Need something for the knife shop.

Gliden07

Gliden07

Well-Known Member
I won a sales contest at work and received 1200 bucks in gift cards!! I want to get something for the knife shop but cant decide? Milling machine? Heat treat oven? what do you guys think? I was leaning toward the milling machine but don't have a clue what to get? Was looking at the Grizzly Mini with the DRO but was also looking at the Larger HF 1-1/2HP just because I'll be able to do more with it? Then there's the Heat Treating oven was looking at the Even-Heat 22.5 but again I never have this kind of disposable income so what controller, do I really need the TAP. I'm so confused!! What do you guys think??
 
Chris Railey said:
How do you HT now? What do you grind on?
Click to expand...

I heat treat in a small forge and toaster oven. I have a Reeder 2X72 with a 2HP 3PH motor and a VFD (I pieced this together a little at a time as money allowed). I do have a friend with a small oven if I need it, but its a pain in the neck when you get going building.
 
That's definitely a stuff decision! I don't make folders yet, and use the mill for other things all time. Right now the drill press does everything that I need for hunting knives. The heat treat oven gets used all the time and is what I would buy over a mill. But that's just me, your goals as a maker might justify a mill over an oven.
 
i have a mini mill and while i wish it was a full size mill, i have no regrets about buying the little mill. I use it for a zillion things. One thing nobody ever mentions using a mill for is flattening scales. I cut the scales on a bandsaw and then mill them perfectly flat to the thickness I want. I also drill my handles on the mill. Because I almost always use liners, I make a handle sandwich and lock it all in the mill vise. Then using the blade as my hole template I drill it all at once.

If you don’t want a mini-mill then a heat treat oven is super handy. With it you can do stainless yourself.
 
I'd keep an eye out for a used milling machine with some tooling.

$1200 won't get you a lot if you go brand new, but you might find a good deal if you shop some auctions or the used market. The rule of thumb is that you should expect to spend as much (or more) on tooling as you do the mill, but sometimes you can find some pretty decent packages on the used end, if you know what to look for.

If you go with a HT oven, do you really need a TAP controller? Not really. If you're doing a lot different steels, it's nice to have the convenience of the TAP controller, but if you're only doing basic carbon steels, it's going to be a bit of overkill, IMO.

Then again, if you have the cash on hand, why not?
 
You asked about ovens. i have the Evenheat 22.5 with the TAP controller. Honestly for a low volume maker, the cheapest controller is just fine. If you heat treat once a month then the 3 minutes it takes to set the program is inconsequential. I bought the TAP because I had the cash on hand and saving recipes seemed like a good idea. After having it I still like it but I realize it was totally unnecessary.
 
John Wilson said:
You asked about ovens. i have the Evenheat 22.5 with the TAP controller. Honestly for a low volume maker, the cheapest controller is just fine. If you heat treat once a month then the 3 minutes it takes to set the program is inconsequential. I bought the TAP because I had the cash on hand and saving recipes seemed like a good idea. After having it I still like it but I realize it was totally unnecessary.
Click to expand...

Are you happy with the 22.5? Everyone tells me that the 18 should be enough but the 22 is 20 dollars more! in case I ever wanted to do a short sword! I hate obsessing on these little details but if I buy it that will be it for a very long time.
 
The 18 is good for most folks. I agree with you- the cost of the 22.5 over the 18 was practically nothing. A 22.5 oven fits under my bench just fine.
 
And if i ever go full Von Gruff and have 12 knives to heat treat at once the 22.5 will fit them all at one time! LOL
 
There's a full size grizzly milling machine on Ebay for 1800 or offer....It's over in Washington, I have friends there and if I didn't already have one I would be on it like white on rice in a glass of milk.
 
Vombrown said:
There's a full size grizzly milling machine on Ebay for 1800 or offer....It's over in Washington, I have friends there and if I didn't already have one I would be on it like white on rice in a glass of milk.
Click to expand...

Washington State or DC??
 
For me it would be between the HT oven and mill. The oven would more than likely win because I would like to work with AEBL soon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top