What is required equipment-wise for making knives

T

TwinCities

Joined
Sep 14, 2010
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I was looking through the stickies, especially the newbie thread, and while there were entires about how to make a knife, I didn't see a thread regarding what equipment is necessary for knife-making.

My shop currently has a 10" band-saw, 4x36 belt sander, 5" and 6" disk sanders, a 1x30 belt sander, 8" drill press, 7.25" sliding compound miter saw, 12x16 wood lathe, 6" dual buffer and 6" dual grinder, a half ton arbor press, multiple Dremel tools and just about every accessory available for Dremel tools (I use them for everything), and then most standard hand-tools along with a jeweler's saw, lathe turning tools, and then some miscellaneous other hand-tools that are buried in the disaster that is my peg-board. I also have a ton of sharpening stones which I had from sharpening all of my knives from time to time.

One thing I should mention: I've taken this up as a hobby to keep my mind occupied while I recover from a major back injury and go through the multiple surgeries required to fix it. As such (and the reason for me mentioning this), I can't use files to work with metal due to not being able to put my back into anything ever again. I imagine I'll need a belt grinder then? If so, is there any way to get one that doesn't cost a small fortune? I've wanted to take this up for a long time, but never had the time, or an excuse to start until my doctor told me to take up a hobby to keep myself distracted. ;) Thanks.
 
You have more tools than many here.All you really need is the desire.You can use your 1x30 to sharpen and even grind with the right belts.Ive ground blades with a disc also.You can get a leather belt for power stropping with your little grinder and all kinds and grits of belts.Good luck with the back.Take it slow and easy.Pain meds may not be the best mix with your power tools,but im sure you know that.
 
Yeah, I collected a fair collection of power tools over the years. I was wondering if I could use the 1x30 for metal work. It's probably my most used tool to be honest, aside from my Dremels and I saw they make ceramic belts for it.
 
You really don't need much to make a knife, the only thing a lot of power tools do is shorten up your work time and take away some elbow grease. I'm not exactly sure of how bad your condition is but when you use a file for knife making you're draw filing basically the entire process. (Hold the file on each end, lay it on the steel and pull it towards you.) It can even be done while sitting.

The bare essentials consist basically of this:

Hacksaw or angle grinder to cut the shape out
Files to profile and make the bevels
A drill or preferably a drill press to drill holes for handle pins/bolts
A vise some C clamps and a few spring clamps
A truckload of sandpaper for everything else.

That's pretty much it, assuming you're going to send the knife out for the HT.

If you want to get some cheap but rather decent power tools. Harbor Freight sells a a 4x6 metal cutting bandsaw which you can usually pick up for right around $160 when they go on sale and you use a 20% off coupon. The Craftsman 2x42 can be found for under $200, it's best to get a ceramic glass platen for it from USA knife maker supply and attach it per the instructions on the site. You can try to use the 1x30 but few people have had much success with it for grinding bevels, actually it would probably be great for profiling. As Seals said it's possible to grind bevels on a disc but will likely take a bit of practice.

I wouldn't use your bandsaw to cut out the blank unless you can get the speed down to a few 100 fpm.
 
Maybe it would make more sense for me to start by buying blades like would come in a kit and making very nice handles/grips for them and possibly modifying things like the blade's finish as well as putting my own edge on it. I don't think I'd have to buy anything to start with this (other than blades). Then after I've gotten proficient at making and installing grips, I could then add the equipment needed to make my own blades. I was also going to make pens, since fine knives and fine pens go together in my mind as things all men should have.

I also realized this morning that my shop has no space for more stuff/gear. I would have to either sell or store away the tools I use the least.
 
I have to say that the fact that you won't be able to put your back into anything concerns me. Maybe I'm doing things wrong, but I find that often after working on my projects my back has a tendency to spasm. This happens after grinding, sanding, or filing. About the only time I don't get my back into the work is during sheath making.

