How To Bevel help

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O.L.C.

Joined
May 14, 2018
Messages
72
I am currently working on my 3rd knife. I built a file jig to help keep a consistent bevel. And it seems to be more wavy. I did read the recent thread on file jigs. But I am curious how people get their bevels. Are they doing it all on a grinder by hand? or free hand with a file and just using guidelines? Or could it just be my inexperience as a knife maker?

Here are some pictures of the current knife and my jig.
PGsYlqL.jpg
QTjOqwA.jpg
g2TDmlw.jpg
 
I do not use a file jig myself. I grind freehand on my grinder, but the advice I can give to you on this subject is that when establishing a bevel, maintaining the same angle is only one part. You have to factor in time aswell.
What I mean by that is if you grind or file at the same angle the whole time, but you spend more time filing/grinding on a certain spot on your bevel than on another spot, you can still get a wavy grind.
If you ask an experienced maker (which I am not) about freehand grinding, they will say that you need to maintain the same angle, but also pull the blade across your platen in an even consitent stroke to get an even grindline. It's the same when using a jig, only that you eliminated the need to hold a consitent angle from the equation.
(This is all considering that your steel is somewhat flat and parallel and that you have established a good centerline for your edge and spine)

Hope I could help
 
O.L.C. said:
I am currently working on my 3rd knife. I built a file jig to help keep a consistent bevel. And it seems to be more wavy. I did read the recent thread on file jigs. But I am curious how people get their bevels. Are they doing it all on a grinder by hand? or free hand with a file and just using guidelines? Or could it just be my inexperience as a knife maker?

Here are some pictures of the current knife and my jig.
PGsYlqL.jpg
QTjOqwA.jpg
g2TDmlw.jpg
Click to expand...
Most likely the rod you use is thin and on pressure flex .......good to make slightly convex bevels :) And I think that stone you use are to wide for this kind of work..........
Try to grind this way ....like green arrow not red one
5MaRva2.png
 
Last edited:
Laredian said:
I do not use a file jig myself. I grind freehand on my grinder, but the advice I can give to you on this subject is that when establishing a bevel, maintaining the same angle is only one part. You have to factor in time aswell.
What I mean by that is if you grind or file at the same angle the whole time, but you spend more time filing/grinding on a certain spot on your bevel than on another spot, you can still get a wavy grind.
If you ask an experienced maker (which I am not) about freehand grinding, they will say that you need to maintain the same angle, but also pull the blade across your platen in an even consitent stroke to get an even grindline. It's the same when using a jig, only that you eliminated the need to hold a consitent angle from the equation.
(This is all considering that your steel is somewhat flat and parallel and that you have established a good centerline for your edge and spine)

Hope I could help
Click to expand...
This makes a lot of sense. I was spending a lot of time in one area. And that also made me pull the file straighter than I normally do. Like Natlek said.

Great thank you!
 
Update, I got my grinder up and running. Didn't have much money to put into it right now, so no platen or small wheels yet. But it works.
dOb1d4x.jpg

I think the edge looks better.
O9q4blx.jpg

Thanks for the help
 
How you solve tracking ? I can t see from picture ......Put some shims behind contact wheel to get belt ride in center of rubber .So , your grinder spin backwards or you put belt to spin in wrong direction :) And grind that bevel little higher ...........
 
Yeah the tracking is still a little off. It doesn't falloff though. The tracking wheel isthe top one. May need to change that connection point. I don't think it runs backwards. Sparks fly to the floor.

More beval huh? Ok. Now it was HTed. Should I redo it, or as long as I don't get it too hot will I be ok?
 
It not runs backwards but arrow on belt should follow the direction of rotation of belt ...... if that matter at all . Yes , as long as you don't get it too hot it will be ok . How thick the blade is ?

mfMLeRs.jpg
 
Lololol. Yeah arrows help. .094 (3/32") and being ment as an everyday utility knife, I may go a touch more. I don't want to make it delicate of an edge.

I was hoping you were going to say I wouldn't have to re treat it
 
for the knife they have already told you everything.
For belt grinder: you have the vertical metal plate too close to the outer edge of the wheel. That's no good.
two cent.
 
You are talking about the front wheel right? I tried using it last nightand noticed that. Eventually i will get rid of that partand do the slide in arms.

I also see how important a platen is.
 
O.L.C. said:
You are talking about the front wheel right? I tried using it last nightand noticed that. Eventually i will get rid of that partand do the slide in arms.

I also see how important a platen is.
Click to expand...

You can simple cut of part of that plate .............and you can make rest plate too if you want .Just cut what is red color on picture .........
PS. blue circle is your contact wheel
6KujtW9.png
 
Yeah I would find a way to completely ditch that plate. It’s going to be in the way for a lot of things. Including slack belt grinding.
 
Took care of it as soon as I got home. And when I add the tool arm reciver, a lot will change. Want to buy a vacuum set up for standardizing first.
0QxmGvQ.jpg

And out of the scrap I made a simple file guide. Still going to harden it, but it works for free and 10 minutes of work.
OVPDjjP.jpg


I have said it before but thank you! I am new, and the help is priceless.
 
O.L.C. said:
Took care of it as soon as I got home. And out of the scrap I made a simple file guide. Still going to harden it, but it works for free and 10 minutes of work.
Click to expand...

You used hardenable steel for the tool arm of your grinder? And I thought I was extreme for making mine out of stainless
 
Yours is stainless? Wow! I honestly don't know what it is. It was a craigslist find. That is why all the mods.

Am I wrong in thinking that if I did a heat/ quench on it, it would be harder than it is now? Do some just not harden at all?

We should change this thread name to "get dave up to speed" lol
 
My wife is a machinist, and I tried to get her to make me a file guide out of inconel...she said she doesn't love me THAT much. From what she told me about it, I understand.
 
O.L.C. said:
Yours is stainless? Wow! I honestly don't know what it is. It was a craigslist find. That is why all the mods.

Am I wrong in thinking that if I did a heat/ quench on it, it would be harder than it is now? Do some just not harden at all?

We should change this thread name to "get dave up to speed" lol
Click to expand...
My next one grinder /very soon/will be made complete from walnut :p
 
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