Specialty tools you wish you had

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catcalls

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May 7, 2012
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I was just interested to find out what specialty hand tools, jigs, workholders, or any other simple yet specially designed tools for simple tasks. I am a manufacturing engineering student and am just looking for ideas for school projects that would be a useful addition to any knife shop. Thanks in advance!
Jack Perryman
 
I'm assuming you have access to a machine shop for building? If so, a couple of items that might be useful, a counterbore tool to use for Corby bolts. Use a HSS drill rod, with lathe cut size for small hole, then size for large hole. fasten in milling machine and cut flutes.
https://usaknifemaker.com/counterbores-for-6-screw-hs.html

You want something a bit more complex, try a moen knife grinding jig: https://www.moenworks.com/product/hardcore-knife-jig/

Here's a video showing how it's used and more details you'll need for making:

Have fun
 
One BIG seller that every maker needs is a file guide with carbide faces. Look at some of the ones available and you will see how simple they are to produce ion small batches. - https://www.riversidemachine.net/ecommerce/carbide-file-grind-guide.html
They can also be made from hardened tool steel only - https://usaknifemaker.com/file-guide-magnum-precision.html

Other cool and popular items are:
Edge center marker - https://www.knifemaking.com/product-p/js305.htm

Small wheel rollers and fork - https://www.knifegrinderparts.com/p...-holder-5-small-wheels-6061-aluminum-tool-arm

Brass graver for cleaning up epoxy and soft solder at the ricasso/handle junction - Basically a 1/4" square brass rod with a 45 degree tip and a handle. Another popular size is a 1/4 by 1/8" brass flat graver.

Handle hole broach - https://www.bladesmithsforum.com/index.php?/topic/33356-handle-broaches/
 
I built a jig for drilling handle holes in handle material for a tapered tang. Essentially a clamp and flat base with a few swivel feet to support the material while drilling. Works very well and no more crooked rivet/pin/bolt holes!
 
CNC automatic knife sharpener with vision and artificial intelligence. Needs to accommodate normal variations from knife to knife without changing the blade shape.


Edit: oh wait I didn't properly read the op, this is not a simple one
 
Make yourself an adjustable tool rest for your grinder
 
Some great ideas already mentioned. I’d add on a Ruple jig, head spinners and cutlers anvil if your in to folders. Also a 2x72 grinder and a 2x48 horizontal and disc grinder will be great things to make.
 
Ken H> said:
You want something a bit more complex, try a moen knife grinding jig: https://www.moenworks.com/product/hardcore-knife-jig/

Here's a video showing how it's used and more details you'll need for making:

Have fun
Click to expand...

Lol at that knife grinding jig for $350. I built one that works just as well for less than $5.

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And $2,900 for that carbide rotary cooled platen!? They must not want to sell any of those. A piece of leather glued to the front of a regular platen eliminates belt bump too, and for only a few bucks. Hell, you could build the jig with a piece of angle iron, a flat piece of plate steel, and a c-clamp. You could make both the platen and the jig in less than 20mins and save $2,890 dollars. ;)
 
folders benefit from various fixtures, however I'm not certain how universal they can be.
1) nail nick grinding blade holding fixture
2) liners/scales holding fixture for milling
3) rotary table fixture for radius bolsters
there are others, lmk if you need more detail on any of these

also sheet metal style vise jaws, long steeply angled/tapered thin jaws to hold blade or handle for sanding and finishing work.
 
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JG Custom Metal Works said:
And $2,900 for that carbide rotary cooled platen!? They must not want to sell any of those. A piece of leather glued to the front of a regular platen eliminates belt bump too, and for only a few bucks. Hell, you could build the jig with a piece of angle iron, a flat piece of plate steel, and a c-clamp. You could make both the platen and the jig in less than 20mins and save $2,890 dollars. ;)
Click to expand...

as to the leather backer you will for sure not get as crisp a grind as any solid platen. not to say soft platens dont have there place (i use one just not when i need a crisp clean grind)
 
I’m still wanting a radius platten and a horizontal grinder. Press is in the works as is a new forge. I’d love three salt pots. Tempering, mid range for carbon steels, and high temp for stainless.
 
Having crossed the threshold of old age (70), and beginning to notice some of my age-related deficiencies, I'd like tools that overcome them automatically:

1) A voice controlled (so I can tell it to zoom in or out (mind control would be even better still) ) camera mounted on my grinder so I can observe more closely what's going on a handy tablet sized screen nearby. 10" would be just fine.

2) Thin, but highly, heat resistant/dissipating gloves that so I retain full feel and answer my damn phone as well

3) A safe buffer like a Sawstop table saw. Naturally with that mind/voice controller and a silent dust control system

4) A way to ( cheaply ) air condition/dust control my ENTIRE already heated garage workshop. Keeping it at 65° - 70° year round would be fine with me.

5) A mind/voice control variable speed option for all of my rotating tools.

6) A smart dog to fetch me drinks

7) An ergonomic lab chair for when I'm doing marathon grinding sessions.

I could go on but these are a good start.....................

Happy Thanksgiving all

Corey "synthesist" Gimbel

8) Mind/voice control for my shop's sound system that (like in my car) mutes when the phone rings or the door opens

9)
 
butcher_block said:
as to the leather backer you will for sure not get as crisp a grind as any solid platen. not to say soft platens dont have there place (i use one just not when i need a crisp clean grind)
Click to expand...

I agree, to an extent. But you can elemenate belt bump on a solid platen. Also, the piece of leather that I use on mine is super thin, and over time has compressed even more. It’s very rigid/solid, but has just enough give to prevent drastic belt bump, that you get with a steel platen. I only use it towards the end of my grinding process to smooth out everything. Most of the time I make my plunge lines so they slope into the edge. As long as I track the belt off a little bit, I’ve found it doesn’t effect any of the “crispness” of the grind lines.

I AM curious about how the Moen platen works though. Do you have any knowledge about how it works? What material is used on the platen? Being that it’s referred to as having a carbide platen, I assume it’s carbide. But what I’m wondering is what type of carbide specifically and where to get it. Is it the same type of carbide that is used on file guides? If so, I just don’t understand how it could prevent belt bump, being that it’s every bit as solid as steel...
 
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