Considering a G10 machining services start-up

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wrs23

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Dec 30, 2013
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This is my first post here, but I've been an engineer in the knife industry for a number of years where I developed a new way to machine G10 handle scales. I'm trying to gauge interest on starting up a company to offer g10 machining services for small to mid (or large) production runs of knife handles for custom makers and OEMS. I love working with handle composites and my process is very fast, easy and highly flexible so I can support quick shipments and small batches. Is there demand for this?
 
The place to ask that question would be the SHOT Show.

That said, I can't really imagine what could be new about machining G10 type composites. It's not a difficult material to machine.

forgot to say....
It might help if you identified yourself and your company.
 
If the pricing is right and the work is good, I would say definitely. I have several knives that I'd love to put some good G10 on. My mini grip is the first that comes to mind. Becker necker, rats..... too many to mention, but It sounds great to me.
 
All kinds of red flags coming up here. If you created a new and better way to do something you should be enjoying some nice royalties if you really were the creative genius behind the process. Furthermore, most things don't require a new and better way to do and create said things if the demand is low...so why would you be asking how the demand is if you are indeed the creator behind it. That's like Henry Ford asking if he should create more cars after inventing the production line which was invented to make more cars.
 
Thanks for the replies. I don't have a company established yet and I'm not trying to advertise here or run afoul of the forum rules. I know that g10 isn't particularly hard to machine, but thats only a small part of the process for how to deliver a range of high quality products at a great price. I like the Henry Ford comparison, and I can see what you are saying. Really I'm just a manufacturing engineer who came up with what I think is the most efficient way to machine composites of which knife scales are just one market to start producing for. The griptilian is an excellent example, but maybe there is a guy who makes blades who wants to buy handles for them without a huge investment in time and money and I could support him too. And how do I find these people, and how do I sell these parts, etc. etc. It takes a lot more than just the creative genius (thanks, but I'm no genius) to get something off he ground. I won't be at the SHOT show this year unfortunately! Thanks for any input, positive or negative.
 
With all the people paying $40-$80 for handmade G10 and micarta scales, if you could do production runs of quickly machined checkered scales for production knives for $20 a set I think the demand would be high enough to really move them and make some money.

10 yearw ago knife designs came and went like yesterday's newspaper. Now more and more manufacturers are continuing production on solid designs rather than dumping them for a new product all together.
 
@Karda, actually many if not most knife companies outsource their components. Ever heard of Halpern Titanium? They are one of the biggest USA players in that market. And they are very good and trusted by their customers.

@wrs23 If you don't have time for the SHOT show this year you might want to put the whole thing off until next year. Your potential customers in the knife business will be there, not here. If you can get in there and beat out Halpern Titanium on price, quality and client trust, you will be on your way to success!

Plus, I gotta say, I just don't believe there is any new and magic way to machine G10 – or anything else for that matter. I've been doing it too long and I know too many companies and tool making firms in the business. Machining is machining. When it comes to making grips, machining is the quick and easy part. Other aspects of the process are much more difficult.

And if you're planning on starting a company to make unauthorised copies of parts belonging to established knife companies, you might want to think again. While they seem to turn a blind eye to hobby "pimpers" and such, once you operate a business doing it, expect to hear from them. And since exactly these companies are the ones who can give you the contracts that would make your business viable, they are also not the folks you want to piss off.

As far as starting a –company– to make individual grips or parts for consumers for an endless range of knives and gee gaws ... as we used to say in Brooklyn, "Fergit about it..." Just look at the Good, Bad and Ugly here for the guys who have already crapped out in that "business."
 
Wrs23, if you did not know, wilkens makes aftermarket grips, thus your business idea is potential competition. Discouraging you is "good business" for him.
 
brownshoe said:
Wrs23, if you did not know, wilkens makes aftermarket grips, thus your business idea is potential competition. Discouraging you is "good business" for him.
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I think Mr. Wilkins is offering some excellent advice. He knows what it takes to succeed in the business, and produces high quality aftermarket grips. To the OP, I think you will have more interest if you can expand to include carbon fiber or titanium as potential handle materials. Those tend to get a lot of love around here.
 
@brownshoe - Thanks for the heads up. I've actually been a fan of Wilkins knives since I started checking them out in about 2006 or so. I think I saw a feature of him in a Haas cnc magazine.

@kevin wilkins, thanks for the advice, I think your knives look great and have for years now. I'm kicking myself for not going to SHOT and it may well put me back a year. As for new and magic ways to make parts - I think I do. We should talk, maybe I can make parts for you ;).

@bpeezer - carbon fiber is not a problem and I've done a lot of it in the past. Titanium too.
 
wrs23 said:
@brownshoe - Thanks for the heads up. I've actually been a fan of Wilkins knives since I started checking them out in about 2006 or so. I think I saw a feature of him in a Haas cnc magazine.

@kevin wilkins, thanks for the advice, I think your knives look great and have for years now. I'm kicking myself for not going to SHOT and it may well put me back a year. As for new and magic ways to make parts - I think I do. We should talk, maybe I can make parts for you ;).

@bpeezer - carbon fiber is not a problem and I've done a lot of it in the past. Titanium too.
Click to expand...

You're welcome, glad you didn't feel I was being discouraging. Since I have been in the knife business for quite a number of years, I speak from experience. I'm also out in the open, using my own name, so everybody knows who they're listening to. The OEM part of the knife making business is very narrow and a lot is based on history and trust. And price. If you don't know that, you will find out quickly. I lack the staff and machines to really be competitive in the OEM world, so I don't fool with it. I am more of a buyer than a vendor there.

If you do start a business, the real opening would be for OEM blade grinding. Spend your $250,000+ on a set of new Berger CNC grinding machines and the support machinery you need to run them. Hire a staff and let the good times roll. You would have an almost open market in that business segment and could even draw clients from the EU.

When it comes to machining – even if you have Siegfried and Roy running a Mazak – you still face entrenched competition and the fact that any CNC milling and turning shop can do the same work you offer. And unless you really buy big, fast and expensive machines, they will be faster and cheaper.

Regarding your making parts for me: I'd be happy to know who you are, where your business is located and what machines and services you can offer. I have a great network of vendors already, some right here in town, others all over the EU, USA and China. But I'm always looking for new vendors. However, when it comes to data sensitive parts like my WilkinsGRIP products, I keep those in house.

In any case, the first step would be for you to pony up the money for a paid membership on this forum and let folks know who you are. ;-)
 
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