for a bandsaw is the Milwaukee with a Swag table. It's a great little variable speed saw.
With that said, there is no way I would buy a disc grinder or bandsaw if I didn't already have a 2x72 grinder. You should first get the drill press, and then a 2x72 grinder. A Craftsman 2x42 isn't a bad deal either. The metal cutting bandsaw and the disc grinder can wait. IMHO
 
Thanks for the replies.
I will go with porta band setup and swag v4.
Drill presses I have a idea what I can get. Also use for gun work.
I'll check out the disc
 
Carnage, I am also in LV and have the portaband in a SWAG table your welcome to come check it out if you would like before you buy one. I got lucky and got a 2"x 72" Wilton BG off of craigslist at a fair price.
 
valknut said:
How do the dewalt, Milwaukee, and Hf compare? Would the HF work just as good?
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I've also just started my knife making journey, and also started on a budget. To be honest, any type of power tool I purchased at HarborFreight ended up getting returned (except the ridiculous 1x30 belt sander- while I save up for a 2x72) for low quality and/or safety issues. In the case of the Bauer portaband from HF, I thought it was pretty good, until the saw blade started popping out once in a while. I returned it after watching a review of it on youtube, and purchased the Milwaukee 120V version. Even though the Milwaukee was 2x-3x more expensive, it is night and day difference in how much better/smoother/safer it is. That tool quickly became one of my favorite power tools, EVER!! I'd recommend always getting higher end tools when you can (craigslist and other classifieds are goldmines) as these are tools that get heavy daily use with serious knife makers...

I do want to point out, however, that I'm actually a member of HF's 'inside track club' and HF is excellent for MANY MANY things I use daily. I just recommend shopping elsewhere for heavy duty power tools due to my own experience.
 
If you get the harbor freight portable bandsaw, toss the blade that comes with it and get the Lenox bi-metal blades from lowes. They come in a 3 pack. 18 or 24 tpi is good for annealed steel.
Break the blades in properly and you "should" have a good tool.
Or spend the extra money and get the name brand.
 
Josh Rider said:
If you get the harbor freight portable bandsaw, toss the blade that comes with it and get the Lenox bi-metal blades from lowes. They come in a 3 pack. 18 or 24 tpi is good for annealed steel.
Break the blades in properly and you "should" have a good tool.
Or spend the extra money and get the name brand.
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^^^All this^^^ In my case the only blade option was the Milwaukee 24 tpi 2-pack at HomeDepot, and these blades were great!
 
Go shop at your local pawn shops, religiously!! You'll find tools there that are banged up but functional. I bought a Dewalt band saw a couple months back for 120$. Yeah, I had to shop around and wait, but it was worth it! Until you get what you want grab a high tension hack saw from Lowes or whatever and use that. You'll be able to blaze through steel pretty fast with one of those!
 
A.McPherson said:
Go shop at your local pawn shops, religiously!! You'll find tools there that are banged up but functional. I bought a Dewalt band saw a couple months back for 120$. Yeah, I had to shop around and wait, but it was worth it! Until you get what you want grab a high tension hack saw from Lowes or whatever and use that. You'll be able to blaze through steel pretty fast with one of those!
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Might try one of those high tension back saws.
 
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