Hey everyone, I am just starting to get the gear I need for knife making. I plan on doing most of the work by hand, as long as my hands and body let me. (I suffer from moderately-severe rheumatoid arthritis) Now, there is a bit more of a dilemma on my end also, and that is my budget haha. I have slowly been acquiring the hand tools I need to get started, and I have a bunch of wood that I can make a filing jig out of, and a nice, high workbench (Because I am 6"4, and can't hunch over, so it will be built to me, and me only lol) Now being on disability, and having 3 kids, it takes me a serious amount of time to get any cash scraped together, but it is possible I just wanted to put it out there that I am in the market for more tools, right now, so I thought I would drop a small list here, and see if anyone knows of anything I am looking for, or can at least point me in the right direction I try to peruse kijiji daily, and I know a guy who does get some stuff in from time to time when it comes to hand tools, and have found some brand new files from him that are at least 30+ years old, and we all know the quality of today's tools is no match for the oldies! Currently, I am looking for a cheap, but reasonable vise to bolt to my bench. I am also looking for fire bricks, but can't seem to find anywhere that sells them in Winnipeg. Can I find them at Home Depot, or Rona? Are there any go to suppliers for steel in Canada? I have checked a few places locally, but the prices seem a bit atrocious, compared to online, even if I were to have it shipped from the US, I'd still come out ahead. Has anyone ever put together a beginners hand tools list somewhere? I will do some more searching to see. I should also note that I am pretty handy when it comes to making aids, like jigs or other little do-hickies. It's just a matter of finding the materials at the metal recyclers, or where ever. Thanks in advance everyone!
Shadnuke I'm also in Winnipeg and the only place I found for firebricks (for a kiln) are at soundingstone.com. its a ceramic kiln supply place in Winnipeg. The bricks are kind of hard to find on their site but type "brick" into the search function then scroll the 2 pages and you will find them. As far as steel goes it depends on what steel you're looking for but Canadian knifemakersupply.com has a good selection and pretty good prices.( Great people to deal with also) Post a better list of tools and stuff you're looking for and I might have something kicking around that would help you out. Frank
Awesome! I'll hit up that site. And yeah, knifemakersupply.ca is gonna be my go to I think. They seem to be the most reasonable. When I get home, I'll take a look at what I have amassed, and make a more detailed list. It would probably be better for me to list what I have, rather than what I don't, that way I know what I'm missing haha
I don't know if it is really possible to make a knifemaking starter list because everyone has a different style and goal and budget. An absolute basic starter kit i think would be a file, sand paper in many grits from 120 to at least 400, a hack saw, your choice of handle material and pin material and of course blade steel. I know this isn't very specific but it will get you started and you will quickly figure out what you need to start saving up for. I hope this helps.
If I had absolutely nothing for tools and wanted to get started, I'd go shopping for: - vise - hacksaw - 12"+ mill file - drill w/bits - centre punch - sandpaper - needle file set - ruler - sharpie - vise-grips A two-brick forge would be right up there on the must have list, however you can get heat treatment done at a bunch of places for a reasonable fee. Dan
Well, it looks like I am already ahead in the game. I have a whole bunch of nice files, from double cut bastard files, to a bunch of new, older, harder to come by safe edge files and round files. I grabbed a handful of clamps today while I was out, and will probably need more, but they're cheap enough at princess auto. Hacksaw, punches, scribe, calipers, metal ruler, and a sweet little set of Nicholson needle files, pretty much round out the list. I will have to invest in some decent drill bits, so I will probably buy individual bits,so I can get some fancy top end bits. I plan on making my own micarta, so that's just a matter of getting the resin and materials I decide to use for handles. As for pin materials, what is a decent size of brass rod, to not be too big, or small, but could also stagger the pins for esthetic reasons if they are a bit on the smaller size, and the knife is a bit on the bigger size. So i guess it's a trip to start off on the bench and filing jig tomorrow. I will have to find a vise then! That's the next big item I will need!!! You all have pretty much sorted me out with the few posts! Thanks a million!
I like 3/16" brass rod for those "not too big - not too small" pins. (Home Depot has it in 3 foot lengths @$12 or so.) That will do plenty of knives. 1/8" and 1/4" are common too. If you are going to pick up some numbered bits, a #12 bit works well for 3/16" rod as it will make your holes slightly over size. See picture: Great to see you're all ready. It doesn't have to be super expensive to get started. And there's a pile of things you can make yourself of you are handy. Check out http://dcknives.blogspot.ca/p/shop-jigs-fixtures.html for some ideas. All the best! Dan
I just bought 4 inch vise from Canadian Tire for $40. It was on sale and according to people from internet it goes on sale regularly. I'm pretty happy with it, but I have only used it a few times. For knife making 4" seems to be a perfect size.
Yes, I totally agree. This is what you need to get started. In my situation (living in apartment) a small shop vac is a must have too.
Well, I may be able to get started sooner than later! Just sent Frank a PM about the vise. So now I need my filing jig, and my work table. Which I think I will re-purpose an old school door I have sitting in the basement. It should give me enough weight after I add some thick enough plywood on top, and some legs to it. As for a forge, I will have to find so e bricks, and see if I still have 2 propane torches kicking around. Then it's a matter of some propane, and I'm good to go! Thanks for all the advice everyone, I really appreciate it. Being stuck at home without much to do kinda stinks. And to top things off, I started talking to a guy locally here that is willing to show me some of the insurance and outs of knife making. It will give me a chance to see how things are done, and then I can get rocking!!!! Kevin
