What do you suggest for the very first piece of equipment?

O

omniphile

Joined
Jun 17, 2006
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75
Hi everyone

I'm in no rush, but have been looking at eBay in Aus for about 6 weeks for a polishing lathe because I wanted to bring an old knife blade back to its original mirror finish. However, I'm quickly cooling on the idea because I'm yet to see any, let alone one at a cheap price.

But at some stage over the next few years etc, I'd like to equip myself with at least the minimum tools to make my own knives (forge, belt-sander?, etc etc). As you can tell, I'm absolutely clueless and this is something I'll be doing with a LOT of trial and error, and a LOT of reading etc.

Since I've had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for over 3 years and am therefore out of employment, funds are very limited. That's why I'm not looking at a short time-frame and am hoping to pick up the majority of stuff as used equipment on eBay. I'm hoping that each piece will give me a little more functional usefulness until I can achieve my goal (or rather, dream).

Would some kind souls be able to give an idea of their list for the minimum gear needed, and preferably in a rough order of precedence?

If this has been asked and answered before, I couldn't find it, but would appreciate a pointer to the thread.

Cheers
omniphile
 
Hi omniphile
The the very First piece of equipment that will give you the most help in knife making in my opinion is the belt sander. Somthing with about a 8 inch contact wheel. I do stock removel on my knives and I find it the most valuable tool :thumbup:
Dave
 
A belt sander is important to be sure, but can be expensive. A cople of questions on how you plan to start are in order to help answer this question properly for you.

- Do you plan to forge blades or do stock removal?
- How married to the idea of power tols are you?

My suggestion to you from a standpoint of economics would be to maybe start with a little stock removal from found items to see if you like it, and then move ono from there to forging, etc. With my own suggestions in mind, here's the basics I would suggest.

- Build a "one brick forge" for your heat treating (google for "one brick forge" for more info)
- Find some old files, farrier's rasps or some other source of known high-carbon seel in about the right shape/size
- Buy some NEW files (a large rough single cut bastard, a 10" or so medium single cut bastard and a 10" or so fine single cut)
- A hacksaw with some good bi-metal blades (don't skimp on hacksaw blades, it'll end up costing you more $$ in the long run)
- A vise of some sort to hold your work (though a few C-clamps and a hunk of wood attachd to a table can do most of what you need if you have them around the house)

Then start reading these forums for info on annealing since you'll need to anneal your stock before you begin. After you've got some softened steel, use the hacksaw to cut the rough shape and start filing! It's slow going, but you'll get there, and it's a lot easier to correct mistakes since they tend to be smaller with a hand file :) Ask questions here when you get stuck, and have fun!

Then make sure you post photos of your work!

-d
 
I agree th Deker. Use the basic equipment first and see what you want to do. You can make everybit as good a knife with files and sandpaper as you can with an expensive belt or disc. It just takes longer. If you finish your first project and still want to continue then look into some form of grinder. I use a disc, it's what i learned on and i really like it. it has a smaller footprint for the shop and is a less expensive initial investment. Try to get quality tools. The best you can afford. This will pay dividends in the long run. What you buy and when will depend on how fast you progress. But if you start with the fundamentals you will learn more faster than if you try to master the grinder first. Actually invest in a few good books. I always recommend the $50 knife shop by Wayne Goddard and the Wonder of Knifemaking. Both these books give great fundamentals for the beginner and as enough info to make them applicable to advanced smiths. Well good luck in getting started. The best advice anyone can give you is have fun, if your not your doing something wrong.

Chuck
 
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome lets see
i think files and sand paper might be out
you can get a new 1x42 delta belt sander with disc sander on side at sears and its not too costly(thats what im using still ) http://www.burnstools.com/default.aspx?page=item detail&itemcode=DLSA180
or maybe the 2x42 http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...rtical=TOOL&subcat=Sanders&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes
a nice used drill press
hack saw and your about set till you get the tool bug and then look out
this will let you see how you like knife making without getting in to the water too fast
butch
 
Thank you to everyone for your insightful comments - I can think of no better information than you guys who have hands on experience. You have also forced me to clarify in my own mind precisely what I want to achieve.

Just to explain some important questions you have asked me.

Butcher_block: This CFS is a real pain in the ar**, and sometimes I have problems even getting out of bed. But on my good days, I have enough stamina to use files and sandpaper for an hour or more. Admittedly, it may take me a month to achieve what you guys could in a few days or a week, but that doesn't worry me too much. One thing I have in abundance is time!

deker: Very thought-provoking questions. I'm not "stuck" on the idea of power tools, but I (obviously mistakenly) assumed these were essential. I hadn't considered starting with stock removal (as you, Dave and Chuck suggested), but now that it's been pointed out, it is such an obvious and sensible entry point. This is such a great way to go in terms of economics and learning the basics that I love it.

All of you have also given me tips on what to look for on eBay (but I now see I don't need to have power tools to get started), and great leads on books to read.

I really thank you all for your advice and patience with a real novice.

Cheers
Phil
 
omniphile said:
T

deker: Very thought-provoking questions. I'm not "stuck" on the idea of power tools, but I (obviously mistakenly) assumed these were essential.
Click to expand...

Just as an aside here, if you want to see an excellent example of what can be done without power tools, take a look at the work of Tai Goo. He's a sort of neo-tribal smith who does everything by hand. Admittedly he's forging to shape and so saves a lot of filing, but the point still stands.

Glad to be able to help! Sometimes the hardest part is getting your thoughts together before diving in (I have a problem doing this myself...). There are a lot of things that various people do to help figure things out that you might want to consider. Try drawing out what you'd like to make and get it all figured out before hand. Or maybe do what I do sometimes and stare at a piece of something until it tells you what it wants to be (though more often I find myself mashing hot steel with a hammer trying to force it into what I want it to be instead...I waste a lot of steel this way... :rolleyes: ). Either way, have fun with it! That's the whole point right? :)

-d
 
Omniphile where abouts in OZ are you? I'm from northern N.S.W myself. Know what you mean about Ebay, not much on there and what there is is generally pretty pricey:eek: . Another option that you may also like to consider is to make a lot of your own power tools from second hand stuff eg. old washing machine motors and castor wheels used for contact wheels, like in Mr goddards book the $50 dollar knife shop? (that book would be the first thing i would suggest u buy!) Its not as hard as it may sound to turn out something pretty functional fairly cheap (most of my gear is home made and works pretty good i must say!).
Good luck mate!:thumbup:
 
I use files and sandpaper to make my blades. I like the control I have with files and am not in a big hurry to get a fancy grinder just yet. I did purchase a metal cutting band saw from Harbor Freight to help with forming the original outline of each blade. It's a great time saver. They go on sale frequently in the $159-$169 range. Put a good bi-metal blade on there and you will thank yourself. I'ts also good for cutting G-10 for handles. My wood cutting band saw blades can't handle that. Some other tools you need are a vise, prefereably one you can turn to work vertically or horizontally, though I have gotten by with using a board and c-clamps to work horizontally. A drill press is almost a necessity. Get the best one you can afford. I put a $60 keyless chuck on mine and it too is a great timesaver. That's my $.02. I hope it helps.
Good luck and let's see what you are working on!
 
I'm just amazed at how creative and adaptable all you guys/gals are, and able to create very functional and attractive knives without having access to a NASA-type workshop. It's just so inspiring (as well as disappointing that I carried so many wrong assumptions in my head all these years).

Boilermaker, I'm in Newcastle, NSW. Drop me a note sometime at omni@phile.com.au :)

Cheers
Phil
 
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