paddlepower7777

Alternatively, the sheath can be held by the knife, which is hung around the neck by a lanyard. I like the design. It seems a little quirky (angular, rather than smooth curves) but fit, form & function all good.

Trip, I feel your pain. I want to get better equipment to improve at knifemaking, but have limited funds. I have been using a bench grinder, angle grinder and (woodworking) belt sander. Lee Valley tools sells this 1x42 belt grinder for $85. http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=44884&cat=1,43072 You have to add a motor. I have picked up several that would work for a few bucks at garage sales. Then, coincidentally, a friend gave me pretty much the same thing, but heavier duty. Haven't tried it yet. Lee Valley also sells a range of belts for grinding and polishing.

I picked up a 145lb anvil in great shape at a local estate sale for $75. I have a log to mount it on, but haven't gotten to that yet. Was thinking of using railroad spikes, but might go with smaller diameter ardox. Also need to make some hardies. As I was "reserving" the anvil at the sale, waiting for a staffperson to label it with my name, and "sold", other folks were scooping armloads of tongs, hardies, etc. After I took the anvil to the car, I went back for a smaller one that had many chips/chunks out of it. A friend had suggested his son could weld/fill those in shop class. Of course, it was gone when I got back.

Neil, I just picked up the twin of that Wayne forge. They guy I got it from thinks it was rigged for natural gas, so may require modification to use propane. The one I have doesn't have a crucible, just 4 firebricks stacked on top. I presume the electrical cord is for some sort of blower. Did you get yours up and running? Rob (new here, in Hamilton)