Okay, I jacked the spectra thread a little too much. So here it is.

I have a delta 4x36 belt grinder and I use it to sharpen my speartips, dive knife and other assorted stuff. Folks would be surprised how much metal a 4x36 will remove with a fresh 60 grit belt on it. Just for kicks here is a knife that I made from a raw bar of CPM154 tool steel from start to finish to include sharpening. Besides that I need to get a decent set of small punches to reset the spring roll pins that hold floppers on shafts if/when they could break or bend. All of the stuff I have now is too big.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/gixxer01/PICT0087.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/gixxer01/PICT0088.jpg

Damn! You beat me to starting the thread by 5 minutes! It was supposed to be called Power tools every spearo should own http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s170/da4095/Smilies/ThreadHijackedSmily.gif:D And beeeautiful knife!

Here's my post from the other thread that led to this discussion:No, not a dremel http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s170/da4095/Smilies/WTF.gif a grinder.. You can use it to sharpen you spears and a bunch of other stuff. Get a cheap Ryobi, $40 at home depo or get a used one with good wheels.

http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/000999/000999300105md.jpg

Gixxer, I have a small version of that belt sander. It's hard for me to accept what you're saying about it versus the grinder. I sometimes take serious amounts of metal off of something (because I'm too lazy to hack it off) and I can't see the sander doing that. I'd be interested in being taught otherwise, I'd be afraid to just try it on my sander. Apart from that I can't see the belt sander doing sharp angles.

Besides that I need to get a decent set of small punches to reset the spring roll pins that hold floppers on shafts if/when they could break or bend.Watcha' talking about?

Okay, I jacked the spectra thread a little too much. So here it is.

I have a delta 4x36 belt grinder and I use it to sharpen my speartips, dive knife and other assorted stuff. Folks would be surprised how much metal a 4x36 will remove with a fresh 60 grit belt on it. Just for kicks here is a knife that I made from a raw bar of CPM154 tool steel from start to finish to include sharpening. Besides that I need to get a decent set of small punches to reset the spring roll pins that hold floppers on shafts if/when they could break or bend. All of the stuff I have now is too big.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/gixxer01/PICT0087.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/gixxer01/PICT0088.jpg

If you made that with just a belt sander, that is amazing. :thumbup:

the pins that hold floppers on. You need a punch to knock them out to replace the flopper, and also to spread the ends to hold the new floppers on. check the link to Ray Odor's site and scroll all the way down.

http://www.spearfishing.cc/Personal%20Protectin%20Device.htm

The stone grinder sure does work to remove metal and sharpen chisels,but I look at the 4x36 as more of a multitasker for either woodwork or metalwork. You had mentioned getting into sharp angles, and you are right. I still need to use my redneck vertical mill (benchtop drill press with a 3/8" end mill)to hog metal out for finger grooves in the steel. My drill press takes such a beating from side loads, exactly NOT what it was meant for. Not to mention slinging rapid tap and metal shavings ALL OVER THE FREAKIN PLACE. I cannot wait to get a vertical mill.

I did mod my 4x36 by epoxying a 4" square ceramic tile to the platen to move the belt away from the frame to give me more side clearance. So, I do get some slack belt action above the tile. That helps me with the wood shaping.

thanks for the compliment BGBill. As soon as I got caught up with moving and filling a couple Christmas orders, I will "dive" into making dive knives. After looking at the prices of most dive knives I feel that I can be somewhat competitive with that and offer a completely custom knife, not a conveyor belt knife.

I will "dive" into making dive knives. After looking at the prices of most dive knives I feel that I can be somewhat competitive with that and offer a completely custom knife, not a conveyor belt knife.Awesome! That's some great stuff Gixxer. Any time you have something about knife making on your mind please share away.

I knock out those flopper pins with a nail a little then grab them from the other side with snap cutters. To flatten the head I use a piece of shaft that I ground to an appropriate point. Punches are good to have though. BTW I don't like that kind of pin. I've had it fail on me before. I prefer the solid flopper pin that you flare out with light hammer blows.

What is the main use for such a wide knife, looks like maybe skinning?

Wow. I understand if you don't want to give away all your secrets, but I would love to see some progress pics of how you create a work like that. Very, very nice work.

:iagree:

If you made that with just a belt sander, that is amazing. :thumbup:

Gixxer's knife making skills are quite impressive... I have seen them first hand. Also will soon have a few knife's carved from his hands before too long. I will be sure to post up some pics.

Nice work Gixxer..Have made a few myself...many moons ago..in another life..a galaxy far, far away.....

Awesome! That's some great stuff Gixxer. Any time you have something about knife making on your mind please share away.

I knock out those flopper pins with a nail a little then grab them from the other side with snap cutters. To flatten the head I use a piece of shaft that I ground to an appropriate point. Punches are good to have though. BTW I don't like that kind of pin. I've had it fail on me before. I prefer the solid flopper pin that you flare out with light hammer blows.

What is the main use for such a wide knife, looks like maybe skinning?

You are correct about the solid pins. I have not handled one with the solid pin, but I can feel ya on your observations.

That knife is a hunter skinner. Actually it was my second knife ever. The first looked just like that but it had a satin finish on it. They were Christmas gifts last year for my pops and my Bro in law. Of course Pops got the mirror finished one.

I have another item that some folks could use to clean up their guns after a season of getting banged around. it's a Black & Decker Mouse detail sander. hit it with the 220, then the 400, then oil it up and the dings are that much smaller. Of course if you have a Rhino then well you do not need it then. If some folks REALLY love their guns they can try to steam out the dings before sanding. It works on balsa, but dunno about harder woods. I have a trim iron for applying plastic film to the frame of R/C airplanes. The shoe is slightly smaller than a playing card. Whole lot more user friendly than wife's iron. Not to mention no snooty looks when you get some teak oil residue on the shoe and she irons a white blouse (hehe)!!!

Let the dings be, they add character. As long as they're sealed with epoxy which I recommend and can't deteriorate further. I like the steam thingie..

What is the best hand held smaller alternative to a band saw for cutting ss plate and shafts?

Let the dings be, they add character. As long as they're sealed with epoxy which I recommend and can't deteriorate further. I like the steam thingie..

What is the best hand held smaller alternative to a band saw for cutting ss plate and shafts?

a hack saw! ;)

Although I would not call it the "best", but you can use a dremel and a glass abrasive disc to cut plate and shafts. Of course your finished product is only as good as your hand is steady. and then sometimes even that looks rough. when you get to the bottom of a plate and the disc is about to poke through it grabs sometimes and it wants to fire out of your hand. Not something to do with the steel sitting in your lap. For a while I was slumming it using a dremel to cut the bulk blade steel to size before profiling and beveling the blades. Now I beat the piss outa my 9" bandsaw. CPM154 eats bandsaw blades for lunch. I spy a SWEET 14" 1 1/2 hp bandsaw from Grizzly.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0555X
220v is so the way to go. So is 230v 3 phase.

Let the dings be, they add character. As long as they're sealed with epoxy which I recommend and can't deteriorate further. I like the steam thingie..

What is the best hand held smaller alternative to a band saw for cutting ss plate and shafts?

That's a toy I'd like to own. Do shops exist that rent out shop time to use its tools?

That I have no idea. If I actually had the equipment, you could come over to my place and use it. I see myself gettin that after I get back from Central America in the spring.