Welcome,

        I collect and make pocket knives, folding knives, and occasionally scissors and shears.  This is my opportunity to share with you the things that I have made, and what I have been working on.

        In recent years, I have made very few knives.  I have been in the process of learning a whole assortment of new methods to create the knife I am searching for.  You see, from early on, as hard as I tried, I was finishing knives that I liked, and knives that I didn't.  When I got the proportions just right I was over joyed.  I would draw my folding knives 4 times oversize, then use the pantagraph to engrave the shape of the springs, blades and handles.
        Then I started learning CorelDRAW 3, then 5, it was cool. But it didn't meet my needs for mechanical precision.  So I bought AutoCAD LT,  WOW!!! what a difference.  Soon I was drawing pocketknives that I dreamed of.  I was so excited!  I would give ANYTHING to be able to make the knife on the monitor.  That my friends took a while.
        AutoCAD computes to an accuracy of 27 decimals.  I was so amazed that I could draw a small pocketknife, zoom in on the pin, and draw a little house, and in the window of the house draw a pocketknife.  It is as if a world existed where something could be absolutely perfect.  This created a dilemma... how to get the knife out of the computer?
        Well, I started reading more and more industrial literature about EDM and CNC (Electric Discharge Machining and Computer Numerical Control).  Fascinating stuff, remarkable stuff, the best of the best.  I felt so small, but yet so enthusiastic.  I wanted this stuff.  I would die for this stuff.  How can I afford CNC? or EDM?  Answers were out there...
        There is a revolution of hobby CNC machine builders.  Working at home, often with no more than scrap parts, building inexpensive CNC machines, Robots and EDM machines.  One very popular article called Cimple Computer Numerical Control, (CCNC), written by Dan Mauch appeared in Nuts and Volts magazine.  He was telling the world that it is basically very Cimple.
        I went to see Dan at his home in Seattle area.  I stood in awe as I saw many machines of all kinds moving by computer control.  I purchased several small driver kits, and some stepper motors.  All in all I spent under a hundred bucks.  I went home and made my first conversion,  a dremel drill press.
        Briefly... Now, five years later, I've spent way more than I can afford, wasted a hell of a lot of time, and am just now realizing the rewards.
        I will continue latter...   Goodnight.  Wed. March 21