Been lurking here for a while and kicking around the idea of getting into knife making as a hobby and who knows from there. As far as getting equipment, do most of you use a good grinder (2X72) to shape your knives from stock or do you use a band saw? Just trying to figure out if a good grinder (Coote 2x72)could do it all or if I should start looking at band saws too. Thanks.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
Newbie Question: Stock Removal - Grinder or Band Saw???
- Thread starter exd3686
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2004
- Messages
- 9,430
A belt grinder will definately make life easier.
So will a bandsaw. Some guys cut the profile out on a bandsaw and some just grind the profile. You still need both unless you want to hacksaw the barstock to length. Trust me, you don't, I've been down that road.
Scott
So will a bandsaw. Some guys cut the profile out on a bandsaw and some just grind the profile. You still need both unless you want to hacksaw the barstock to length. Trust me, you don't, I've been down that road. Scott
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2005
- Messages
- 2,045
I wish I had a bandsaw, but until I have the space, an angle grinder with a metal cut off wheel and my Grizzly work for me.
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2001
- Messages
- 3,824
I realy like my Coote, and would be lost without it, though I realy wish I had a KMG. For a bandsaw I've got a porta band clamped in a vise with a homemade platten. It sure beats a hack saw but is limited compared to a full size bandsaw.
You pretty much need a decent grinder, a bandsaw is a pluse but not necisary till you start trying to up your production. A hack saw or skill saw with a stone blade will get you buy enough till you can get a bandsaw. First get as good a grinder as you can. The cheapest I'd go is the Coote, it realy is a very good machine for the money, it is ridge and can take small wheels and they've got a disk atachment for it now. If you do stick with a hack saw till you move up to a bandsaw go ahead and get good blades for it or it will only increase your frustraition.
You pretty much need a decent grinder, a bandsaw is a pluse but not necisary till you start trying to up your production. A hack saw or skill saw with a stone blade will get you buy enough till you can get a bandsaw. First get as good a grinder as you can. The cheapest I'd go is the Coote, it realy is a very good machine for the money, it is ridge and can take small wheels and they've got a disk atachment for it now. If you do stick with a hack saw till you move up to a bandsaw go ahead and get good blades for it or it will only increase your frustraition.
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2006
- Messages
- 1,327
i was just curious where you can get a coote grinder. ive searched the www and cant seem to find them
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2004
- Messages
- 159
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2006
- Messages
- 1,327
!!! thanks ive been looking for this for a long time! :thumbup:
:thumbup:
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2000
- Messages
- 5,548
I can generally grind a profile out far faster than I can rough cut it out on a bandsaw, but to be honest, I'll use the bandsaw anymore and avoid the dust as much as possible.
You'll still have metal dust finishing the profile on a belt grinder but you won't have a mountain of it.
You'll still have metal dust finishing the profile on a belt grinder but you won't have a mountain of it.
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2004
- Messages
- 3,041
There are a few things I hated about knifemaking when i first started. My #1 hatred was having to whip out the hacksaw and cut profiles. God, what a boring, tiring, nightmare, haha!
Im surprised some say they can grind faster than cut. I try to profile with my bandsaw as close as possible to my final shape, then take that last bit down with the grinder. If you do lots of curves and shaped handles, you will be wasting a lot of belts grinding all that material away while a single bandsaw blade will last for a long long time it seems.
One decent option is to get a drillpress, which youll want anyways, and to just drill a line of holes around your profile, then cut the webbing remaining and grind off the high spots....its still a somewhat tedious job, though.
When it comes to thick barstock, like 1/4" stock, id hate to be without the bandsaw and dont know what i did without it.
Im surprised some say they can grind faster than cut. I try to profile with my bandsaw as close as possible to my final shape, then take that last bit down with the grinder. If you do lots of curves and shaped handles, you will be wasting a lot of belts grinding all that material away while a single bandsaw blade will last for a long long time it seems.
One decent option is to get a drillpress, which youll want anyways, and to just drill a line of holes around your profile, then cut the webbing remaining and grind off the high spots....its still a somewhat tedious job, though.
When it comes to thick barstock, like 1/4" stock, id hate to be without the bandsaw and dont know what i did without it.
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2006
- Messages
- 104
At Twin Blades we started with a hacksaw, then went to a chop saw and ended up with a hand held bandsaw. We took the handles off and made a bracket to hold it on the wall and it works great. Just saw off the bulk of the metal and grind the finished profile. That little saw is probably the best money we have spent outside of our grinders. On profiling blades you can get away with old belts and lots of pressure. I strongly urge you to start with a hacksaw. It makes you appreciate anything else so much more.