Flat platen grinding

[jefflynnjstar]

I’ve ground plenty of flat grinds on my Bader steel face platen. But really like the feel of grinding on my rubber wheel….. WHAT,, can I do to soften my steel platen for flat grinds??

 

[DevinT]

Graphite coated canvas, leather, hard felt, or a small length of polishing belt turned backwards.

Hoss

 

[jefflynnjstar]

Ty

 

[jefflynnjstar]

. Very good,, ty

 

[Scaniaman]

You can also look into a 20" wheel. Makes for a very nice geometry. As close to flat as you'll get on a wheel on 2x72.

 

[navman]

I want a 20" wheel......right now I do a full hollow using my 10" wheel and have had to teach myself how to walk (crawl really) the grind up past 1" without burning through the center of the bevel.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

As Scaniaman noted, you can only make a contact wheel so big. But, you can get radiused platens to simulate up to a 72" wheel.

Grinding with a soft backer (graphite canvas is the most common) creates a slight convex grind.

 

[Joseph Bandeko]

Rotary platen!

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Rotary platen!

I wish more people talked about them.....

 

[Scaniaman]

Rotary platen!

Aren't they too soft to do good grinding on? More for finishing perhaps?

 

[Lorien]

I'm a big fan of my radius platen. One thing I like about it is I can reach behind it with my fingers to stabilize the blade for finer details, which I imagine is impossible with a wheel. Downside is it heats up more than I imagine a wheel would