Blade Profiles and Grinding

[Tommegow]

Gentleman
I recently bought an 8" wheel from Rob. I want to learn how to hollow grind
Is there a blade profile that will be easier to learn with? Clip point, drop point,warncliffe?? I am out of metal and might buy a dozen of one stlye from
Great Lakes. I am figuring the same shape and the same metal would be a good plan
Tom
So.Ga.

 

[John L]

I think the wharncliff is the easiest, by far, to grind. Start at the blade edge and work your way up to the spine. Try to keep the grind line parallel to the edge on your way up. Try to keep the center of blade edge centered. Grind ...say 3/16" up from edge on one side and flip knife and grind on opposite side to match. Keep flipping until you have nearly reached the spine. Then switch to finer belts and ease on up to spine. Good luck and practice is the name of the game.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Put on a 36 grit blaze orange belt.Turn the grinder on high. Look at the piece of steel. Close your eyes, and imagine the finished profile and bevels. Keep your eyes close and grind the blade - This is the art of Zen Blade Grinding.

OK, just in case there are any people out there who might try this...I'm kidding.

Tom,
Start with a simple small blade. A drop point is easy because you can adjust the drop as you grind too much steel away on your first attempts. As John said, a Wharnie is also fairly simple.
Take your time and don't take too much off in one pass.
It will take a few bars of steel, but your hands and your head will soon start to work together ( the true art of zen).
Stacy