Beginner needs help with plunge line

S

soft_cranberry

Joined
Apr 16, 2023
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I’m very much a beginner and I’m using a cheap $200 grinder. On the left side (3rd pic), the belt does not (and cannot) reach the edge of the platen. On the right side, the belt hangs just a smidge off the edge. It results in a sharp cornered plunge line on one face of the knife, and a more rounded corner plunge line on the other.

Any tips, help, tricks etc. to make them both look the same?

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Lots of people file their plunge lines, then blend with their grinder.

A well known maker made YouTube videos using an interesting different technique with radius and sand paper. Look up Nick Wheeler.

I haven't tried it yet, but want to
 
elasmonut said:
If it does not have a tracking adjusetment, then maybe build a narrower platen?
Click to expand...
It does, but it’s not the best and won’t bring the belt over enough. I hadn’t thought of adding a secondary smaller platen! That’s a great idea. Thank you.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
Lots of people file their plunge lines, then blend with their grinder.

A well known maker made YouTube videos using an interesting different technique with radius and sand paper. Look up Nick Wheeler.

I haven't tried it yet, but want to
Click to expand...
Ah. That’s a great idea. I’ll try that next time. I’ll also check out the YouTube vid. Thank you !!
 
I use a combination of chiansaw files, sandpaper on a radiused granite plate and the grinder.

1. Set the plunges with chainsaw files and a file guide
2. Grind in bevels
3. Adjust plunges with file guide and sandpaper glued to a radiused granite surface block or steel plate (Nick Wheeler style!)
 
Get yourself a file guide if you don’t have one. When you finish grinding your bevels, place your blade in the file guide and then you can clean your plunge lines up with your grinder.
 
Does the platen mount on the left side? If so, can you add a couple of washers as spacers to shift it to the right? (Assuming this is like my 2x42)
 
Ben Thomas said:
Does the platen mount on the left side? If so, can you add a couple of washers as spacers to shift it to the right? (Assuming this is like my 2x42)
Click to expand...
Wow. Yes. This worked perfectly. .. or at least it will, and I’m def going to do it. A perfect easy solution. For today though, I didn’t feel like re-verticaling the platen, but i wedged a piece of micarta at the end of the red screw at the top to push the belt holder a bit further.
 
I added a glass platen to my 2x42 grinder. helped a little with heat and tracking but i had to shim it with washers also.
 
The tracking knob has a nut on it that limits the tracking. You can loosen the nut or remove it entirely. The tracking still sucks tho...
 
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