Next Shop Purchase?

Next Shop purchase?

  • Metal cutting band saw

    Votes: 3 15.0%

  • Drill press

    Votes: 18 90.0%

  • Vertical oscillating sander

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Your recommendation?

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Kydex kit

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    20
EurAzn12

EurAzn12

Joined
Oct 9, 2016
Messages
405
Alright I think I have all the need to haves and a few want to haves, what should my next nice to have purchase be? Currently my equipment consists of:
-Grizzly 2x72 sander
-Vice/clamps
-Angle grinder
-Files of every kind
-Atlas mini forge
-Power drill
-Basic tools
-Hack/coping saw
-Angles and home made bevel jig
-Dremel 4000 with all the attachments

I'm currently making fixed blades (skinners, neck, bushcraft, kitchen, EDC) and working on my first friction folder too. I can't buy everything at once so what do you recommend I purchase first, next?
 
I third the drill press or if you can swing it bench top milling machine.

I know you can fit guards without one, but having a mill makes it a hell of a lot faster and easier. It would certainly make some things about folders easier.
 
I agree with Kuraki's statement...The bench top mill will do everything the drill press will do and MORE. A number of makers have moved solely to the small mill and left the drill press to collect dust.
 
A bench top/mini mill is nice, but it won't do many tasks a drill press will. There is no way to drill long holes in handles and some other drilling tasks wi=ould be difficult or impossible. I use my drill presses every day. I use the mini mill once every couple months.
 
I would use a mill daily if I had one at home. I'm guessing there are things I would prefer to do in a mill that you do using other methods because I've spent many years making things on mills and you've spent many years making things without a mill, so what I consider "easier" or "faster" on a mill is different from what you consider "easier" or "faster" with whatever other method.

For example truing up shoulders in a file jig versus on a mill. Or roughing a guard to shape. A mill is just a complex, incredibly versatile jig. Some setups I think are easy because I'm so used to doing them, where you're more likely to do it by hand or some other method.
 
Oh man, a mill wasn't even on my radar till now! I'll be saving a few more pennies for sure. Thank you all for the suggestions! My wife does not appreciate it haha :D
 
I couldn't live without my drill press, I'm getting by without a mill currently.

Would love a mill, but HAVE to have the drill press.
 
Just to be clear, I think of a mini-mill and a full size mill as two very different things. If I had a full mill, like a Bridgeport, I probably would use my drill press as a belt rack. For most hobby knifemakers, a full size mill is a lot of weight and expense .... not to mention the amount of tooling you will need. It also has a learning curve that most are not familiar with.
A drill press will work right out of the box with a $30 set of drill bits. I recommend a floor model drill press over a bench top. There are many tasks that need more clearance than the six or seven inches most bench top units have. Power is usually better on floor models, too. In the best scenario, having both is really nice.

Note on drill presses:
You can often pick up a really great drill press for a song because it needs a little TLC, often because the motor is bad. Sometime you can get one for free. Adding a 1HP 3Ph motor and a VFD makes it completely VS. No need to change the belt on the pulleys anymore.
 
Those are good points. I just bought this at an industrial liquidation auction along with some other items to outfit my new shop.

M53Sy9X.jpg
 
This will be my next major shop purchase hopefully... Can't wait :)
 
Thinking tig/mig welder and small mill would be very helpful. Maybe I can take lessons from Kuraki as I have very little experience with a mill.
 
I use my mini mill/drill far more then I use a drill press. It has speed control, is more accurate then a drill press. I have made literally thousands of parts on it for various hobbies over the years.

You can drill with the mill but you should never mill with a drill.

When I drill long deep holes I do not use a drill press anyways. I use a hand drill and long bit with the part in a vise
 
The smallest cheapest drill press is still far far better than drilling by hand.

Find a used one in the online classifieds. Prices are half of new.
 
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