Knifemaker Beginner's Tool Set - constructionhtml

1 HANDMADE KNIVES D. Comeau Custom Knives Leduc County, Alberta Knifemaker Beginner's tool Set Want to get started in Knifemaking? Looking to assemble some basic tools? You may already have many of the tools you need to start making a knife with the stock removal method. Tools Although the Knifemaker 's tool list will vary wildly depending on who you ask, I've compiled some basic tool list to help get you started. Fortunately, many of these tools are common in garages across the country. Work Bench Table or other sturdy working space. Needs to be about the right height for working while standing. Vise Must have. Something to hold your work down. You could get away with some clamps and vise grips, but a good vise will last forever and be one of the most useful things in your shop.

2 Hacksaw Any decent hacksaw with a quality blade will be good to get you started. Choose good quality bi metal blades. Bi metal means the teeth are different metal (and hardness) than the surrounding blade. Lennox, Starrett, Milwaukee, DeWalt are all good brands. Files At least two large mill files, bastard cut and one smooth cut. I prefer a fairly hefty one, say a 12". Nicholson brand is recognized as good. Handles are optional, but make working with files easier on the hands. Power Drill You will need to drill steel and material for handles. A basic cordless drill is okay for a start, but ultimately a drill press produces the best results. Drill Bits A well stocked index of sharp bits suitable for drilling steel is a must.

3 HSS bits are perfectly fine for drilling all kinds of annealed steel. Cobalt are better, but also more expensive. Hammer You'll need at least one hammer. A 20 oz. ball pein is a handy choice to have around the shop. Center Punch Splurge for a centre punch. It will help keep those bits on target and make for a more professional looking knife. Wood Rasp For coarse shaping handle of wood or synthetics. Clamps A few different sizes of clamps and vise grips for squeezing during glue ups. Ruler Pick up a stainless steel ruler with inches and centimetres. You will find multiple uses for this in the years to come. Permanent Markers These can be your best friends. Fine or Ultrafine tip.

4 Black or whatever colour is on sale. HANDMADE KNIVES D. Comeau Custom Knives Leduc County, Alberta Assorted Sandpaper For shaping, smoothing and polishing, you'll need some wet/dry type sandpapers from 60 to 600 grit. Wood Blocks Make yourself some hardwood blocks for holding sandpaper. Scraps of oak or maple that are cut nice and square are very useful, as are dowels of different diameters. IMHO, this is all you really need to get started. Give it a go. Many amazing knives are made with files and sandpaper. If you really like your new hobby: UPGRADES: Bench top Belt Sander 1"x30" or 4"x36" combination disc/belt sander. Even if you get a 2x72" belt grinder later, you'll still find uses for these little cousins.

5 Drill Press Doesn't have to be fancy. The table needs to be right angle to the bit. Band Saw Metal cutting band saw. Portable band saws can be converted to sit on the workbench. For basic heat There several ways to get the hardening done. A fairly easy and clean way is to use propane or MAPP gas. Fire Brick A small starter forge can be made with two insulated fire bricks. You can also make a "soup can forge" to heat treat simple carbon steel, but the two brick forge is proven and super simple to make. Google "two brick forge" or look on YouTube and you're off and running. Swirl Tip Torch A Bernz O Matic swirl tip torch like the TS 8000 is good for the two brick forge.

6 It's swirling flame action moves the heat. Avoid those "pencil tip" soldering torches as they focus the heat in a tiny spot. We want big heat. Look for the words "Swirl" and "MAPP compatible." LPG or MAPP Gas A bottle and a bottle to spare is my rule. You cannot run out during a heat treat. The camping style propane bottles (not canisters) will work fine. The yellow bottles of MAPP gas is good if your forging something large, thick or longer than your forge is designed for. MAPP is hotter burning than propane. Vegetable Oil You'll want at least two gallons of vegetable oil. Cheap oil is fine. Quench Tank Your vegetable oil will need to be put into a metal container of some sort.

7 HANDMADE KNIVES D. Comeau Custom Knives Leduc County, Alberta Gloves Protect your hands with all leather gloves. Avoid work gloves that have nylon over the knuckles as this can melt and cause a nasty burn. (first hand experience talking) Welding gloves are good. Magnet Any old magnet will do. I use an old speaker magnet from a car stereo speaker. Tongs You will need something to grip a red hot blade with. Some have proper blacksmith's tongs. An old set of vise grips works in a pinch. Oven Any oven capable of heating around 200 C (400 F) and will hold the knife you intend on making. A toaster over works great for this as you can haul it out to the garage and you eliminate those odd smells from the kitchen.

8 Oven Thermometer If you don't trust the dial on your toaster oven, (who would?) an oven thermometer will give you a better idea of how hot your toaster oven is getting. Fire Extinguisher Let's , hot steel and better have one. Respirator At bare minimum some decent N95 dust masks. Better to look into a half mask respirator. Safety Glasses Hopefully self explanatory. Gloves See heat treating section. And don't forget light! A well lit work area will always be to your advantage. Best of luck! Kindly let me know if I may have missed something, Dan December 2015