Any opinions on the bubble jig?

O

Ome108

Joined
Apr 29, 2014
Messages
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I am a newb, so I could use some advice from you guys with experience.
I like what i see, but how easy is it to watch your grinding and the bubble at the same time?
Any advice?
Thanks,
Jon
 
Took a couple blades to get used to it but now it's awesome. Wouldn't want to be without it for most things and totally worth the cost IMO. Don't seem to have any issue with watching the bubble and the blade back and forth
 
Thanks,
Videos look good, but always good to hear from someones who has positive experiences.
Thanks for sharing,
Jon
 
Bubble Jig is a great tool. It will really cut down on the grinding learning curve.

These days I use it mostly for swedges or if a grind gets wonky...it is great to get it back on track.
 
Buy it, it's a great tool! I still have a way ta go on my free hand grinding due to taking so long inbetween making knives, but it really helps set and finish your bevels nicely.

It's also nice because once you establish a nice flat bevel about halfway up the blade, you can take it off and just follow already established bevel on the grinder (platen) and work on gettin a feeling for grinding by walking the grind closer to the spine. tThis is what I am currently doin at least so as to practice my free hand grinding without it. Also looking at the bubble while grinding takes a little getting used to, but not much, just practice on some scrap or something until you understand how it feels.

It's also imprtant to have a good "FLAT" platen, I use the ceramic glass and it really improved my grinds. This is all assuming that you're not "only" doing hollow grinds ;)

-Paul
 
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Great for learning on! gets in the way if you've got a cheapo 1x30 though the clamp will hit the motor housing, mine has been butchered accordingly :rolleyes:
 
Thanks,
Are you referring to a 2" by 72" 3 wheel belt grinder or a horiz/vert. Disc grinder?
Thanks,
Jon
 
get the full set. The jig is good and the angled blocks come in very handy. Well worth the cost
 
In my opinion the bubble jig is best for those just starting out grinding. It is a great teaching tool but once you get the hang of grinding it is not necessary in my experience. I already could grind ok when I bought mine, so it was not really much of a help. However I would have increased my learning curve substantially if i had one when I started.
 
I started grinding on a bubble jig, it was very useful....my first jig grind was way better than my first freehand grind. It helps your hands and body get a feel for that the angles and approach to your grinder feel like. It helps you develop beneficial habbits for your first grinds that will benefit you when you switch to freehand;-)
 
I agree with some of the other guys. If you are a newbie, go ahead and try the bubble jig. Good to start, but you will set it aside as you develop a feel for grinding. I think when I first started I looked for every shortcut there is, but in the end, experience is your best friend. Make mistakes and learn. Heck I even bought one of those jigs with the elevator adjustment for hundreds of dollars. I am sure it is collecting dust somewhere in the bottom of one of our rolling carts!
Another thing you can do which is helpful, depending upon the grinder you have, is to manipulate the angle of your rest relative to your belt/platen. You may eventually stop using the rest, but you develop a good understanding of what works for you. One of the guys that works for me did the same exact thing. Now we just walk up to a machine and start grinding...a few hundred knives later.
If I can be of more help, just let me know. The pics of grinding on our site may be of some help, I don't know. Good luck and have fun!
 
I had an eloquent dissertation typed and then I hit the wrong button so I will summarize by saying that for me it is the next best thing to having a teacher standing by me while I grind. I can see it helping me develop proper grinding muscle memory.
 
Thank You all for your opinions. I will be ordering the full set as mentioned by one of the post authors.

Thank you to all who gave me helpful and honest replies.
jon
 
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