The Basic Set of Tools Needed For Knife Making

[dzlvs8]

And so it begins. I new that eventually it would come to this. I'm going to start making knives. I have a gas forge and I know I need to get a sander. I already dumped enough money on the gas forge. I'm not looking to invest a lot more money on the hobby yet. ...as in, I'm probably just going to buy the Harbor Freight 1 x 30 since the next step up is a very big jump in price. There are other tools I'm not mentioning, like a die grinder, drill press, etc and I have those. Basically, I made a few test knives (without handles) out of plain ol CRS without heat treating them just to get a feel for it and all I used was a belt grinder, scribe, and a die grinder.

With that being said, are there any other primary tools needed for knife making that i may be forgetting? Please list what you think are the basic tools needed. I already almost forgot something like tongs for pulling the blade out of the forge. It would have sucked if I didnt realize it until it was too late!
Do I need a REALLY good/hard scribe (I dont know how hard good knife steels are before hardening them).

Also, does a 1 x 42 make a huge difference compared to running a 1 x 30 with about the same size motor?

Thanks!

 

[beaster456]

I would recommend the craftsmen 2x42 if you trying to stay in the low price range. You get a lot more versatility and power than you would with the 1x30 and a lot more belt sizes.

 

[dzlvs8]

I would recommend the craftsmen 2x42 if you trying to stay in the low price range. You get a lot more versatility and power than you would with the 1x30 and a lot more belt sizes.

The Craftsman 2 x 42 is 4 times the price of the harbor freight one and its the same HP motor. ...even more $$$ with the 1/2hp motor. Why would I want to do that when I'm not trying to invest a ton more money. Is the sander 4 times as good?

 

[gredpe3]

Since you invested all your money in the gas forge,just go ahead and forge to shape .File a little, sand a little.Good to go.
Eddie

 

[egally08]

The 1x30 is only 1/3 hp. Its alright for $30 but the 2x42 is more then 5x the machine of the harbor freight. IMO anyways.

 

[beaster456]

It has more amps also and the quality of the motor is just better. You also have the option of getting some step pulleys and attaching a larger motor to the back if you ever want to upgrade. But what you get when you buy it is definitely 4x as good.

 

[dzlvs8]

The 1x30 is only 1/3 hp. Its alright for $30 but the 2x42 is more then 5x the machine of the harbor freight. IMO anyways.

Yeah, I love good stationary belt sanders. I used to use my friends 4 x ??? for EVERYTHING. But right now $$$ is a big concern. I have lots of knife material I need to buy!!!

I will not be shaping steel with my forge. lol. Sorry. So are there some other tools that I will need??? A tool to put pins in the handle??? High end scribe?? ??? ???

 

[egally08]

I know what you mean, sometimes we just can't spare the extra money for a better machine. I would however try and save up within the first few months.

The only tool you need to set pins is a drill bit. Drill the hole slightly larger in the tang, and the exact diameter of the pin, in the handle scale. You can get by with a drill bit also for a scribe. I use black nail polish on the edge, let it dry, then scribe the center lines with a bit slightly smaller then the thickness of the blade.

Your gonna need a lot of sand paper, and a bench vise. I think you'd be set.

Do you have an anvil? You could very easily shape steel with a gas forge. You can make an anvil pretty cheaply also.

 

[dzlvs8]

Wait, but in order to have a bench vise I need to have a bench! I didn't want to say this but now I will. It will be a little more clear. I don't want to invest tons into machinery and such because I live in an apartment. I used to do TONS of woodworking in my apartment among other fabrication things that shouldn't be done in your bedroom on the floor or over the bathroom sink. I have certain areas of the carpet where there is just a bunch of metal shavings permanently in the carpet.

I'm single.

When you walk in my front door you are already greeted by a giant 6 foot long tool box. Anyway, the secret is, I do have to invest in some tools (but just not the grinder). Since i will be using it indoors. I don't want to encourge myself to grind anything more than I have to since it will be a disaster using it inside. $$$ has to go towards building a work bench because my knees cant handle working on the floor anymore. I also need to get a shop vac to minimize the dust from the grinder....then get a vise...then hire a cleaning lady.

 

[NStricker]

A folding work bench like a Workmate, a c-clamp, a drill, a variety of files, and a variety of grits of sandpaper are all you need to start.

 

[dzlvs8]

thermocouple of some sort that will read high temps?

 

[AVigil]

Why would I want to do that

Because the money difference will fad away into the mist and help you avoid hours of frustration and start producing better blades immediately.

The HF 1X30 IMHO is really not suited as a knife grinder. I own several of them, but I use them for sanding and for sharpening.

Just imagine a person telling a carpenter they are going to frame a house with a small ball peen hammer.... It is kinda like that.

