Knifemaking Tools - CRATEX

13 Best Knifemaking Tools for the Newbie

 

Making a knife demands design, adequate materials, and the right equipment. The proper tools will contribute to creating a durable handle and blade. It can be made at a small warehouse are at home with homemade or heavy equipment.

We have made a list of the top 13 tools that you need for knifemaking and a description of what they're used for.

1. Safety Equipment

The knives are sharp. Use heavy working gloves to protect the hands from getting cut or burnt. Wear the safety glasses to guard the eyes against steel dust and debris. Also, use a dust respirator that will keep you from inhaling harmful steel dust into the lungs. Plus, a work apron will protect the skin and clothes from being damaged by a tool.

2. Metal Files

They’re used to sand off any rough surfaces of metal once you’re done shaping it.

3. Bench Vise

A bench vise works as a third hand to hold the material that you're working on a place where you form it. The vise’s mouth faces upwards so that it’ll hold the blade up in the air, where it’s easy to get to.

4. Clamps

Like a bench vise, clamps are employed to hold your knife in place while you utilize it. The difference with clamps is that the blade is held out to the side, rather than up in the air. 

5. Hacksaw

The hacksaw is used to grind away steel to make the sharp side of the knife.

6. Grinding Abrasives

Rubber abrasive wheels, cones, points, and sticks all come handy when it comes to finishing work - blade fine grinding and polishing. A lineup of CRATEX rubber abrasives is imperative for knifemakers that want to add a final touch to their piece of art.

7. Sand Paper

You'll need a variety of sandpapers' grits to shape the handle and to get the knife smooth, so that is comfy in hand.

 

8. Drill Press

The knife is held together with the pins. The drill press is used to drill the correct size of the hole for the bolts to fit securely inside.

9. Dremel

Dremel isn’t an essential tool but can be handy for cutting material, detail grinding, rust cleaning, jeweling, or customizing with mounted abrasive cones, small rubber or cut-off wheels, points and bits.

10. Forge

A forge is used to heat the steel so you can shape the knife the way you need it.

11. Angle Grinder

Angle grinder with right abrasive wheel is used to grind away the sharp side of the knife.

12. Belt Grinders

Reliable and heavy-duty belt grinders are a must in the artistic planet of knife making. Having a high-quality belt grinder for consistent output is the difference between a trash knife and a beautiful one.

The ideal belt grinder will also serve for sharpening other things, like axes, circular saw blades, and gardening trowels.

13. Whetstones

They are the best way to sharpen the knife once you have it made. There is variety of designs, grit ranges, and materials. Choose according to needs and knife material.