How To Carbide Platen Prep

[ScarFoot]

Unbeknownst to me prior, when I arranged the purchase with Robin he told me it had been pre-paid by two members. I was floored and remain so. Robin hasn’t told me who it was. My wife gasped and starting crying at the kindness of others. Now, I am financially set, so that didn’t have anything to do with this. This was just plain old flat out kindness of people on this forum and I am misting up again. Just plain good people, and I am grateful as can be to be in their company. You think the world sucks but then it gets down to the real stuff and you remeber just how good so many people actually are in this crazy world.
I’m real sick, but I’ve been sick for a long time and I’m still here. My old man lived with me his last ten years. He died from cancer with a dignity I can only hope to approach. He used to say, “I’m not dead today, “ and I’ve tried to emulate that attitude. I plan on getting some use out of that platen.
Again, my thanks to my mystery friends. I am floored by your kindness. And I’ll think of you every time I fire up that grinder.

That’s awesome! I look forward to seeing some work in progress pics. I spent most of my youth with my grandfather. Lost him to cancer about 26 years ago. He didn’t die with dignity so much as he lived with dignity until the moment he died. At least that’s how I always looked at it. Sounds like your dad was the same way. There were lessons to be learned and memories to be made right up until the end.

Carbide is some hard stuff. I hope you wear it out!

 

[ScarFoot]

I am still apologetic, though, that I took this thread so far OT and skranked it with my personal issues. Turned out pretty special for me, though, and, to be honest, it helped my head to get this stuff out.
Sorry, folks, but many, many thanks.

Don’t worry about it. I started this thread and I’m quite enjoying it.

 

[fitzo]

The thread sort of makes me feel how this place was 20 years ago when there were a lot of friends and we all knew how each other and their families were doing. There was a lot of OT then, too. That’s how we ended up with Around the Grinder. Oh, well.
Thanks, for not being offended by my intrusion. It became quite a nice feel-good day for me, so I’m grateful.

 

[Lorien]

wouldn't be the first time a thread unravelled, and it's rare that the outcome is so heart warming.

 

[fitzo]

wouldn't be the first time a thread unravelled, and it's rare that the outcome is so heart warming.

Yes it has been heart warming for me, for certain. I’m still floored “at the kindness of strangers”, to paraphrase Scarlett. There’re two people I’d like to hug today.

 

[ScarFoot]

It’s kinda sad when you think about it. People are so quick to be rude to folks they’ve never met now days especially on the internet that it seems crazy when someone does something nice. Backwards from the way it ought to be for sure.

 

[fitzo]

It’s kinda sad when you think about it. People are so quick to be rude to folks they’ve never met now days especially on the internet that it seems crazy when someone does something nice. Backwards from the way it ought to be for sure.

I agree completely. Everything is so divisive and tense nowadays. And this comes out of nowhere and floors me. Given today's world, this was really special to me.

Edited to add: really special!

 

[Lorien]

the best cure for when the world gets you down is to lift people up

 

[ScarFoot]

It’s finally in service!!! I re-ground a few blades that already had a 400 grit belt finish at 400 grit again and it’s amazing how much difference there was. I could literally see every wobble I’d made on my old platen. Now that I’ve been at this for a few years I can honestly say I noticed the difference in feel immediately. It was definitely easier to get plunge lines evened up since the edges of the platen are crisp and will stay that way for a long time. Wish I had done this a long time ago.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

It’s finally in service!!! I re-ground a few blades that already had a 400 grit belt finish at 400 grit again and it’s amazing how much difference there was. I could literally see every wobble I’d made on my old platen. Now that I’ve been at this for a few years I can honestly say I noticed the difference in feel immediately. It was definitely easier to get plunge lines evened up since the edges of the platen are crisp and will stay that way for a long time. Wish I had done this a long time ago.

View attachment 2799873

Same.
I free hand grind, and instantly knew it's awesome.
Actually gave me more confidence

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Everyone enjoy your new toys.
It isn't the increase that a mist system gives, but a carbide platen is a good second.

 

[ScarFoot]

Everyone enjoy your new toys.
It isn't the increase that a mist system gives, but a carbide platen is a good second.

Agreed. My mist system was probably the biggest game changer I’ve found so far behind a 2x72 with a VFD. The carbide platen is just a little fine tuning on the whole setup. It took a while to get decent enough at grinding to realize how much even slight variations in the surface condition of the platen affects the grinds. I’m getting much better at getting 400-600 grit finishes off the belt and when I hand sand them there is almost a carbon copy of the surface of my old platen lightly ground into the blade. It comes out easy enough with 400 grit hand sanding but it’s still a pain.

