Power equipment for newbie--Ideas? Thoughts please?

T

timfish

Joined
Jun 4, 2022
Messages
75
Ok, thank yall in advance--
I am a newbie that has posted probably too many questions already on this site--I thank all the help so far!
Please let me know what else I need to get--i can spend about 300 more in the next couple months

So far--I have gotten--
small oven (tempering)
small forge
cheapo 1x30 belt sander
bench grinder
farriers anvil
several angle grinders (along with welding supplies)



Maybe a 2x42 belt sander or maybe a metal scroll saw (if they make one)--
THANKS
 
A portable band saw might be a good addition. I have read good things about the Bauer saw from Harbor Freight but have no personal experience. I have a Dewalt and it has worked great for me, but it is a bit pricy.
 
With the experience I have now, I would put the money aside and save for the 2x72. 300 should also be the right number for a good old school drill press.

If you just want to make knives and upgrade as you go, a 2x42 with ceramic belts would be an upgrade for metal grinding and one of those combo wood sanders (wide belt + disc) would be nice for scales flatening and rough handle sanding/forming (2x42 is too fast for that).

I have a good drill press and a solid grinder now, next on the list is a solid disk grinder and a solid metal band saw. I would say these are the top 4 power tools for material remover knifemaker.
 
I definitely second a drill press. It's such a huge difference compared to a hand drill. Night and day. A bandsaw is nice, but can be worked around with an angle grinder, and a hand saw for wood. being able to drill precise , straight holes is really important. It will also save you a lot of money on broken drill bits.
 
Drill press.

Also you allready have a far better setup than most when starting the hobby. Time to get into making a knife!
 
Just some thoughts:


Drill Press (100% agree)
Porta Band (I also like the bauer)
Granite sink cutouts (surface plate - can find for free normally)
Cheap digital calipers and maybe a height gauge for the sink cut out
A good pipe vise

The 2x42 was great, but it runs really fast... If you can be patient with it, I think you can do some good work on them. Would require to just about always use fresh belts

I'm not saying you get one of these before a 2x72... but I've recently realized how nice it would have been to have a disc grinder starting out... it gets things flat

Maybe a welding machine? You can get some cheap 110 welders from harbor freight that can weld up to 1/4'' plate. If you get one of them you can put together some of the DIY kit grinders like the one from House Works
 
Drill press and safe up for a 2x72

A Dremel or Foredom is also very handy. I couldn't do without
 
Drill press, high tension hack saw, hardened scribe, layout fluid...
 
How has the knife making been going? I would just spend the time making knives with what you have for now and decide what you need as you go on.

But a drill press definitely is good around the house for a lot more than Knife making.
 
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