The following is a highly curated list of recommended tools from respected knife makers throughout the community. If I haven’t personally received the recommendation, it means they’ve endorsed the product one way of another on their site or in their videos. That said, do your research! It’s helpful to know why a product comes recommended and what it competes against.

I’m always on the search for the best deals and highest quality equipment and will update the page accordingly, so check back regularly. If you see some deals out in the wild, let me know!

As a reminder, I’ve written in detail about what each of the tools are and the purpose they serve on the Tools and Materials page.

Materials Recommendations

Knife Steel

18″ O1 Tool Steel – 5 Star – $22

Canadian-friendly: https://www.knifemaker.ca/

Material for the Handle

Micarta 2-Piece Assorted Scales – 5 Star – $9

Rivets and Pins

O1 1/8″ x 36″ Steel Rod – 5 Star – $4

10-Pack Brass Corby Bolts – 5 Star – $29

Epoxy

J-B Weld Epoxy & Hardener – 5 Star – $3

G/Flex 8oz Epoxy & Hardener – 5 Star – $27

Stropping Compound

Green Chrome Oxide Compound – 5 Star – $16

Tools and Equipment Recommendations

Safety Equipment

3M 10-Pack N95 Respirators – 5 Star – $13

JORESTECH 12-Pack Safety Glasses – 5 Star – $13

NUOLUX 10-Pack Corded Ear Plugs – 4 Star – $8

Dexterity Resistant Gloves – 4 Star – $17

Saws

LENNOX Lightweight Hacksaw – 4 Star – $15

Hacksaw Blades – Starrett Bi-Metal 10″ Blades – 5 Star – $9

Belt Grinders

Entry level belt grinder: Grizzly G1015 Belt Sander – 4 Stars – $1,118

Drills

Milwaukee Handheld Drill Kit – 5 Stars – $120

WEN 12″ Variable Speed Drill Press – 4 Stars – $256

Drill Press Vice (to hold knife in place)

TEKTON 4″ Drill Press Vise – 5 Stars – $34

Drill Bits

Irwin TurboMax 15-Piece Drill Set – 4 Stars – $13 (Remember to check the sizes!)

Metal Files

Nicholson Flat Double-Bastard File 12″ – 4 Stars – $18

Nicholson Half-Round Double Cut 10″ – 4 Stars – $15 / Stanley Half-Round Double Cut 10″ – 4 Stars – $11

Nicholson 9-Piece File Set – 4 Star – $82

Nicholson File Brush – 5 Star – $19

Sand Paper

3M 9″ x 11″ 60 Grit Sandpaper (5 Pack) – 5 Star – $5

3M Assorted 5-Pack (100, 150, 220) – 5 Star – $5

3M Assorted 5-Pack (220, 320, 400) – 5 Star – $5

3M 9″ x 11″ 800 Grit Sandpaper (5 Pack) – 5 Star – $8

3M 9″ x 11″ 1000 Grit Sandpaper (5 Pack) – 5 Star – $15

*60, 120, 220, 320/400, 600, 1000

Sanding Block

3M 5″ Rubber Sanding Block – 5 Stars – $16

Clamps

TEKTON 3-Piece C-Clamp Set – 4 Stars – $12

Bessey 24″ F-Clamp – 5 Stars – $9

Bench Vice

Entry Level Bessey Bench Vise – 4 Stars – $38

TEKTON 4″ Swivel Bench Vise – 5 Star – $53

Ball Peen Hammer

TEKTON Fibreglass 8oz Ball Peen Hammer – 5 Star – $8

Center Punch

Neiko 28-Piece Transfer Punch Set – 4 Stars – $16

Neiko Spring-Loaded Center Hole Punch – 5 Stars – $10

Sharpening System

NOTE: the Japanese use a different system to measure grits, see here.

EZE-LAP Diamond 2-Sided Sharpening Stone (600/1200 grit) – 5 Star – $55

King Japanese Sharpening Stone (1000/6000 grit) – 4 Star – $27

Shapton Japanese Whetstone (8000 grit) – 5 Star – $67

Lansky System Standard Kit – 4 Stars – $22

Lansky System Diamond Kit – 3 Stars – $51

Lansky System Sharpening Stand – 4 Stars – $10

🍁 Canadian-friendly: Gatco 5-Stone Sharpening System – 5 Star – $121

Digital Calipers

VINCA Stainless Steel Digital Caliper – 5 Star – $26

Scribe

Moody Tools Scribe – 4 Star – $6

Toaster Over

Black+Decker Stainless Steel Oven – 4 Stars – $59

Layout Dye

Dykem Steel Blue Layout Fluid – 5 Star – $8

MAPP Torch

Bernzomatic Trigger Start Torch – 5 Star – $50

WORTHINGTON Map-Pro Gas – 4 Star – $17

Pliers

Channellock 12″ Pliers – 5 Star – $14

Firebrick

Delphi Fire Brick 2-Pack – 5 Star – $28