I’m trying to find efficiency anywhere I can and so far hand sanding is the most time consuming part of the process. I’ve gone from starting my hand sanding at 120 grit to starting at 400 grit so that’s a lot of time per knife. I’m trying to get to a consistent 600 grit finish (that’s the finish I etch my logo at) off the belt but I’m about 50-50 right now.

 

[Taz]

I got my shady carbide platen rigged up to a mild steel backer, surface ground and tested. Worked very well; I am going to order one of RD's with a steel backer and use mine as my new hogger/profiling platen

 

[fitzo]

I told Robin I would post a pic of the platen on my grinder once I got it mounted. Again, I am most grateful to those kind souls who saw fit to grace this old man with a gift of a platen liner. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I drilled a couple holes at the bottom of my current platen (7/64 then #29 and tapped a couple 8-32 holes). I didn't have anything but socket-head cap screws so I put the cap screws in from behind and some Loctite, snugged them in, ground off the heads because the mounting bracket interfered, and good to go. probably overkill, but better safe than sorry...
Looks real purdy sitting there on that old KMG, what with the receiver box that Darren Contender Machine made so I could install a second tool arm on this design. That's a Contender tool rest with the large platen/electromagnet and a Contender magnetic platen chiller without the spray attachment. Sound like an ad? It is. Darren makes badass stuff, simply put, and he's a joy to work with.
Thanks again, folks! Now to find some get up and go.

 

[ScarFoot]

I told Robin I would post a pic of the platen on my grinder once I got it mounted. Again, I am most grateful to those kind souls who saw fit to grace this old man with a gift of a platen liner. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I drilled a couple holes at the bottom of my current platen (7/64 then #29 and tapped a couple 8-32 holes). I didn't have anything but socket-head cap screws so I put the cap screws in from behind and some Loctite, snugged them in, ground off the heads because the mounting bracket interfered, and good to go. probably overkill, but better safe than sorry...
Looks real purdy sitting there on that old KMG, what with the receiver box that Darren Contender Machine made so I could install a second tool arm on this design. That's a Contender tool rest with the large platen/electromagnet and a Contender magnetic platen chiller without the spray attachment. Sound like an ad? It is. Darren makes badass stuff, simply put, and he's a joy to work with.
Thanks again, folks! Now to find some get up and go.

View attachment 2819861

I was wondering why you had a piece of plate laying in front of your grinder. Now I realize it’s a massive tool rest and I kinda want one like it…

 

[fitzo]

I was wondering why you had a piece of plate laying in front of your grinder. Now I realize it’s a massive tool rest and I kinda want one like it…

It is intended to be used with a sliding grinding jig. It’s held on with an electromagnet. There is a small work table also, about 4” square. The magnet plate tilts. It is a badass workrest system that Darren and Josh REK Knives developed and Contender Machine builds and markets. I have a second one on another old KMG.

 

[ScarFoot]

It is intended to be used with a jig. It’s held on with an electromagnet. There is a small work table also, about 4” square. The magnet plate tilts. It is a badass workrest system that Darren

It’s on my list. I just ordered an Evenheat KO27/LT27 stack so I can start making some longer knives. That tool rest would come in handy. I could also lay down on it and take a nap if I got tired of grinding.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Check out Contenders tool rests and accessories. The magnetic rest plates are quick to swap out. They also provide a large and long surface for sliding a blade holder or fixture along. Reall useful for large and long blades.

 

[fitzo]

It’s on my list. I just ordered an Evenheat KO27/LT27 stack so I can start making some longer knives. That tool rest would come in handy. I could also lay down on it and take a nap if I got tired of grinding.

One step at a time. That furnace is a great investment. Takes years and years to build that knife shop and then there are still things that you want to improve. Never really ends, I suppose. Boys and their toys! LOL

 

[ScarFoot]

One step at a time. That furnace is a great investment. Takes years and years to build that knife shop and then there are still things that you want to improve. Never really ends, I suppose. Boys and their toys! LOL

I know. I’m playing the long game anyway. I make knives solely because I enjoy it. I plan to retire from the real world in 16-18 years and hope to be good enough by then to “make a living” at it or at least buy beer. I’m severely space limited right now so a hardness tester, dewar, and laser engraver are probably the last big money items I’ll get over the next year or two. After that I’m mainly saving to build a proper shop. I have access to a hardness tester whenever I want but I would really like to have one in the shop for convenience. I’ve been looking at waterfall platens too. I like the idea of them but I’m on the fence about the usefulness.