- Joined
- Dec 16, 2004
- Messages
- 678
I recently invited myself to Fred Rowe's shop while I was in S.E.Ohio. Fred graciously gave me ,a total stranger, his Saturday. I was frustrated to the point of quitting knifemaking because my grinding skills just were not improving. I was repeating the same mistakes over and over. I was looking for some hands-on help. I am what Fred calls a kinetic learner. (A new term to me). He has spend most of his adult life teaching Martial Arts to boys and teenage men so he knows how to patiently push students.
I never could figure out how his Bubble-jig worked from his video! I went to try it out as well. He spend the morning teaching how to use his system. It was surprisingly easy to figure out and to use. It is more of a system than a jig because you can screw up your blade if you do not pay attention to what you are doing! It acts like a file guide as well so my plunge lines immediately improved. Below is a picture of a piece of 0-1 I had attempted to flat grind just before I left for Mr. Rowe's shop, the right side. The first day back I ground the left side solo with the Bubble-Jig. You can see the improvement.
I ground out this necker from a small piece of Damascus that Burton gave me
not perfect but it is the first time I was pleased with a grinding attempt
Today I profiled and ground a matched pair of Paring knives. You can see the heights of the grind lines are not an exact match. I went into my house for lunch and showed the pair to my wife. She said WOW. She is usually nonplussed at my attempts
The biggest thing Fred's Bubble system does is instill confidence. I do not have grinder dread anymore. I know my skills are elementary, Now I believe they will improve. It is some of the best money I have ever spent !
Fred's bubble jig is not for everyone I suppose, but for guys like me it is a wonderful help getting started.
I am honestly not trying to start another jig vs freehand thread war. Once I established the flats I take off the bubble and just use the file guide, so jig and freehand
You can email him if you would like more information fred.rowe@bethelridgeforge.com
This is an unsolicted endorsement but I know Fred won't mind
I never could figure out how his Bubble-jig worked from his video! I went to try it out as well. He spend the morning teaching how to use his system. It was surprisingly easy to figure out and to use. It is more of a system than a jig because you can screw up your blade if you do not pay attention to what you are doing! It acts like a file guide as well so my plunge lines immediately improved. Below is a picture of a piece of 0-1 I had attempted to flat grind just before I left for Mr. Rowe's shop, the right side. The first day back I ground the left side solo with the Bubble-Jig. You can see the improvement.
I ground out this necker from a small piece of Damascus that Burton gave me
not perfect but it is the first time I was pleased with a grinding attempt
Today I profiled and ground a matched pair of Paring knives. You can see the heights of the grind lines are not an exact match. I went into my house for lunch and showed the pair to my wife. She said WOW. She is usually nonplussed at my attempts
The biggest thing Fred's Bubble system does is instill confidence. I do not have grinder dread anymore. I know my skills are elementary, Now I believe they will improve. It is some of the best money I have ever spent !
Fred's bubble jig is not for everyone I suppose, but for guys like me it is a wonderful help getting started.
I am honestly not trying to start another jig vs freehand thread war. Once I established the flats I take off the bubble and just use the file guide, so jig and freehand
You can email him if you would like more information fred.rowe@bethelridgeforge.com
This is an unsolicted endorsement but I know Fred won't mind
