First attempt using the wheels, and first attempt taking a picture of a knife

[MadmanR1]

So, this is a double first. For my first outing with the wheels I grabbed an old hacksaw blade from the garage. I sharpened the back (flat) side with the wheels. I did each end separately, one higher up on the wheels and the other lower, to gauge the results. The curved end parts both times ended up being the sharpest areas. The second end I did, which was ground higher up on the wheels (towards 12 O'clock) had much sharper areas. I was able to slice through pages of the Grizzly catalog no problem in spots. Obviously there is much more practice to be done. My problem areas were: holding onto the thin blade especially when it got hot, getting the blade hot because I was hot and impatient, rotating around the edge evenly, and getting things evenly sharp. Some of these things hopefully are a result of using a flimsy hacksaw blade to try things out.

Let me know what you think.

Also, I've never tried to take a picture of a knife before. I also have not ever been into photography in any manner. This is my first attempt. I think I may try to read up on this a little bit.

 

[Jason B.]

Nice pic's :thumbup:

One of two things, you didn't grind the main edge enough for the bevels to meet or you didn't polish it enough. I can see a burr on the edge in your pics so it might just need some more polishing.

 

[cj65]

knifeknut is good, top picture edge has a glint of light showing the ever elusive burr!

 

[richard j]

its possible that you're not seeing a burr but grind marks. if he wasnt holding the blade paralell to the wheel it would leave little grooves that would look like what you see in the picture. just having the trailing end a little higher would leave tiny marks like that in the edge.

 

[Supmonkeyface]

Plus that stuff is soft and not hardened (heat treated), so getting it to have 0 burr would be hard. because once it is thin enough it will just roll over with the slightest pressure from anything, even flesh. I tried it with a wood saw blade.

 

[MadmanR1]

its possible that you're not seeing a burr but grind marks. if he wasnt holding the blade paralell to the wheel it would leave little grooves that would look like what you see in the picture. just having the trailing end a little higher would leave tiny marks like that in the edge.

I was attempting to hold it the way you do. With the blade being thin and flexible I was actually a little shocked I got the grind as even as I did. Parts, especially that curved part on the end, sliced paper really cleanly.

I've moved on to cheap kitchen knives. Got one sharp, but my bevel is not even across one side. By that I mean the edge is straight, but the angled portion is not completely flat. I'm gonna work on it some more, however the knife is actually fairly sharp right now.

 

[MadmanR1]

I'm still grinding cheap chinese steel, but I'm going to take pics and see what you guys think tomorrow. I'm a step up from hacksaw blades now.