**Updated Oct 27th** DIY forge & belt grinder for knife making newb ** First quench video inside**

Zbizzle911

Charter Freedom Lover
Charter Member
Joined
Dec 17, 2016
Messages
4,370
Location
Midway Nc
Rating - 100%
23   0   0
So I’ve decided to try my hand at knife making. I wanted a forge and belt grinder. Saw plenty of videos of people making them so here’s my take on it. The forge I loosely followed the essential craftsman on YouTube plans . I’m still waiting on my burner for it. This thread will be where I post my progress on these projects.

e3ef23b7147014d2937693062d4bca25.jpg
9452711ee8bacc87549ed7ebbb9cf176.jpg





For the grinder I’ve got a treadmill motor and ordered the stuff to make the variable speed control and will have to fab the rest. More updates at they come.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Where'd you get the LWFB and how expensive was it?
 
Where'd you get the LWFB and how expensive was it?

eBay. I got 8 bricks for $60 shipped. Only problem is three came in broke. Didn’t open package until today so I’m going to email seller and see if they’ll do anything. Couldn’t find anyone local who had them. If someone knows a place in triad let me know.

Edited to add that the seller is sending me 3 more bricks at no charge. I would still like to find a localish place to buy them for future upgrades.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Dang. 6-7 bucks per brick. I need that price to be closer to $1/ea.

I seem to remember a pottery supply place in Ashville that sold them. I'll see if I can find them again.
 
Dang. 6-7 bucks per brick. I need that price to be closer to $1/ea.

I seem to remember a pottery supply place in Ashville that sold them. I'll see if I can find them again.

If you do please let me know. These are the k23 bricks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
So today had a bit of free time. I wired up the treadmill motor that I got for free to the bridge rectifier $9 ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07S4D5WSZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) and the SCR controller $14 ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MKU4W3Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) and what do you know it works just fine. Now to build the stand and order the wheels for the grinder. So far I've got less than $25 in the belt grinder! Below is a video I made of it working.



 
Last edited:
Got my burner put in today and after messing around with the regulator got it fired up for the first time. It seems to heat pretty well. I put a piece of round stock in it and it was cherry red in these than 5 minutes. Had Zbizzle911 jr video me lighting it for the first time.




 
In case you have to buy more, I bought firebrick for $2 each at the local stone yard in Fuquay. I think they were $2.50 ea at the big yard in south Durham on 55.

4x9 2” thick
 
Last edited:
I have nothing productive to add other than I am very impressed. I have always wanted to get into knife making, but have let life get in the way. I look forward to seeing the progress as you hone your skills!
 
How much weight have you lost? o_O
 
There is a company, Resco Products in Greensboro that makes refractory products. I'll probably be by there in the next couple weeks and see what they do with seconds or scraps. Wouldn't surprise me if I can get some bricks from them if anyone would like them.
 
In case you have to buy more, I bought firebrick for $2 each at the local stone yard in Fuquay. I think they were $2.50 ea at the big yard in south Durham on 55.

4x9 2” thick
These have to be the lightweight kiln bricks, they're different than the ones put in fireplaces. Almost feel like styrofoam.

I have nothing productive to add other than I am very impressed. I have always wanted to get into knife making, but have let life get in the way. I look forward to seeing the progress as you hone your skills!
Thanks buddy.

How much weight have you lost? o_O
Almost 40lbs crazy huh?

There is a company, Resco Products in Greensboro that makes refractory products. I'll probably be by there in the next couple weeks and see what they do with seconds or scraps. Wouldn't surprise me if I can get some bricks from them if anyone would like them.
That would be awesome @Brian K was looking also
 
Why wouldn't firebrick work?
The regular off white colored fire brick that are used for fireplaces and such are very dense like regular bricks. The light weight ones are super light and remind you of styrofoam. They are made by mixing this stuff with organic matter then firing them which burns the organic matter away leaving a bunch of air pockets which is what keeps the heat in. I let my forge burn for 20 minutes at full blast and could put my hand on top of the bricks and they were barely warm. They are great insulators. I guess the regulars would work fair but not as well as the lightweight ones. It would take longer to heat up and thus use more fuel and might not reflect as much heat back into the forge so it wouldn't be as efficient.
 
Last edited:
Nice. One thing though, I'm against stirring the blade in the quench. That steel is as pliable as spaghetti when it's hot and stirring or even quenching it at an angle can cause warpage. I go straight down and hold it still.
I wasn't stiring it. I was moving straight forward and back no side force just forward and back.
 
Nice. One thing though, I'm against stirring the blade in the quench. That steel is as pliable as spaghetti when it's hot and stirring or even quenching it at an angle can cause warpage. I go straight down and hold it still.

I don't have time right now but one day I want to get into making some blades. Never really thought about stirring or moving the blade around during the quench.
 
Got my scales shaped and glued up. Used orange white and black g10 with black micarta pins. Now to let the epoxy cure and finish it up.

Coming along nicely sir. Thank you for keeping us posted on the progress!
 
Lessons I've learned in this knife.

1.) Get all the file marks out before quenching
2.) I need tongs
3.) I need more clamps for glue up
4.) Got to build a knife sanding clap jig thing lol
5.) Hell im sure there's more these are just the highlights
 
Got another bigger motor today. This is 4.5 hp lol. Should be plenty of power. Ordered my wheels and now to build the frame and stuff.
55916e3f6c00a21bdc31118da54ab15c.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
An honest 4.5 HP is about 50 amps at 120 or 25 amps at 240.

Yeah this one is 120. It’s from a nordictrack treadmill. Already powered it up with my variable speed control works fine


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Got another bigger motor today. This is 4.5 hp lol. Should be plenty of power. Ordered my wheels and now to build the frame and stuff.
55916e3f6c00a21bdc31118da54ab15c.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I hear Tim the Toolman Taylor, more power! Once built you'll have to paint Binford tools on it. :)
 
Is this an actual 4.5hp or is this "shop vac" horse power?

4.5 real hp on a belt grinder will be pretty dang impressive/destructive, certainly shouldn't have to worry about bogging that down.
 
Is this an actual 4.5hp or is this "shop vac" horse power?

4.5 real hp on a belt grinder will be pretty dang impressive/destructive, certainly shouldn't have to worry about bogging that down.
I was hinting at that before. Clearly not a 50A 120v motor, if there is even such a thing. Definitely "shop-vac" (stalled torque) HP.
 
Back
Top Bottom