Do you use your tool rest to flat grind?

3

3/16th's

Joined
Apr 19, 2000
Messages
318
I guess the subject speaks for itself. After 43 knives, I still have problems with control, especially while holding the tang with my left hand. I was wondering if I took my tool rest off and lowered my beltsander to belly height, could I achieve more control that way?(by using my organic tool rest with my elbows locked to my sides) It seems to me that it would be easier to grind the belly part of the blade. Any thoughts?

Hugh

------------------
President of Knifemakers Anonymous - "The sickness can be cured!" Call 1-800-cutfingers
 
Control takes practice. Once you remove the tool rest, and lower your grinder, you will be bringing a new set of circumstances into your grinding. Since it sounds like you have used the work rest from the start, there will be a learning curve involved. However, since you have ground a bunch of blades, you have the idea down, and the transition should take only minimal time. My thoughts? Take that tool rest off. You'll find you have more control and flexibility over your grinds.
About the only time I ever use the rest is when I'm hogging material off during profiling.

------------------
Ed Caffrey "The Montana Bladesmith"
ABS Mastersmith
www.caffreyknives.com
 
Hey Hugh that works for me, but I use the large size organic tool rest, AKA Bud Rest. Try grinding lower on the wheel to grind the edge and higher to go to the spine and throw in a little twist which ever way you want to go. Just dont give up you will get it, takes everybody a while, imangine the knife as canvas and the wheel as your brush and paint away Take care GenO

------------------
GenO Denning
Shop Tour
 
I guess if the blade shape was a perfect rectangle, using the tool rest would be sufficient. I've found as I am dragging the blade along the belt, when the clip of the spine hits the edge of the tool rest, I lose control and the angle I am holding it at starts to fluctuate. Plus, the tool rest is just below my sternum (too high probably). I'll take your advice and lower my sander and remove the rest. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the advice gentlemen.

Hugh

------------------
President of Knifemakers Anonymous - "The sickness can be cured!" Call 1-800-cutfingers
 
Hugh,

I agree, lose the rest. I tried it, and the results were horrible. There is a learning curve either way, but I was surprised how much easier it was without the rest. Basically, I was vibrating the steel on the rest and causing slight angle variances throughout the blade that looked like an orange peel.
 
A tool rest is good for profiling blades, squaring up shoulders on handle material, etc. I suppose some folks use it to grind with but I don't. I guess one reason why some folks would want to use it would be to initially get the plunges even on both sides. You can do this easily with a file guide, I do......

[This message has been edited by C L Wilkins (edited 11-16-2000).]
 
Geeze Hugh - I guess you and I are the only ones doing it 'the hard way' with the tool rest. I use the tool rest for flat grinding and I did my first Hollow grind today - also with the tool rest.

It would seem otherwise from the posts here but many makers do use the rest.

Rob!



------------------
Rob Ridley
Ranger Original Handcrafted Knives
 
I tried the tool rest thong ( OOP'S I mean Thing
redface.gif
) years ago.I threw it away after my first double grind (Dagger) The blade was looking good then all of a sudden the edge wedged between the rest and the platten and before I could get the machine shut off I had completely ruined the blade and it scared the S--- out of me.I very seldom even use a tool rest to profile as I feel I have more control over my work,and I am used to not using one....Bruce

------------------
Bruce Evans Handcrafted Knives
The soul of the Knife begins in the Fire!!!!!
Member of,AKTI#A000223 and The American Bladesmith Society

[This message has been edited by beknives (edited 11-17-2000).]

[This message has been edited by beknives (edited 11-17-2000).]

[This message has been edited by beknives (edited 11-17-2000).]
 
hey i just thought i would trow in my 2 cents i actually sit while i grind and rest my elbows on my legs i find i get the best control that way.oh yeah and my grinder is on a special bench that is built lower than all the rest,or on the other grinder i sit on a bar stool...just my 2 cents..hope it give some ideas.

------------------
i keep grinding and grinding and it is still too short!!
 
Thanks for all the replies guys. Good, sound advice. Robert you sarcastic bastid, I was in too much a state of religious ecstasy being so close to my idols that I didn't notice anything they did
smile.gif
And bruce, I too tried the "tool rest thong" but found it rode up and and became uncomfortable
smile.gif
Ha Ha

Hugh


------------------
President of Knifemakers Anonymous - "The sickness can be cured!" Call 1-800-cutfingers
 
I agree with Tim Herman, any type of rest takes away the "feel" of whats going on with the blade.

Its taken me 3 years to really feel and know whats happening with each pass, i wouldnt trade that for any fixture, jig, or rest ever made.



------------------
"Never hit a man unless you must, but if you must, knock him down" Teddy Roosevelt.

www.lameyknives.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top