1st Try Aikuchi (sort-of) - Why a divot?

[rrrgcy]

First time Shop post. Finally bought & playing w a grinder & making .. er, "prototypes." At least that's what i tell my co-workers if I show them something, and i've only done about five "attempts,' well under the 100-300 standard to be an amateur. I'm brand new to grinding and keep finding I consistently get a vertical divot on one side - always about 1/2 down the length of the backside of the blade. Using Beaumont grinder, flat platen slightly tilted to the table. Blade slid horizontally atop the table from edge start to blade tip across the length of the platen.
Q. Is the divot due to bad technique by tipping the blade into/back of the platen when finishing a stroke, hence digging the steel into the edge of the belt? Any advice gladly taken. Also, blade advice taken (the handle is a little short). Two images of front, one of divot on back. It's 8" total, almost 5" blade, O-1 steel, differentially tempered, hand stamped, lightly hot blued handle & a terribly etched (PC board etching 1 part to 5) blade, sharpening by stroking free-hand on DMT slabs.

 

[HomeBru]

I know how to do that! Probably about 2" or so down from the plunge?

You get concentrating so hard on not screwing up the plunge, you slow down and put too much pressure on the other side of the belt.

Elbows in, concentrate on getting one fluid motion across the belt from plunge to tip. No rocking on the platen.

 

[oic0]

That's when I either keep grinding to get better at it or if it's a knife I really wanna finish I draw file it out.

 

[John Katt]

You are the victim of a cruel joke, When god put humans together he gave us one brilliant hand that can do amazing work, Then he gave that hand a retarded sibling..... whose only real use is to hold things until the good hand is ready to do something amazing ;0)

I found that using a lighter grip when using my left hand to hold the knife helped.

 

[tattooedfreak]

John, mind if I use that quote?

 

[John Katt]

Sure go ahead ;0)

 

[Adam Buttry]

I'd say most knifemakers have had that happen at least once. Happened to me on my very first blade ground on my KMG. It's no big deal. Just keep practicing and grinding. Your brain and hands should sync pretty quick and you'll quickly learn how to avoid it.