The idea for this grinding jig, came out of my "cold sweat" reaction, to grinding.
I would break out in a cold sweat, when it came to grinding, the bevels, on a 200 dollar billet of pattern welded steel.
One bad approach angle and you can go through a lot of steel and money.
The jig I made is very accomplished at repeating the same approach angle each time you place the steel on the platen.
The long arm on the clamping device rides along the side of the platen/belt assembly, It is also a great place to place your thumb and add to the overall control of the grind. Theirs a lot of torque in your thumb.
The bubble supported atop the magnet is how you get the pitch at which you hold the knife blank.
It takes some dexterity to use. But after you grind a few blades, you can produce beautiful grinds, with confidence.
Also, you only use the jig, until you get the flats, ground. Once you have the bevels ground, remove it and finish the grind free hand; its flat.
I have improved upon the idea since the original post was made.
I believe, in that original post, I quoted angles, which are incorrect. Bad math :-[ ,
Feel free to use the idea, it is adaptable to most any machine.
The basic formula is: If you figure the angle of your machine's platen, relative to level and then figure in the fact that all blades are flat ground, with an approach angle of from 2.5 to 5 degrees, to the grinding belt, you will have the angle at which to cut the wooden blocks, that you then glue the level bubbles onto.
Five degree angle from the belt results in a straight knife edge, across the entire blade, from riccasso to tip.
Once you have a nice straight edge developed you flatten out the angle and continue the grind up the blade. Its sweet.
There is a Bridgeport mill sitting in my shop, that I hope to have programmed, to run these, this spring. I am trying to manufacture them in limited quantity, if it works out. I will be selling the clamping jig and an adjustable bubble assembly, that will work on anyone's grinder; no matter what the pitch of the machine's platen.
To those who have contacted me about this jig, its coming, I promise.
Just a few bumps in the road.
They will be in the for sale area, of the Blade forums. Please watch for them.
Sorry about not having the pictures available, that's frustrating, I know.
My web page was hacked and I had to completely redo it; a lot of stuff got lost inn the shuffle.
Anyway, as promised:
Fred
