Want to make knives

[joe0121]

Mostly posting this as an intro. I just wanted to say hello. I also build my own guns and do my own cerakoat so a lot of the tools will serve two functions.

I want to get into knife making as a hobby and in fact for some odd reason I want to make a kukri type blades. I think a 3/16 kukri in CPM s30V would be quite the formidable knife. I would eventually like to get into forge weld damasca but that's down the road.

I live in 2.6 acres with a barn and a decent size work area in the garage so I have the space and I just finished college so I have the time. I have a few projects to happen first before I can really get going.

First I have to finish the Rebuild on my South Bend Lathe
Get my VFD wired up to my Air Compressor (80 gallon dual stage 5 HP Ingersoll Rand)

I'm looking into making my own 2X72 belt sander with some plans I have found on line.
I check Craigslist religiously looking for good deals on Angler Grinder/Bench Grinders because changing out wheels/discs are for suckers.
I need to get a welder
I need a good chop saw.
build a heat treat tank/Oven (I am also making a oven for baking cerakoat)
Build A Blast cabinet.
Kydex molding press

I'm sure there is stuff im missing

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

".....Get my VFD wired up to my Air Compressor (80 gallon dual stage 5 HP Ingersoll Rand)
...."

Can you elaborate on that?

 

[joe0121]

".....Get my VFD wired up to my Air Compressor (80 gallon dual stage 5 HP Ingersoll Rand)
...."

Can you elaborate on that?

It's a 5hp 3ph Baldor moter. I live in the sticks with no 3ph power so I was faced with three choices

Buy a 5hp single phase motor
buy a 7.5 HP 3PH motor and make a rotary phase converter
Run a VFD.

The VFD was the cheapest option. It takes 220 1ph in and converts it to 3ph 220 to run the motor. It also allows you to run the motor at different speeds set up a ramp up ramp down speed etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQ-QZ54wHso

 

[mike-E]

just a suggestion, dont hook the vfd directly to the motor. put a wire and plug on the compressor, you will be able to run a belt grinder on the same vfd when you get one built. a belt grinder will benefit you the most.

 

[Frank Niro]

The bench grinders, chop saw and welder are the least needed for knife making. A 2 X 72 belt grinder and metal cutting band saw are big in knife making as well as a drill press.
There is a lot of great information in the "stickies" above.
Frank

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Ok, that makes sense.
Run the compressor on 60 Hz output and you should be fine. As Mike-E suggested, connect the VFD output to a 3Ph socket so you can switch to other equipment as well.

 

[joe0121]

just a suggestion, dont hook the vfd directly to the motor. put a wire and plug on the compressor, you will be able to run a belt grinder on the same vfd when you get one built. a belt grinder will benefit you the most.

I actually have a 3HP WEG and VFD that I was going to use on another Lathe but ended up moving and didnt want to move a 4000 pound lathe so I sold and and kept the motor and driver.

The bench grinders, chop saw and welder are the least needed for knife making. A 2 X 72 belt grinder and metal cutting band saw are big in knife making as well as a drill press.
There is a lot of great information in the "stickies" above.
Frank

Thanks, The belt sander is actually the first project im going to do when the Lathe is back together

Ok, that makes sense.
Run the compressor on 60 Hz output and you should be fine. As Mike-E suggested, connect the VFD output to a 3Ph socket so you can switch to other equipment as well.

For now I am using well pump wire I bought off the scrap section at lowes eventually ill buy nice shielded cables and plugs once I have all the parameters set.

 

[tryppyr]

Welcome to the fraternity. I hope you find it as rewarding as I have.

Your skills as a gun maker will be handy, but there are some specialized skills in knifemaking that you ought to develop before attempting the complex geometry of a kukuri. Sure, it's fairly easy to cut out a shape and start sharpening it, but it's significantly more challenging to do it properly. Nice goal to work toward, though!

- Greg

 

[joe0121]

just a suggestion, dont hook the vfd directly to the motor. put a wire and plug on the compressor, you will be able to run a belt grinder on the same vfd when you get one built. a belt grinder will benefit you the most.

The bench grinders, chop saw and welder are the least needed for knife making. A 2 X 72 belt grinder and metal cutting band saw are big in knife making as well as a drill press.
There is a lot of great information in the "stickies" above.
Frank

Ok, that makes sense.
Run the compressor on 60 Hz output and you should be fine. As Mike-E suggested, connect the VFD output to a 3Ph socket so you can switch to other equipment as well.

Welcome to the fraternity. I hope you find it as rewarding as I have.

Your skills as a gun maker will be handy, but there are some specialized skills in knifemaking that you ought to develop before attempting the complex geometry of a kukuri. Sure, it's fairly easy to cut out a shape and start sharpening it, but it's significantly more challenging to do it properly. Nice goal to work toward, though!

- Greg

Seems to me getting to part from the tang to the belly would be critical so the knife doesn't break during use and sharpening the edge properly. I just really really like kukris. Heat treating is a challenge so I will likely stick to boring steels before moving on to stuff like VG10 and CPM