 

[dzlvs8]

Because the money difference will fad away into the mist and help you avoid hours of frustration and start producing better blades immediately.

The HF 1X30 IMHO is really not suited as a knife grinder. I own several of them, but I use them for sanding and for sharpening.

Just imagine a person telling a carpenter they are going to frame a house with a small ball peen hammer.... It is kinda like that.

Yeah I could see that thing being a nightmare with such a weak motor and crappy back plate.

I found a craftsman 1 x 42 with a disk for $40 on craigslist. It's going to cost me $30 in gas round trip. But it has a .5 hp motor. I'm thinking that in some ways it will be better than a 2 x 42 because I will be able to do more detailed work.

IDK I did my first test knife on a 4 x ??? and it was kind of a pain to work on the inside of the handle.

 

[12345678910]

Yeah I could see that thing being a nightmare with such a weak motor and crappy back plate.

I found a craftsman 1 x 42 with a disk for $40 on craigslist. It's going to cost me $30 in gas round trip. But it has a .5 hp motor. I'm thinking that in some ways it will be better than a 2 x 42 because I will be able to do more detailed work.

IDK I did my first test knife on a 4 x ??? and it was kind of a pain to work on the inside of the handle.

Any of the HP name plates on those offshore little grinder are unreliable ratings.
I woul't trust any of them to actually be 1/4 1/3 or 1/2 hp it's all bogus.



If you want a grinder, get the Craftsman 2x42 or a proper 2x72" grinder


If you don't want a grinder, use some files.

 

[dzlvs8]

Any of the HP name plates on those offshore little grinder are unreliable ratings.
I woul't trust any of them to actually be 1/4 1/3 or 1/2 hp it's all bogus.



If you want a grinder, get the Craftsman 2x42 or a proper 2x72" grinder


If you don't want a grinder, use some files.

What? That doesnt make any sense. a .5hp craftsman 1x42 is junk and the hp rating cant be trusted. ...and instead I should buy a .5hp craftsman 2x42 .5hp because?????why?

The grinder I want to get tomorrow is this one. So is this thing not good for some crazy reason? FYI - I'm not buying a 2 x 72. lol

 

[PT Doc]

What? That doesnt make any sense. a .5hp craftsman 1x42 is junk and the hp rating cant be trusted. ...and instead I should buy a .5hp craftsman 2x42 .5hp because?????why?

The grinder I want to get tomorrow is this one. So is this thing not good for some crazy reason? FYI - I'm not buying a 2 x 72. lol

The current 2x42 is 1/3 hp I believe. I agree about hp ratings on grinders of this price point. The cannot be trusted.

 

[dzlvs8]

The current 2x42 is 1/3 hp I believe. I agree about hp ratings on grinders of this price point. The cannot be trusted.

lol. So what you are saying is that the worst case scenario is that the grinder is overrated and me only be equal to the power of the 2 x 42 with a chance of it being more powerful. For half the price, I don't know why I would complain. For being a hobby that I am testing out, and not diving in head first and making irresponsible huge investments, I am only looking for something adequate for now.

I would assume that this would be adequate.

 

[NStricker]

Buy whatever you want. A file, a 1x30, 1x42, 2x42, 2x60, 2x72, or 2x132. It really doesn't matter. You will either learn to use the tool and push its capabilities to turn out a well executed handmade knife, or you won't.

 

[12345678910]

Buy whatever you want. A file, a 1x30, 1x42, 2x42, 2x60, 2x72, or 2x132. It really doesn't matter. You will either learn to use the tool and push its capabilities to turn out a well executed handmade knife, or you won't.

This is true.


You asked why a 2x42 is better

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1115961-Starting-belt-Sander-Grinder

This current thread had the same question and some good answers

It's not all about horsepower.
Tracking
Belt area
Belt grit and quality
Platen quality


Buying that sander would already take you half way to a 2x42"
Or as I mentioned already, you could save that money and just use files.





Have a look at this.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ing-knives-and-swords?p=12725180#post12725180






Frankly I find your approach to asking for advice rather adversarial and argumentative.

 

[dzlvs8]

Yeah, just using files sounds like a great idea.

Anyway, the 1x42 craftsman that I looking to get tomorrow with a stand will cost me $70 and there is currently one on ebay that is already bidded up to $149 with two days still left. I don't think I will have a problem selling it if/when I'm ready to upgrade.

I know it's not all about hp. I'm just looking for something that is better than the $40-50 harbor freight 1x30 but doesnt cost 4 times the price. This 1x42 seems like it will be the perfect sweet spot. ....and all the other factors you mentioned...
It's not all about horsepower.
Tracking
Belt area
Belt grit and quality
Platen quality

No one has said that this 1x42 isn't as good at any of those things. From what I have found, these grinders used to sell new for $300. ???