Flat Grinding Jig

Peter Atwood

Peter Atwood

Joined
Oct 26, 2000
Messages
2,468
I recently started flat grinding again after a long period of nothing but hollow grinds. I was having a heck of a time keeping the bevels from wandering off on me. SO I figured I ought to make it a little easier on myself.....

Here's some pics of my nifty flat grinding jig. It sure makes it a lot easier to hold the blade straight! Made out of heavy aluminum channel and angle stock, a piano hinge, a few screws and some springs.

You just place it on the work rest, use the thumbscrews for adjustment of the angle and then ease it up against the platen. It still requires some finesse to keep from wiggling but it does pretty much guarantee a straight bevel if you're careful and use even passes...also, you can just dunk the whole thing, blade, jig and all in the water bucket as it gets hot.

jig1.jpg

jig3.jpg

jig2.jpg

jig4.jpg
 
Hey, I'm glad someone else thinks it's cool and finds it helpful. From the cool reception that it has gotten I guess there are either a lot of freehand grinding snobs or folks who don't want to admit they're using jigs of any sort. This piece doesn't eliminate the need for skill, it is merely an aid. I would think that most people who are making a lot of knives would eventually adopt some help in one form or another. After all, you can't be spot on with your grinds every day. :)
 
Howdy There...!
That is a great looking jig..! I do have one question, how did you attach the hinge to the channel and angle? I could not tell how it was attached. Thanks for the idea and I plan to make one..!

Later "Possum":cool:
 
peter to me that is the challange, this is as much a artistic persuit to me. also your little jig is well thought out. but i dont make stick knives. each to his own:)
 
Laurence, I figured that was the case. It's a lot like me taking pride in the fact that I can cut a perfectly straight line freehand on a wallpaper seam. Many folks wouldn't understand why I don't use a straight edge but to me it's a challenge and an affirmation of my craftsmanship. Wasn't really trying to get anybody going with my snob remark, just puzzled that no one seemed all that interested in the jig. :)

Possum, it's really simple, just screwed into tapped holes on the angle and channel pieces. I ground off the protruding screws ends on the top of the angle piece and you can't see them with the fuzzy pics.
 
Well my friend, here's a thumbs up from a grinding snob :)

At this point it's faster and easier for me to do it free-hand...but that is a very slick jig and I'm sure it works great.

"Outside the box" thinking buddy...that's always a good thing.

Thanks for posting it Peter, I'm sure this is gonna' help lots of folks! :)

Nick
 
Peter,

I plan on making one myself. I don't think my free hand practice wasted, but I think I've sold another knife and I'd like the next one really crisp.

BTW while flat grinding do you rotate the blade up when you finish the stroke to follow the edge? Looks like you can still do that with the jig, but I'm wondering if folks actually do that.

I do it when sharpening, but don't know about grinding :confused:

Steve
 
I am very interested in peter atwoods grinding jig especially as i am having trouble grinding (beginners level extreme). problem is I can't view the pictures and peter's site does not feature the jig, suggestions (pictures) anyone?
thanks mario
 
If you get Kim Breed's grinding DVD (do a search), they explain and show a hollow grinding jig that sounds like what Peter is talking about. It's basically a piece of aluminum channel marked so you can consistently line up the blade on both sides, and it has an adjustment screw to adjust the angle. Looking at the video, I can't see why you couldn't use the same thing for flat grinding.

FWIW, just keep on trying. I was having a heck of a time with flat grinding, too, and I just "got it" over the weekend. What helped me was using thicker stock than the 1/8" I usually use. That gives you more leeway and opportunity to adjust the angles and get everything lined up.
 
I want one !! I want one !! I'll pay handsomely , or can someone just repost the pics , maybe I can rig one up :D
 
Chiro75 said:
If you get Kim Breed's grinding DVD (do a search), they explain and show a hollow grinding jig that sounds like what Peter is talking about. It's basically a piece of aluminum channel marked so you can consistently line up the blade on both sides, and it has an adjustment screw to adjust the angle. Looking at the video, I can't see why you couldn't use the same thing for flat grinding.

FWIW, just keep on trying. I was having a heck of a time with flat grinding, too, and I just "got it" over the weekend. What helped me was using thicker stock than the 1/8" I usually use. That gives you more leeway and opportunity to adjust the angles and get everything lined up.
Click to expand...

Ok chiro75, thanks very much for the info; i'll try to hunt down the DVD cause I need both practice and info
 
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