Tools you didn't think you needed and now cannot live without

[LARRYZ10]

I thought I really did not have to have a reversible 9 inch disc grinder and table until I started to use one and now I use it on every knife I make. Having a table that adjusts quickly to different angles is a very useful thing and the reverse switch is essential to me now. This tool and my rotary platen are now tools I must have. I'm pretty sure most of you have tools you were not sure you needed until you started using them. Larry

 

[Josh Rider]

My surface grinder.
I bought it for making folders and end up using it on every knife. I enjoy using it even though it is manual feed.
I'm getting ready to make a belt conversion, but still have the capability to switch back to the wheel.

 

[LARRYZ10]

My surface grinder.
I bought it for making folders and end up using it on every knife. I enjoy using it even though it is manual feed.
I'm getting ready to make a belt conversion, but still have the capability to switch back to the wheel.

Josh, that is a really nice surface grinder. Finding a Harig in great condition like yours is a good thing indeed. Larry

 

[Hengelo_77]

A bubble jig.
I want to grind free hand with no jigs, but I now see using a bubble jig as a way of getting good enough to grind without

 

[Jrmysell]

A bandsaw. My dad got one last break I was home and I used it to cut a blank out and it saved me about and hour or 2 cutting it out with that.

Larry, when do you use the disk sander in reverse? When does it help to go one direction vs the other?

 

[john april]

magnification visors, calipers, file guide.

 

[kuraki]

I don't think I've seen a tool I didn't "need." I might put it off but I want them all.

 

[i4Marc]

Carbide faced file guide

Calipers

Hand files with safe edges

Granite surface plate and height gauge

Shop press

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

 

[HSC ///]

magnification for the eyes, if it looks good under magnification, it will look great to the naked eye.
carbide file guide
rotary platen, was tough to swallow the cost but it's worth it
Also a right angle square is used a lot by me
And an spring center punch

 

[HSC ///]

Larry, when do you use the disk sander in reverse? When does it help to go one direction vs the other?

a disc sander with the right steel disc is the cheapest grinder to have. I have 2 of them so I don't need to spend as much time changing grits.
Hook it up to your main ginder VFD and it's almost invaluable
If you can't get a steel disc plate, you can get an aluminum one and buy 3/8" or 1/2" micarta and glue that onto the alum disc.

if you are grinding a blade on the disc, edge up on one side, you need to reverse the disc to be edge up on the opposite side of the blade..

 

[rustyrazor]

what is that Nathan... some kind of dremel clock? lol. Whatever it is, i am glad you have it if it helps you make your field knife... only fixed blade knife on my list right now.

and now to my never withouts: bruce bump file guide, calipers and a contour gauge to get both of my scales relatively even... since i don't have a dremel clock of course.

 

[HSC ///]

what is that Nathan... some kind of dremel clock? lol. Whatever it is, ..., i don't have a dremel clock of course.

It's like a Cnc machine tool sensor in 3 axes

But Nathan I'm wondering how is this different than say a Renishaw touch probe? All of our mills each have a touch probe


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[JTknives]

I would say my most recent tool that I have become addicted to is my plasma cutter. It was different them my heat treat oven, I knew I needed a oven and I'm glade I have one. But a plasma cutter was not somthing I felt like I must have. Once I got into selling 15n20 I needed a faster way to cut it then cut off wheels. OH MAN let me tell you what, it is a gift from God. I cut everything with it I no longer feel the need for a metal cutting bandsaw. Not saying it would not be nice to have one but I feet I would use it very little. For large bar stock I use an abrasive saw and 1/2" and under I plasma cut. Where it saves me time is cutting up stock for Damascus and profiling blades. Yes it uses consumables but I'm on my 2nd set sense I got it and I have cut a crap ton of steel with it (thousands of pounds of 15n20) and each box is $20 and that includes 2 sets. By my math it's WAY cheaper then abrasive disks or bandsaw blades. I have the hypertherm power max 30xp and for blade stock thickness it's perfect. It will cut up to 1/2" inch of steel, slow but it does it ok. But 1/4" and thinner it's a freaking light saber.

 

[12345678910]

Everything in the Starrett Precision Tools Catalogue

You know, before they went "Global"


I started with the CCC import center punches, but since I used it so often I decided to get one nice one.

The tip wasn't brittle hard or mushroom soft. It just looked and felt so much nicer, more soon followed.



Kant Twist clamps
The material doesn't twist sideways as you tighten it up.
It makes you want to throw away every C type clamp.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

what is that Nathan... some kind of dremel clock? lol.

It's an analog edge finder, it's used on any mill not just CNC (our manual mill is also 40 taper) it tolerates over travel, it works on non-conductive, when properly configured it's very accurate, and it works in 3D. I used it yesterday setting up to mill bevels to measure my fixture angles.

It has become such an integral part of our flow that when we broke it a few months ago we simply overnighted another one and took the rest of the day off. I have since repaired it and we keep the extra on the shelf as a spare. I use an Blake coaxial just as frequently (for different things obviously), but the Haimer is probably my favorite tool that I never knew I needed.

 

[LARRYZ10]

A bandsaw. My dad got one last break I was home and I used it to cut a blank out and it saved me about and hour or 2 cutting it out with that.

Larry, when do you use the disk sander in reverse? When does it help to go one direction vs the other?

You always put your work on the table where the disc will be going downward . If the disc rotates clockwise then you hold your work against the disc on the left side. If you want to hold your work on the right side because you maybe want to hold a portion of your blade off the table you would need for the disc to rotate the other way and that is why the reverse switch. As soon as you start using a reversible disc you will discover that it does some things that you really need to do. I flip that switch at least once while working on every knife. Larry

 

[kuraki]

It's like a Cnc machine tool sensor in 3 axes

But Nathan I'm wondering how is this different than say a Renishaw touch probe? All of our mills each have a touch probe


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We have touch probes in every machine too but an analog probe like that is much faster for certain things, like indicating parts. Touch probe is awesome when you have quick code macros or do in process measurements but are just slower for ad hoc indication.

 

[Kevin Wilkins]

I resisted for years converting my WWII vintage ABA surface grinder to run belts. When I bought a newer surface grinder earlier this year I decided to go ahead and convert the ABA ... man, I should have done that years ago! Against all logic, the belts are almost as accurate as the stones and you can quickly slap parts on the table and get 'em flat without the danger of an exploding stone. I also have a dust extractor (in pic to the left of the machine) and with belts it is possible to grind all types of plastics and other materials you would never do on a stone. Now, if I had to give up one of the surface grinders, I would keep the belts and sell the other one.

@Nathan, make sure you always have one of the replacement probe tips on hand! They always seem to get broken when it's too late to order a new one. I have 2 Haimer probes, been using them for over 10 years, could not live without those either.

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[Drew Riley]

Part of this may fall more under tool accessory than tool, but my first revelation came after setting up a VFD.

I always thought "surely a 3 or 4 step pulley is enough", and while it's certainly better than nothing, it doesn't even touch the versatility and convenience of a VFD.

2nd: A horizontally capable grinder. Whether it's a stand alone, or a tilting machine, I never realized how much I needed one or would be using one.

Lastly, and kind of encompassing all of the above: A quality 2x72.

I started off with a NWGS, which is a fantastic and very capable design, but it was still lacking, overall. Ultimately, I ended up designing my own, as no single machine had everything that I felt I wanted or needed: Quick and easy belt changes, tool-less adjustments, tilting, direct drive, multiple tool slots, VFD, etc...

My work flow and efficiency has vastly improved, and I'm able to do more than I ever could on a basic machine. One day I'd love to have 1, 2 or even 3 more just like it.