Belt Pulling

Varga Knives

Varga Knives

Joined
Aug 12, 2006
Messages
1,302
Maybe this is something that just looks easier than it is and gets better with practice or, what I'm hoping, is there is a simple fix. I've ground a couple of knives but the problem seems to be more prevelent on the last one and i can't think what variable is different.

I'm finding it very hard to maintain the blade consistent vertically when grinding my bevel. Obviously the belt keeps pulling the knife down while I fight to keep it steady. What I would like to know is if there is one major factor at play that I can fix. Belt running to slow, too coarse (50), too worn? Maybe the angle, too much pressure, not enough?

Thanks.
 
Most likely,dull belt ,causing you to push harder and the abrasive is n ot cutting,it's grabbing and pulling.

Stan
 
sharp ceramic belt, and a point of contact between tool rest and hand....even one finger .
 
I agree with Stan; dull belt. One other thing that can cause issue is grinding above the center line (imaginary center line parallel with the floor depending on your height and grinder height) of the wheel.
 
Thanks guys! I should have specified that I'm using a flat platen. Also, I first knocked the bevel down at the edge and then went to what I thought was a new (but maybe a little used?) Norton ceramic belt.

I have a tool rest but haven't been using it because I'm working with a bubble jig.

I'll have to pick up some more Norton Blaze 80 and try again.
 
I ground my bevels post HT for a long time. When I started doing more pre-HT bevel grinding I encountered what strider214 is talking about. I found myself using the term "grabby", because the belts wanted to grab the soft steel, something I never experienced on hardened steel.

Early on I found that cranking the KMG to 100% resulted in less "grabbiness". But after grinding a dozen or so bevels on soft steel my hands learned how the soft steel interacted with the abrasives and it's no longer an issue.

Like most any question having to do with knifemaking, the "answer" is usually discovered with more practice!!
 
The above seems to cover it pretty well. You will find that some metals will grind easier than others. Frank
 
Another thing to look at is how far away are you standing from your grinder. The farther you are away from your grinder, the harder it will be to keep the blade steady. Andy Roy showed me that the "best" way for him, and now me, is to hold the blade with it almost resting on your stomach. In other words, you need to be right up on the grinder.

-Adam
 
Thanks, all good advice.

Frank, I didn't even think about it before but this is the first 1095 I'm grinding. The three other were all 1084. Good catch!
 
Are you using a grinding block. I use a piece of wood with a little lip on the bottom that the steel rest on. This combined with the bubble jig works great for me without a tool rest.
 
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