Contact Wheels: Smooth or Serrated?

Mitchell Knives

Mitchell Knives

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I was wondering what the inherent advantages of having a smooth or serrated contact wheel would be. What do most people prefer and why? Thanks!
 
Serrated to more aggressively hog off steel. If you have a decent bandsaw set up you can just cut the pattern out though or get better at forging if banging one out.....
 
A smooth contact wheel is more versatile. At 70 duro, you can still rough grind reasonably fast with it but have the balance and control to run fine belts at low speeds. You can hollow grind pretty decent on a big serrated contact wheel, but just try to slow it down to work on your plunges or polish down to 800 grit and see what happens. You won't like it. I haven't often felt that a smooth contact wheel was limiting my grinding speed. (But then, I'm no Bob Engnath.)
 
My 10" wheel is serrated and all things being equal I'd have preferred it was smooth. Finish is much better with a smooth wheel; you can hog considerably faster with a serrated wheel but most of my work is finishing rather than hogging...
 
I work on either/both with no problems. I do prefer serrated for fast removal and smooth for slow. Everyone has been wondering where you've been.
 
AcridSaint said:
I work on either/both with no problems. I do prefer serrated for fast removal and smooth for slow. Everyone has been wondering where you've been.
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Don't worry, I'm still around. I've just been working myself to death lately.

After the swine flu panic began, the pharmaceutical company I work for received massive orders for a flu treatment medication that we make. Between government and commercial, we have around 10 million units to produce. Needless to say, I haven't had a weekend off in a while.

On the plus side, the overtime money will be paying for my grinder and other knife making stuff.

Hopefully I can come see you guys soon; it's always a great learning experience. Every time I see my unfinished knife lying around, it drives me crazy.
 
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