By Jason Kish
My very first knife taught me many lessons on what tools I needed and each knife there after has taught me where to fine tune my shop. I'll help you out and show you a basic beginners knife making shop. We'll start with a file, hack saw and work through angle grinders, drills, a belt grinder, drill press, bench grinder and band saws. Through the video I'll give you an idea on cost and try to create a road map in your shop setup.
If you enjoy the craft of making knives these tools will become a common sight in your garage, home or shop. I'm sorry I don't forges in this video, if you would like to see more on forges and anvils let me know and I throw one together.
For now a simple list of tools to read through.
1. sturdy workbench. (Less wobble mean better power on filing, sanding etc.)$10 in DIY lumber to $400 store bought.
2. Hacksaw with bi metal blades.$20 coping saw $20.00
3. Range of files, fine cut, coarse cut, half rounds, rat tails. $25 for a set. PLUS 4" C-clamps at least 3 of them for $8.00 a piece.
4. Bench Vise 4" or 6" $70-$100.
(If its too much check out my poor mans bench vise video made with C clamps and 2x4's. $5.00)
5. Your first power tool, A drill, just a cheap 3/8 corded drill will be fine for now $60.00 at same time a 24 piece or approx. size drill bit kit. $10-$60 depending on the bits. Or just find a pin size you like and get that size range of bits in cobalt bits $5.00 a bit.
6. Sand paper, wet/dry 80 grit 120 grit 320 grit 600 grit 1200 grit 2000 grit (I use 2000 grit as a cheap sharpening stone) $2.00 a sheet. Use a square block, bar, flat stock as a sanding tool.
7. Angle grinder is hit and miss for knife making, its a dangerous tool and technically not needed but it can be safer with proper techniques. The angle grinder is a tool that's a very common sight in a knife shop and it does come in handy. Also breathing and eye protection becomes a must once high RPM tools come in to the shop. $50.00
8. face masks, respirator, safety glasses or googles. $60.00
9. For starting out I recommend a bench grinder with a belt grinder. So you can grind the blank then buff the knife and handle. $120.00
OR 4x36 belt grinder or 1x30. The 4x36 belt grinder I find more forgiving and still does a good job if you use 36 grit or 40 grit belts to start with. $120.00
OR Bench grinder stone wheel for grinding the profile and a buffing wheel on other side. $80.00 should cover it with a few basic compounds.
10. Band saw to cut blanks and knife handles. Aim for a metal saw $300.00 other wise the cheaper $120 will only work for wood and you can use a coping saw for that.
11. Drill press, is a toss up if you have to choose between band saw. If you wait for a metal band saw then go with the basic bench drill press. $100-$150 the more you spend the more sturdy the table and chuckle will be.
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