All About Pocket Knives

I've had this basement shop for 3 years now. It's about the same size as the shop I had in TX but the layout is different. The cabinets came out of a demoed' trailer and they fit in perfectly. Pretty much the same equipment as the TX shop. Getting the shop ready was top priority when I moved because I had to have it up and running for many things that needed to be done in conjunction with the move in. These pictures are from a year or so ago but it was one of the few times the shop was relatively clean. The first four pictures are a separate area that adjoins the larger L shaped area. There is a large arch way and no door joining the two areas.

Very nice shop, Wayne! Wish I had a place, like that, to play

Fantastic photos and great workshops!!! Keep em coming, love seeing what people are doing, and their gadgets and tools.

one of my knife and wood carving tool sharpener's. leather wheel has a buff in front when needed or off.

Y'all are just too organized!
My work area looks like CHAOS .... LOL....

Sometimes... I even organize my chaos .....

Wow Wayne, that shop is huge compared to mine!!
I wish I had so much floor space, that is awesome!
I also love your metal cabinets with the metal drawers, those are so handy! I just picked up a smaller one with 9 drawers that now sets at the back of me main work bench. I constructed my bench deeper than is really useable so I could put some storage behind it, that way I don't have to move around as much.
Great shop and nice use of the space !


Mike, a shop that is used is just controlled chaos! If you get organized from time to time It makes it easier to re-order the chaos when you finish some projects. I don't clean after every project but I do try to straighten things up at least weekly. When I start losing valuable time and energy looking for things in the chsos, I know it is time to clean.

orvet wrote:
Mike, a shop that is used is just controlled chaos! If you get organized from time to time It makes it easier to re-order the chaos when you finish some projects. I don't clean after every project but I do try to straighten things up at least weekly. When I start losing valuable time and energy looking for things in the chaos, I know it is time to clean.

Well..... that's a good philosophy. Too many times I walk away after the day is done.
I usually clean up during projects....... When the chaos is piled too high in my work area.....LOL.

After almost impaling myself a few times I have given up on mounting polishing wheel onto a grinder motor - it is just too fast! Then I found these polishing wheels at a local import store (not Harbor Freight, but a Mom-n-Pop store with similar stuff). I chuck this into the drill press, set it on a lower speed, and it does a great job of polishing without being dangerous!!
Plus they are only about $3 each, so I have separate wheels for different compounds, and separate wheels for metal as opposed to bone or wood.

I have found some similar on Amazon, only theirs are tapered and mine are cylindrical, if anyone is interested.
Swpeet 5 Pcs Cone-Shaped White Flannelette Polishing Wheel Grinding Head with 1/4" Handle for Metal Aluminum/Stainless Steel/Chrome/Jewelry/Wood/Plastic/Ceramic/Glass https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073DY41QV/re ... jEbAE862P2

Thanks for showing those Reverand!
I still like my polishing wheels but I can see a use for those too.

Meridian_Mike wrote: ↑Tue Jan 21, 2020 12:33 pm Thanks for showing those Reverand!
I still like my polishing wheels but I can see a use for those too.

I have used a friend's low-speed Baldor polisher, and it works great. I would far prefer one of those, but I just cannot afford one right now.

Here’s my small and humble basement workspace, everything’s down there except the grinders and sanders. The 4” x 36” and 2” x 72” grinder/sanders just throw off too much dust for the basement with my current ventilation.

Nice, neat shop Jeff!
It's a little too neat, I would probably not be able to find anything there, and it wouldn't be neat for long if I was working there!

LOL! Well I cleaned up the area a bit for the photo.
Like most of ya’ll I tend to have things laying everywhere when Im working. But it drives me crazy when I have to stop to look for something so Im trying to be neater.
One biggie for me is the gap under the lower shelf, when I drop something it ALWAYS goes under that dang shelf which means I have to get the flashlight out and get down on the floor to see if I can find it.
Jeff

Jeffinn wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2020 1:02 am LOL! Well I cleaned up the area a bit for the photo.
Like most of ya’ll I tend to have things laying everywhere when Im working. But it drives me crazy when I have to stop to look for something so Im trying to be neater.
One biggie for me is the gap under the lower shelf, when I drop something it ALWAYS goes under that dang shelf which means I have to get the flashlight out and get down on the floor to see if I can find it.
Jeff

I know what you mean about dropping things. When I do it, the object falls and hits the toe of my shoe and goes all the way back to the wall under the bench. The next time I get in to see the orthopedic surgeon, I am going to ask him about having my feet reversed so this does not happen anymore. lol

I like the bucket trick for your polishing wheels..... I need to do that for mine.
Right now, I just throw dust and particles all over the place.....LOL

I just started working on knives ,mainly just replacing handles on old fixed blade knives.I stopped at an estate sale today but they had no knives, the garage was packed with stuff,I was looking through some drawers and they were filled with bronze,brass,copper and nickle silver sheets and other metals,hope to put some to knife use. I filled up a box that weighed at least 50 lbs. for $25.

Nice score KG!
Looks like a bargain price too!

knifegnome wrote: ↑Sun Mar 22, 2020 1:48 am I just started working on knives ,mainly just replacing handles on old fixed blade knives.I stopped at an estate sale today but they had no knives, the garage was packed with stuff,I was looking through some drawers and they were filled with bronze,brass,copper and nickle silver sheets and other metals,hope to put some to knife use. I filled up a box that weighed at least 50 lbs. for $25.

That is a treasure trove!

Nice score on the metal!
I agree.... that is a treasure trove of goodies!

Well, I got my roof fixed. So, I figured I needed to put a good layer of Kilz on the areas that had suffered a little water damage. SO... before I knew it, I had built in a new set of shelves, put up new LED lights and reorganized my bench.
Please excuse the poor pictue, my wife was snapping pics with her phone..
Here I am standing there as proof I made it through the ordeal....
. .
And here is main working area. I still have the old florescent light over that area.
. .
And a shot of the new shelves where my heater once stood.
. .
Now, I am in a bad need to get back to work on some knives!!

Nice setup, Mike! Wish I could reclaim enough area, in my garage, to set up a "shop". Usually do most of my stuff out on the porch, when weather cooperates

Doc B wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 1:15 pm Nice setup, Mike! Wish I could reclaim enough area, in my garage, to set up a "shop". Usually do most of my stuff out on the porch, when weather cooperates

I guess I am blessed to have an enclosed shop. I hope I have it in shape for a while after my latest efforts.

Nice shop setup Mike! You look well organized.

Byrd wrote: ↑Mon Mar 23, 2020 3:52 pm Nice shop setup Mike! You look well organized.

LOL..... until it turns into a mess.... then it is organized chaos!

You have quite a bit of shop space, Mike. I'm jealous!