What tools do the beginning knife maker REALLY need?

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staysharpordie

Joined
Mar 4, 2013
Messages
8
Hello,

I am new to knife making and I am trying to find out what tools I REALLY need and what I can do with out. I will list what tools I have and what tools I THINK I might need. I am asking for help from the experienced knife makers out there to let me know what I need and what don't. Thanks

What I have
1. hf 1x30 belt sander
2. 60lb Vulcan anvil, forge and forging tools
3. angle grinder
4. hack saw
5. drill
6. 10" circular table sander

What I think I still need
1. band saw
2. Drill press
3. Files
4. bench grinder
 
A harbor Freight portaband is probably the cheapest way to get into a suitable bandsaw. You'll need to figure out some kind of table mount.

I'm far from a seasoned maker, but I think my skills are reasonable, and I'm still using a hacksaw even though I have a bandsaw. I also use a Japanese hand saw instead of the bandsaw. I find that manual labor can sometimes be relaxing, and for one or two blades, it really doesn't take all that much longer.

Drill press is pretty much a must if you want to have high quality. Files are also a must, get at least a flat, round, half round, and a cheap needle file set.

Bench grinder is OK, but I frankly stay away from mine for the most part, and I have a pretty nice 8" DeWalt. It's Ok for some stuff like sharpening lathe tools, but for the most part I'd rather work on my 2x72 or 6x48.

Especially for Knifemaking, DO NOT waste money on a bench grinder when you could be buying a 2x42 or even cobble together a 2x72 belt machine.
 
Your 10" circular table sander. Is this a disc that replaces a table saw blade that gets paper adhered to it! Have you used this much?
 
You really don't need much to make a knife, I made my first few with a hacksaw, files, sandpaper, and a cordless drill. Add in a lot of patients and you can make a knife. Tools that will make the job easier and faster are the drill press, band saw and belt grinder. I tried a 1X30 and it didn't work out too well for me, but moving to a true 2X72 belt grinder made a world of difference.
 
I made my first few knives with a file, a vise, and a hand drill... and lots of sandpaper. A good vise is mandatory.
 
If you've got an angle grinder, you can hold off on the band saw. If you've got a belt grinder, even the small one you have, you can hold off on files. Not much need or use for a bench grinder either. Get a drill press for sure, then make a few knives and work toward upgrading your grinder ASAP. With the tools you have, the grinder is the weakest link after the drill press IMO.
 
GHEzell said:
I made my first few knives with a file, a vise, and a hand drill... and lots of sandpaper. A good vise is mandatory.
Click to expand...

I'm not seasoned but I'm somewhat competent to make a somewhat decent stabbing/slicing tool. What GHE said are basically the bare minimums. You can even get away without a vice and clamp a piece of wood to a table with a "c" clamp and use spring clips to hold the blade to it so you can work but a vice makes things easier. Just like any tool or gadget, they help aid in making things easier but all you need is a hacksaw, files, sandpaper and a lot of elbow grease and determination. Everything else just makes the process go faster, but on the other side it also allows you to screw up quicker too.
 
You need the will and determination to make your first knife.
Next you need the knolledge how to make that knife. Many good books and stickies on this forum are written on that.
After that you need a file (three is better, one will do) sandpaper and either a vice or clamps+worksurface and a hacksaw.
You can outsource the HT as many guys do.
That is all you need. A first powertool will most likely be a drillpress.

You can't buy skills, you gain them while working.
 
staysharpordie said:
Hello,

I am new to knife making and I am trying to find out what tools I REALLY need and what I can do with out. I will list what tools I have and what tools I THINK I might need. I am asking for help from the experienced knife makers out there to let me know what I need and what don't. Thanks

What I have
1. hf 1x30 belt sander
2. 60lb Vulcan anvil, forge and forging tools
3. angle grinder
4. hack saw
5. drill
6. 10" circular table sander

What I think I still need
1. band saw
2. Drill press
3. Files
4. bench grinder
Click to expand...

Does the HF in front of the belt sander stand for Harbor Freight? If so I have it and it's a pile of junk, go for the Craftsmen 2x42 and good belts, I switched to it and it's amazing the difference.
 
Bladeforums shoptalk and hammer and tongs is the best tool out there.
 
One of the best looking knives I've ever seen, was a damascus & ivory, and it was the guys 1st knife. The only power tool he used was a drill. The damascus he got was a 10" billet. He used a hacksaw, clamp, files & sandpaper. It was a flat grind drop point, and his plunge lines were perfect, as was the grind. Since he was using files, he only removed minimal amounts of steel. He claimed making the knife was easy, it was filing and sanding for 3 months that was difficult.
 
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