How To Carbide Platen Prep

[fitzo]

I find those waterfall platens intriguing, also. Likewise, haven’t spent much time imagining usefulness beyond the limited example in fotos on website listings. That said, one good idea translated to a knife and it pays for itself. Always hard to decide on the specialty devices and/or tools with niche applicability. Sometimes you have to buy them to figure out what it’s good for, with respect to how you make knives. I have a very nicely made and ineffective early try at an adjustable grinding jig. Lotsa bucks. Boat anchor POS. Sometimes, though, you waste your money. Ya makes yer choices and takes yer lumps… LOL

 

[ScarFoot]

I find those waterfall platens intriguing, also. Likewise, haven’t spent much time imagining usefulness beyond the limited example in fotos on website listings. That said, one good idea translated to a knife and it pays for itself. Always hard to decide on the specialty devices and/or tools with niche applicability. Sometimes you have to buy them to figure out what it’s good for, with respect to how you make knives. I have a very nicely made and ineffective early try at an adjustable grinding jig. Lotsa bucks. Boat anchor POS. Sometimes, though, you waste your money. Ya makes yer choices and takes yer lumps… LOL

So far the only thing I’ve bought that didn’t work out the way I had envisioned is my disk sander. I thought I was going to use it to get perfectly flat bevels. After a few dozen half moons carved into my blades I gave up on that. It sat virtually unused for months until I figured out how useful it is for tangs and handles. Now I wouldn’t want to give it up. I’ve found some of the cheapest items to be the most beneficial so far. A carbide faced file guide, mist system, and a surface plate are 3 tools I wouldn’t want to do without when it comes to knife making and they’re 3 of the cheapest I have. I’m Constantly finding different ways to use the file guide and surface plate. The mist system is only good for one thing but that one thing makes a huge difference.

I think a well made waterfall platen would be nice but I’m sure there’s a learning curve I’m not seeing yet.

 

[Taz]

I cant believe how shiny his platen are!! Lol. Wife may think it is a mirror and claim it! Looking forward to getting mine into use! My shady one will be used for rough grinding, profiling and stuff like that and the nice shiny one for real grinding.

 

[Contender Machine]

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

That is an awesome set up you have Mike! I love the modifications you've made to the work rest to make it fit that KMG and I hope you can get that shiny new carbide platen wore out! They are very, very nice platens.

Wishing you all the best.

 

[fitzo]

That is an awesome set up you have Mike! I love the modifications you've made to the work rest to make it fit that KMG and I hope you can get that shiny new carbide platen wore out! They are very, very nice platens.

Wishing you all the best.

Thanks, Darren! The beauty of your work rest system is its modularity and, with the addition of just a couple standard parts, fitted onto that old beast using a Mike Kanter style receiver you built from my hand drawing. The long rod is a mod, also, to allow me to add a rocker to the bottom of your grinding jig to grind the sweep edge on an ulu. Should have showed that, too, but didn’t want to brag you up too awful much.

 

[Contender Machine]

Thanks, Darren! The beauty of your work rest system is its modularity and, with the addition of just a couple standard parts, fitted onto that old beast using a Mike Kanter style receiver you built from my hand drawing. The long rod is a mod, also, to allow me to add a rocker to the bottom of your grinding jig to grind the sweep edge on an ulu. Should have showed that, too, but didn’t want to brag you up too awful much.

Haha I appreciate the kind words! Some day I will make an ulu. Looks like a fun challenge.

 

[RD_knives]

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

Thats looking great!
You definitely deserved it and hope it will bring you much pleasure and nicer cleaner grinds!!