Thread: Setting up a workshop?

I know you're all already rolling your eyes, thinking here we go again.

I'm a long way off actually setting up a workshop just yet, but it does no harm to try to work out just how much space and money I'll need to do things right, and I really want to be fully informed before I take the plunge.

I would like to use all the right gear, trying not to settle for a machine or tool that will suffice if there's one that's made for the job. Obviously if a certain item is astronomically expensive then I might have to compromise, but I'd look at all options and weigh up which was best for me.

I'm planning on buying in annealed steel flat bar, and going from there. Tempering and hardening will be sent out to be done by a professional company I think.

So please give me your opinions and suggestions for items you think I'll need to build a workshop, equipment tools and any other bits and bobs to make razors from start to finish.
But I'm in the UK, so unfortunately telling me about stores and deals won't really do me any good, unless you live in the UK too of course.

Thanks guys.

Off the top of my head, I'd say

Belt grinder w/different wheels and platens (and preferably a VFD for speed control)
Drill press
belt/disc sander
Buffer
Dremel/rotary tool
Band saw
Small peening hammer
all kinds of clamps
files (big ones, little ones, etc)


Now if I had my dream shop, you'd basically double everything listed above, add in a salt heat treating setup, a forge and anvil, a 30 ton foot controlled hydraulic press, a milling machine, a metal lathe, a waterjet cutter , a welder, a thickness sander, and a surface grinder... hmmm, what else am I leaving out oh yes, a Delorian equipped with Mr. Fusion and a fresh flux capacitor so that I could go get a bunch of filly's, wonderedges, and W&B's in order to fund all of this

Hey there Del1r1um,

Thanks for pitching in, apparently you're the only one around these parts with a workshop

Errrrrrrrrr, if you don't mind I'm going to draw a discreet veil over your 'dream stuff'.

Could I be a real pest and ask for a bit more detail? Speed capabilities you find best, necessary belt and disc sizes, Band saw type and such?
I'm a complete novice here and am just trying to avoid doing all the homework you guys have already done.
I've been looking at tool and machine prices and it doesn't look like it's going to cost as much as I originally thought, thankfully.

What you need and what would be nice to have are two different things

I made my first set of scales with a coping saw and hand sanding. Then used my bench vise and peening hammer for the pinning.

I will say the one tool i have bought in the last year that has been the most use is my belt/disc sander.

Arcanum,

If you plan to focus on straight razors only, then you will get the job done with the tools that Del1r1um wrote. If you want to have a workshop for various projects then it is up to what are you planning to make/repair.

My personal advice is not to buy any ultra special tool if you are going to need it just few times. With common tools you are can get far.

Belt/disc sander is top of the list Slartibartfast.

I'm going to focus solely on making razors and scales Sailor, that's all I want to do, plus it meens I can set up the workshop along a natural progression of stages. . . if that makes sense.

One thing though, can I expect complaints from the neighbors about the noise?

Originally Posted by Arcanum

Belt/disc sander is top of the list Slartibartfast.

I'm going to focus solely on making razors and scales Sailor, that's all I want to do, plus it meens I can set up the workshop along a natural progression of stages. . . if that makes sense.

One thing though, can I expect complaints from the neighbors about the noise?

I'd say that the belt/disc is a great place to start. It shouldn't be too loud either. If it were me, the next thing would probably be drill press, then buffer

There's no sense starting with a tool list. You will need to do a lot of reading on the how-to and with that info you will already know what you need.

Maybe like beginning shaving the suggestion is to start with a pro sharp blade. With this you can start closer to the end product. Working and fixing old razors you get a clearer, working image of what you want to create.

I would start with restoring old razors. That will give you a lot of info on the various sizes & grinds of the blade, tapers of the spine, and proportions.

You will find that speed control is a primary concern for a Dremel type device that will be used for razor restoration of the blade( 5000 rpm is to fast so look at this
ELECTRIC HIGH SPEED ROTARY WOOD CARVING CARVER TOOL KIT - eBay (item 250494964704 end time Apr-05-10 10:13:58 PDT)
, or a real bandsaw that can run slow enough to cut 1/4" thick annealed steel ( it will also cut wood just fine but a bit slower) or a belt sander for grinding the razor blanks ( Bader or KMG beltsander/grinder).

An inexpensive belt/disk sander is very useful for shaping wood/acrylic scales.

For a buffer I would go with one that runs at 1750 rpm not 3500 rpm and a variable speed buffer would be the best.

There, thats my 2 cents this morning,

I would add to that a decent air compressor, which can run a lot of tools. You could even get a decent sanblasting cabinet which works great for cleaning up old blades. You would need a 20gallon minimum that can supply good cfm continuously. And the belt sander or bench grinder shouldn't be loud, but if you'd like to cut down on vibrations(which causes noise) you could mount it on a pad.