free hand or use a jig?

G

Grouser1741

Joined
Apr 17, 2018
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I look at these knives, they are Way beyond my level ,,,,
makes me wonder. Are the top knife makers generally hand grindin freestyle or with a jig? Should I be getting finish quality off the machine or is everything hand finished? Thanks Merry Christmas.
 
I grind mostly freehand. But I have several ddworkrest jigs which I use for folder blades and steak knife sets. Folder blades are so difficult to hold on to it really helps. Knives that need to match are easier for me with the jig.
 
I recently got a bubble jig, and that’s what I would recommend. I had previously made a jig similar to any of the fixed jigs you see around eBay etc. Fine for a straight line grind, but no ability to give the minor little tweaks needed at times to just nudge a grind line or match the curve. I abandoned that for free hand grinding, but I don’t make enough knives to just have that muscle memory for fully free hand. That meant I was either making mistakes or more often going really slow and being overly cautious. The bubble jig gives me that confidence that I’m approaching at the proper angle, but isn’t so locked in that I can’t adjust with the flow to dial it in. You also get a file guide out of it, which is also really important to getting lined up plunges.
 
I got myself a Bubble jig right from the start. It has helped me tremendously with my freehand grinding skills. Now I use it for starting some grinds, and for swedges.
 
Finish quality is definitely possible free hand and is the case for many makers who do it all the time.

Belt finished blades come right off the grinder or leaves them set up for quick and easy hand sanding.

No one 'fixes or cleans up' rough grinding with hand work.....not with any degree of efficiency anyway. Hand sanding is a nice touch and just cleans up the belt scratches on an already flat, even grind. Attempting to fix dips, facets, deep scratches and belt gouges with hand sanding is a fool's errand.

Personally, I grind free hand with no jigs or rests at all. That's how I learned from day one.
 
J. Doyle said:
Finish quality is definitely possible free hand and is the case for many makers who do it all the time.

Belt finished blades come right off the grinder or leaves them set up for quick and easy hand sanding.

No one 'fixes or cleans up' rough grinding with hand work.....not with any degree of efficiency anyway. Hand sanding is a nice touch and just cleans up the belt scratches on an already flat, even grind. Attempting to fix dips, facets, deep scratches and belt gouges with hand sanding is a fool's errand.

Personally, I grind free hand with no jigs or rests at all. That's how I learned from day one.
Click to expand...

When I was on the craftsman 2x72, I had to clean a fair bit up by hand. A minor wobble at theat speed turned into hours of hand sanding. Now I can get a pretty good finish right off of the ginder. Variable speed helps to feather in plunges and curves for sure.
 
I'll agree with what's been said above (although I don't have a bubble jig and could probably make better knives if I had one) and here's my input: when I started, I used and made some jigs, thinking that that'd help me with my initial knives as I learned this craft. I'm sure they helped on my first couple, but they often get in the way. Also, jigs take time to be set up square and true and that time is better spent learning the above mentioned muscle memory. You'll improve a lot quicker.
 
I use a push stick tim Hancock style for 60, 120,220 grits then freehand 400, and disc grinder of I'm hand sanding, if not I'll use scotchbrite or trizac.
But I've seen plenty of amazing knives done with a Jig. One maker in particular uses one and his finish on them are raved about here and other places. It's all in what YOU feel comfortable doing and what produces the BEST results. After all our names dont go on that blade YOURS does. Food for thought
 
I have been at it 2 years and freehand but now I a starting to use the tool rest a lot more. For initial bevels I will put a 4ish degree miter on a push stick. I find I can cut in my primary bevels really quickly like this. I am starting to see places that a jig might be nice. For instance swedge grinds especially if you have a pattern that you will make multiples of.
 
jigs don't work on everything, and neither does freehand for most (if the grind is really complicated). I use one of the best jigs out there, the DD Work Rest for nightmare grinds and hollow ground swedges. Everything else I freehand. Not that good yet ;)

But even when freehanding, don't be afraid to rest your hands on the tool rest table, I learned that this can REALLY help steady you without any negative side effects (so why not do it?!). Also keeps your arms from getting tired ;)

You can totally get a really nice grind directly off of the belt... in fact, as others above have stated - you should!

For an example of jig vs freehand... these were done w/ a jig
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Whereas these were done freehand
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wow I'm Amazed at the detailed responses I get from you guys, not one, not two, but several. Much appreciated gives me a lot to think about Merry Christmas all
 
Grouser1741 said:
I look at these knives, they are Way beyond my level ,,,,
makes me wonder. Are the top knife makers generally hand grindin freestyle or with a jig? Should I be getting finish quality off the machine or is everything hand finished? Thanks Merry Christmas.
Click to expand...

Whichever way you choose is not easy , needs plenty of practice .I can grind free hand one side but I simple can not grind other side so I'm forced to use jig .But jig only keep constant angle , you still need feel to make that move in right moment to get perfect grind around tip of knife from both side and it is still easy to make mistake.With time I learn to use my jig /ordinary square stainless tube/ and to get good finish. My grinders a very fast so I can use only 40 grit ceramic belts but I found the way to get very good finish even with 40 grit belts .....
This one is from HSS hardened steel , finish is 40 grit but I will never learn to take good picture with my phone....
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The answer to your question is yes ;). Great makers use a jig and great makers grind freehand. As someone has mentioned, the best thing will be what works for you. I’ve pretty much always done freehand grinding, some of it with my finger that holds the spine of the blade on a tool rest. But most, without that. I’ve briefly tried the push stick method and for whatever reason, I struggle greatly with it. It really does come down to the “feel” and how you can best achieve that. Understanding what’s happening with various points of pressure on your blade coupled with a lot of practice REALLY helps you get a good finish on the grinder.

John made some great points in his post. I’ve watched him grind and it is flat out impressive. For a long time, I’ve struggled (and still do) with the stress of grinding and if I’m going to ruin something. I’m a little better than I used to be, but it’s just a hobby for me and I don’t grind enough, often enough to be nearly as good as John and others are. For that reason, I have been the fool that has chased wobbles in my grinds by hand work. It is NOT efficient. At all. Grinding is definitely worth getting better at-it saves so much time and effort.

Jeremy
 
I learned a ton about grinding by watching Steve Johnson video on grinding a Big Bear.

His technique is not to Hog off material but rather methodically let the grit do the work and check constantly after a pass to monitor exactly what you are doing.
 
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