BTW, your 10" band saw is almost certainly not suited to cutting metal (or you would have declared it a metal cutting band saw). That means you'll either need another band saw or you'll do a lot more grinding during stock removal. Since you've got back problems, that probably means you can't use the porta-band option, because you'll need a unit that is free standing.

- Greg
 
TwinCities said:
Maybe it would make more sense for me to start by buying blades like would come in a kit and making very nice handles/grips for them and possibly modifying things like the blade's finish as well as putting my own edge on it.
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Sure, lots of folks start out that way. You certainly have the tools you need.

Selection of ground, HT'ed carbon steel blades is a bit limited but there are lots and lots of stainless ones available. Check the uual places like Texas Knifemaker Supply and Jantz for blades. "Mora" style blades from companies like Frost's and Helle are widely available. Fallkniven blades can sometimes be found, as well.
 
tryppyr said:
I have to say that the fact that you won't be able to put your back into anything concerns me. Maybe I'm doing things wrong, but I find that often after working on my projects my back has a tendency to spasm. This happens after grinding, sanding, or filing. About the only time I don't get my back into the work is during sheath making.
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Hmmm maybe its just you or maybe you spend a lot more time each day working on a knife than I do (likely). When I actually get some free time now to work on a knife I typically spent a few hours on it. Back never get bothers me. Then again with the exception of grinding and cutting out a blank most of my work is done sitting down. I'm also fairly certain there are guys on here who even grind while sitting too. Either way I've never had my back bother me when working on a knife
 
Fletch, yeah it might just be me. I don't have a work space where I can just sit down and do everything and let the dust fall where it may.

1) Grinding. When I first started doing this stuff, I used the Steelcase desk in my garage. Very quickly it became apparent that dust was going to be a HUGE problem. It got on EVERYTHING in the garage, and we have a lot of stuff out there (including our two cars). My wife read me the Riot Act, so I'm doing more to mitigate the dust problem. In part, this means moving my sanders outdoors (where I have no desk) when I am using them. So I put it on the driveway (beside a closed garage door) and sit on the ground to work. That has me hunched over the sanders whenever I use them. Couple that with the need to haul them back to the desk when the work is done, and there's even more strain.

2) Cutting. I use a Porta-Band that is not mounted in a stand, so I have to hunch over that and push the metal through at a 45 degree angle. Awkward positioning to say the least, which might account for some back strain. This is also how I cut the wood and antler. Anything I need to cut is either done this way, or with hand saws and the vice, which also puts strain on the back.

3) Sanding. Already mentioned using the belt sanders... but even hand sanding causes me back strain. Mostly I do it standing up outside, to take advantage of the better lighting (and dust control), so I can see what I'm doing better. One hand holds the piece while the other hand does the sanding. In the end I feel the strain on the back. Sometimes I sit down, but that doesn't help much, because then I hunch over.

4) Drilling. Happily, my drill press (a small one) is mounted at a good height. This is because I made a special platform for that specific purpose. No complaint's or back strain here... but had I not mounted the press correctly, there would be.

5) Filing. During the last project I developed a method of filing that greatly reduced the strain. I C-clamp the piece to the platform I use for the drill press (letting the piece overhang the edge a bit). This puts the piece at an ideal work level and lets me focus on accurate strokes. I don't really have any complaints about this, but it does put some strain on the back.

Anyway, you see where this is going. Maybe it is the fact that I'm working wrong, but there are reasons I do so... and I suspect they are reasons TwinCities will have to consider as well.

- Greg
 
2) Cutting. I use a Porta-Band that is not mounted in a stand, so I have to hunch over that and push the metal through at a 45 degree angle. Awkward positioning to say the least, which might account for some back strain. This is also how I cut the wood and antler. Anything I need to cut is either done this way, or with hand saws and the vice, which also puts strain on the back.
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I suggest that you make a base for your saw. If it is anything like mine I made a ghetto base in about 30 minutes using some mild steel, a small piece of plywood, a drill, a hammer, and a few bolts. It was suppose to be a temporary solution so I could use the saw right away and it is still set up that way because it worked so well
 
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