disk grinder to flatten the tang ?

[wingchun74]

I've made a few knives so far but all had paracord wrapped handles. I've got some scales in wood and micarta, also some liner material, and want to give it a go. I've been using the craftsman 2x42 and it has done almost everything I ask of it. I rarely use the disk, is this what I should use to flatten the tang for a handle? Is the disk on the crastsman wide enough? It seems that it would be easier to get uniform and flat rather than using the belt.

Any tips or pointers?



Thanks in advance I'm sure this has been brought up before, many times I assume but can't find anything specific while searching the old posts.
Jason

 

[galadduin]

I've made a few knives so far but all had paracord wrapped handles. I've got some scales in wood and micarta, also some liner material, and want to give it a go. I've been using the craftsman 2x42 and it has done almost everything I ask of it. I rarely use the disk, is this what I should use to flatten the tang for a handle? Is the disk on the crastsman wide enough? It seems that it would be easier to get uniform and flat rather than using the belt.

Any tips or pointers?



Thanks in advance I'm sure this has been brought up before, many times I assume but can't find anything specific while searching the old posts.
Jason

I flatten tang first at the flat platen with a coarse grit (like 60-80) followed by 120. Then with the disc I get rid of 120 belt grit scratches with a 120 grit disc. Then on a glass plate I make sure everything is truly flat by hand sanding with a 240 grit sandpaper glued to the thick flat glass. When I solely rely on disc I figured that lots of sand paper wasted and takes time so I help the disc by initial flattening on the belt.
Emre

 

[PIndelicato]

I'm far from an expert, but everything I've tried doing on my Craftsman's disc has not worked very well. It is too small and way to fast, in my humble opinion, to be particularly useful for many knifemaking tasks. About the only thing I've successfully used mine for is beveling the front edge of handle scales before finishing them, but it has a tendency to burn the material.

 

[JCR]

I have a old gunsmithing trick that I got from Chuck Ochs, with the full tang handel profiled, dish out the inside of the tang with what ever you can (I.E. contact wheel or a disc grinder) on both sides then your tang will flat grind better by only hitting on the outside area. This will keep the tang from faceting and not keeping true on what ever you use. if you have any questions, call or write. jcr5326@yahoo.com Hope this helps, R/jcr

 

[silver_pilate]

JCR, your old gunsmithing trick just happens to also be used by most bladesmiths out there who taper tangs . Good tip.

--nathan