crying

man, i am so bummed out,,,new at this.I got a coote grinder,before it was file and hand polish,they were allright,now i just cant get the grinding right on the bevel,ruined three blades in a row,,I HAVE NEVER WATCHANYONE GRIND BEFORE, ANY SUGGESTIONS??? ROYBOY

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Contact Allen Blade. He has grinding videos that ERASE the learning curve! I ruined one blade, watched the video, and now I'm in much better shape! Still not grinding like Allen yet, but WAY better than before. The video is cheap too.

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"Come What May..."
 
roy,try also,not to get too discouraged,as this has happened to all knifemakers when they start out.Hell,it happens to experienced makers from time to time.

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MJH
 
Osbourn

Osbourn

Joined
Jun 27, 1999
Messages
804
Allens videos are great, and Hrisoulas has a video out on forging damascus where he grinds a double edged dagger out in very short order. They show the entire forging and grinding processes.

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Oz

"Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken!"
http://www.freespeech.org/oz/
 
Roy-

Videos help quite a bit.

There is also a movie with Loveless's name on it. You'd be overwhelmed by all the equipment he's accumulated in his shop, but don't worry about that, just pay close attention to the blade being ground.

If you've only ruined 3, you are just getting started. I heard a lot of guys say that it will take you 5 blades to get it down....so one day I went out and profiled 5 blades all exactly the same. I ruined every damn one of them, blade after blade.

But you have to just keep doing it, asking questions, and I suppose it would help quite a lot if you could go watch somebody in their shop.

After a while, you'll go to that grinder and just grind one and step back and be so damn suprised with yourself that you'll wonder why it ever seemed so impossible.

I don't think it ever gets EASY, but it's something that if you want it bad enough, you will become fluent at it.

Good luck,
Nick
 
Roy, what grit belt are you using that's giving you the most trouble? Also, what size contact wheel?

I start with 36 or 40 grit and us an 8" wheel exclusively.

One thing that most have a tendancy to do once they are equipped is to try to go too fast. Going slow and with a light touch, letting the belt do the work, is the best approach.

And as MJH said, we all started down the same slippery slope before we got one right. Hang in there.


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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
The New Tom & Jerry Show
 
Another thing that can ease the pain is to get some cheap steel and write it off as practice. 1095 can be had in pretty big quantities for cheap and will still make a nice knife when you start getting it all figured out. Its easier on your wallet and you don't grind and grind and grind only to get one your satisfied with out of a worthless piece of aluminum or cheap welding grade steel. Its a tough thing to learn but once you get over that first hill you keep getting better and better.

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I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer... but I've got the sharpest knife in the room.
 
Just keep grinding and you will get the hang of it.I made allot of fillet knives out of Bowie knife blanks and pearing knives out of skinners before I got the hang of it,I was to stubborn to quit when I messed up a blade,I wouldnt quit re-profiling and thinning down and re-grinding until all that was left was a pile of steel dust.We have all been there,It's just the learning prosses,so hang in there and you will get it pretty soon.
Bruce

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Bruce Evans Handcrafted Knives
The soul of the Knife begins in the Fire!!!!!
Member of,AKTI#A000223 and The American Bladesmith Society
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Been there, still there
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Don't feel bad. My first knife I made (spent hours hand filing it), was ruined when I tried to sharpen the false edge with my Coote. Needless to say, it is now 1/2" shorter and UGLY. The handle of my first knife (grinding attempt) became a neck knife. Matt is right, get 1095. It is relatively inexpensive and you can heat treat it on your own.
 
well merryman, so you want to be a knife maker! LOL. yeah i turned bowies into letter openers. too! videos & books are helpful but nothing replaces burnt fingers and grinding dust under your nails.keep on grinding.

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Laurence Segal www.RHINOKNIVES.com
 
What did you expect?? That your first blade will be perfect? Take a 100 grit belt, you 'll need much more time to grind a blade, but you also will need more time to ruin a blade.And then practice, practice, pratice....
Making knives since 15 years i usually use 80 grit belts, to grind a blade ( 8" bladelength) i need 1-2 hours, but in those 15 years (making between 5 and 10 knives per year) i only ruined 1 or 2 blades

PS: Slow 'n steady wins the race...




[This message has been edited by Armin (edited 01-26-2001).]
 
Been there, done that. Be sure to keep that first screwed up blade so you can compare it with the 20th blade! Don't give up.
 
thanks guys,,for all the repys,i know u have all ruined your share of blades,i just had tosay something.the vidieo sounds cool, will try to get one,and i will hang in there.you will see a good knive from me.!!!!am a vet will not quit,,,, royboy

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Don't feel bad at all. Every knifemaker out there has done the EXACT same thing. You are welcome to the 16 blades I have ruined so far. Just takes practice, practice and more practice. Buy some cheap steel. 5160 can be had at your local spring shop for about $3 per foot. It makes an awsome blade it heat treated right. I cut out 10 of the exact same blades and practiced on them. By #8-9 they started to look ok.
BE PATIENT with yourself...

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RHankins Available knives
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=205453
 
Is your grinder a fixed speed or variable? I first bought a fixed speed and after having my first lesson at a friends house bought a variable speed the next year. Speed is the key. My fixed speed that used to run real fast, I had the drive pulley cut down from 4 inches to 2 inches to slow it down. Works alot better this way. I like doing almost everything slow, less metal removal and more time to think. I have 40-50 blades under my belt so far and grinding is still the hardest thing for me to do on my knives. Hang in there. Lot's of good ideas already out there. Practice,practive,practive makes near perfect!
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Great idea CJ and I know it works since I did the same thing on a Bee Products machine. Some otner makers I know have done the same thing. A good speed seems to be about 3600 ft. min..You are probably doing this already but I will mention that sort of locking your elbows on the sides of your body and swaying your whole body while grining from guard end to tip may also help.Stay with it Mister! It's a real practical learning experience.
 
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