Next purchase to advance business? Questions...Advice...

David Schott

David Schott

Joined
Sep 27, 2004
Messages
3,041
Hello,
I have been having a great deal of success selling my knives as a new maker. I have already re-invested my first few sales to purchase a new drill press, upgrade from my 1x30 grinder to a less-bad-but-still-weak 2X42 craftsman grinder, outfit myself with a good bunch of files, supplies, etc etc, as well as purchased materials to try my hand at sheaths etc. I am at a point now where I have enough to start thinking about what my next purchase should be. I have about 500$ in surplus knive sale funds and presumably more coming in in the near future....

At this point I see my needs as:
1. Get a real grinder (Coote, Grizzly, KMG etc)....this means saving every penny and upgrading that one item.
2. Purchase a makers marking system....knives are doing fine without one but its something i've put off....
3. Upgrade from my 15 minute one-brick forge to a more well made forge (some very nice professionally made ones i see on ebay in the 200-250 range with dual burners and a much larger chamber. This would allow me to try my hand at some forging or cable damascus as well)
4. Metal cutting bandsaw: Would be nice, but nothing wrong with building up those muscles with a hacksaw.

Any advice? My brain says get the etcher now and get a good one...my heart says make due and put everything towards a KMG.....
 
I made my own etcher for about 60 bucks I think...everything at Radio Shack.
Plans on Bob Warners site I think.
I would advise getting the saw. Makes life ALOT easier. You will be able to cut out more knives to grind OR get the Grinder and grind the profiles in.

For me I can be more consistant using the saw to rough profile.
 
I'd have to say that out of your list, the new grinder would be my first choice.
 
Im leaning towards the grinder, too. I can "get by" with everything else, but the grinder will help almost every aspect of the knifemaking process, while the bandsaw will aid mostly in profiling, the etcher in only marking, the forge only in HT...all of which I have no current beefs. The grinder, however, would not only stay usable until my last day as a knifemaker, but has a really good resale value if its a KMG....
 
My vote would be for the grinder too, it'll be the thing that speeds you up the most.
 
My vote is for a grinder. I have a Coote and like it just fine. If you think you want to go pro/higher volume, then the KMG. Or something even better if it ever comes along!

The metal cutting bandsaw is NICE. I bought one as my first upgrade after the Coote and it was like an epiphany! Saves on belts, saves on time, saves on the amount of grinding you have to do, etc. Very useful, but the grinder is your main tool. Sell a couple of knives and you have yourself the bandsaw...
 
Definately the KMG. I started out with what you've got now, and let me tell you the difference beween my 1x30 and athe 2x72 grinder was amazing. I would follow up with the band saw.
Good luck!
Ed
 
KMG all the way. Bid on the one Rob Frink is donating for Ray Richard's rebuilding auction.

I've only had mine a couple weeks after a Craftsman and I can't believe how my work is progressing (pics to follow soon).

Find a way to make it variable speed. You'll never regret it.
 
jmxcpter said:
KMG all the way. Bid on the one Rob Frink is donating for Ray Richard's rebuilding auction.

I've only had mine a couple weeks after a Craftsman and I can't believe how my work is progressing (pics to follow soon).

Find a way to make it variable speed. You'll never regret it.
Click to expand...

Variable speed is the way to go;)
 
KMG, you wont be sorry. I dont have a variable speed, but I have a step pulley system that allows me a little control over belt speed. Either way, the KMG has been the single best purchase I have made. I am sure it will be for you also.
 
My personal choices:

1- A real Grinder ! I can't live without one...
I have a variable speed coote... It is a nice quality-price value.
2x72 grinder give you more control and offer a wide range of belts.

2- Metal cutting bandsaw, I wonder why I waited, it is a must to have!

3-I have a cheap Etch-O-Matic to put my logo in my blades, it ok for me... And it is not very expensive.

4- A forge is not essential (I do most of my knives in stock removal) but it can be very useful. You can make one yourself, it is not expensive, and you can build the burner yourself too. (many plans and tutorial available in the forum)

Alain M-D
http://www.miville-deschenes.com/amd_anglais/
 
Thanks everyone!

Looks like the KMG is on my list....

I'm already half way there with enough knives in the making to be able to afford this within a few months. My goal is to have not one penny leeched from my checking account other than knife profits.

I may sacrifice a nice very early 1970's Joe Kious slipjoint that has never been used to even cut paper since it was bought in about 1978 to get me there faster. Who knows what that would go for. If I sell that (honestly the grinder is more cherished than a knife I'm afriad to use) and a bunch of other mountain bike junk I have lying around, I could probably get the KMG and everything I want on it right now, haha.....

Ill take things slow, do some research....
Anyone have a link to the Caffrey Platen? As in, a price?

I need to start researching motors....i have never wired one and know next to nothing about voltage, what sockets I have, AC over DC, variable vs not, single vs 3 phase.....all greek. I do know that I dont want to pay over like 200-250$ for it, though....

Any threads here in particular that are a newbies guide to motor selection?
 
A small add in a magazine to get exposure will help advance your business.

A good grinder is a great investment that really makes a difference in your quality.
 
My goal is to have not one penny leeched from my checking account other than knife profits.
Click to expand...
TickTock, this is very admirable. It's what I do, and I've stuck with it. Right now I have 28 cents in my knife budget, but things have been so busy here I've barely had time to grind. I need some $$$ before the Chicago Custome Knife Show so I can buy something! Gotta get to work! This is definitely do-able. The problem I find myself running into is quantity. When you need a new reamer, do you buy one reamer, or do you buy a whole buttload of stuff from MSC that you know you'll need eventually? Buy a piece of G-10 from Halpern, or a couple of 12x12's that you know you'll use within the next decade? And so on. So, ordering supplies and maintaining what you need is always a challenge, especially if someone asks for something you don't have. African Blackwood? Sure. Better get some curly maple, olivewood and birdseye maple while I'm at it... :rolleyes:

When I bought my Coote, $500 of it came from a sweet series of trades that landed me in possession of a Brend-ground Microtech Combat Talon II. Sold that puppy and I had myself a grinder. Selling off cool knives is sucky, but when I look at the knives I unloaded to get my grinder and first set of belts it was well worth it.

For motors, check around your local motor shops. I bought a 1 HP Bader for $100. I could've had a 2HP Bader for the same price, but it needed 220V in my electric panel and I didn't want to screw with that or hire an electrician. 1HP has been fine for me.

If it were me, I would get the basic KMG with a flat grinding platen (or a contact wheel if you really want to do hollow grinds), sell a few knives, and then upgrade to the Caffrey platen, etc. Unless you can afford it outright.

Once things really get rolling I think you'll find heat treating is the next major hurdle. Start saving for a temperature controlled forge like Don Fogg uses, a heat treat oven, or a molten salts set up. :eek:
 
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