Some advice please

AntCaps

AntCaps

Joined
May 6, 2009
Messages
928
Hey Everyone,
I've been on this forum for a long time, I have talked about wanting to make knives of my own and always blamed not having the proper tools to do so. Recently I spoke to my accountant and i was informed of some small business benefits that would be available to me.
Anyways long story short I might be able to afford a grinder a drillpress and some material.

My questions are what is the best jig for flat grinding?
For grinders im looking at either a Northridge or a Beaumont is there an advantage to either one?
Is speed control super necessary? or would the 3 speed option be sufficient.

I plan on starting out with fixed blades and tomahawks, outdoors, EDC, and maybe some kitchen knives. I have been drawing knives in autocad for years and have a fairly extensive catalog.
 
Nothing spurs conversation like some pictures so here are a few of my tomahawk designs i actually have a the hammer pole and spike in progress being ground for my by Will Nease. They are about 12 inches over all length.
 
Between the Northridge and the Beaumont, I'd go for the Northridge hands down. Beaumont used to be at the top of the heap, but it seems not as much these days. Northridge, while very new (as far as their grinders go anyway) seem to be becoming somewhat of a front runner, and while there aren't a ton of reviews on their machine, the few that I've seen have been very positive, and the owner seems willing to go above and beyond for customers.
If you can swing it, got with a VFD option, NO QUESTION. If you can't? Save up money until you can. It's worth it.

As for jigs, I don't really use them, but Fred Rowe's bubble jig is highly regarded. Also, DD work rests are pretty innovative. I think they're just a tad on the pricey side for what they are, HOWEVER, the quality is undeniable, as well as the innovation. They seems highly regarded as well.
 
Ive been watching some videos on youtube and i think im going Northridge. i also spoke to some guys who have them and they love them. The only time I hate being Canadian is when i need to buy somehting big from the states, especially now with our dollar being 3/4 the value but at least im close enough to the border to ship it to a warehouse.
 
AntCaps said:
Ive been watching some videos on youtube and i think im going Northridge. i also spoke to some guys who have them and they love them. The only time I hate being Canadian is when i need to buy somehting big from the states, especially now with our dollar being 3/4 the value but at least im close enough to the border to ship it to a warehouse.
Click to expand...

That, and when you discover your "bacon" is in reality; Ham. You aren't fooling anyone Canada!
 
Either grinder will work.
Three speed is OK, but VS is far better.

Your hawk designs need a lot of work. #1 won't work at all. The edge faces too far down. The only thing that would strike the wood would be the upper corner. #2 has a good edge face, but I don't know what that butt section with the four holes is? #3 is sort of OK, but the edge face needs to be made more straight. If you put the butt of #1 on #2 you would have a good hatchet, and if you put the butt of #3 on #2 you would have a good hawk.

Jigs are not anything I recommend. You will learn more faster without them. The only "jig" I recommend is the Bubble Jig from Fred Rowe. (for sale in the exchange).

Having drawn many knives in AutoCAD for years isn't the same as having years of knife design experience. Every surface and edge has a function, and there are engineering and physics reasons for the positions and shapes. You can change them any way you want in CAD, but that doesn't mean it will work. Start with basic shapes that are tried and true. After a lot of experience you can try and tweak them, but you will probably have found that the old shapes are that way for a reason.
 
Kevin McGovern said:
That, and when you discover your "bacon" is in reality; Ham. You aren't fooling anyone Canada!
Click to expand...
But we also have regular bacon lol i dont see how having another breakfast meat option is a negative.

The first hawk was an idea of a spontoon hawk hybrid the other 2 i've made mock ups of and they seemed functional the holes in the hammer pole are for optional hammer bits i made so you have a 3/4 wide face instead of 1/4.

Im aware that drawing something in cad is not all one needs to design a knife. I use it to draw than i use the drawing to make a mock up using material of the same dimensions than i tweak it until i have something i like and thats comfortable.
 
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