Grinding Clips?

bobbywett

bobbywett

Joined
Jul 23, 2006
Messages
1,231
Hi Everyone,

One of the more challenging aspects of knife making, (at least for me) is the grinding of clips. I never seem to get what look I am after and end up altering the overall shape of the blade.

How do you folks create your beautiful clip grinds? Does anyone use a jig? Are there free hand methods that can be practiced?

I like to create the clip after hardening and finish grinding has been completed.....right before final hand rubbing.


Thanks for any thoughts,

Bob,

Hershey, PA:)
 
I do mine on the wheel. It's easy to develop a perfect start point matched on each side on the blade. From there, if you wish, you can finish by hand pretty easily. Anyway, that's how I do it, I'm sure there's a lot of other techniques.

Dave
 
Two of those above said "hand file", but the correct term is "draw file".
If you want both sides to come out the same, and be in complete control during the entire process - draw file.
It's truly the only way to do a symmetrical job.
If you have some good experience behind the wheel of your grinder, go ahead and do just a LITTLE! basic stock removal by knocking off the outer corners of the blade - but that all.
It helps if you have a rotating knife vise, so you can place the area you are filing parallel with the floor.
Your upper body downward pressure on the blade with a sharp file will remove steel so fast you can almost get yourself in trouble.
Remember when you draw file to always keep the tang end of the file in your left hand.
Switch to a single-cut smoother file as you near completion.
By dropping one elbow, you can easily put a sway in the bottom of the false edge down as far as you want on the blade face.
 
Thank you all very much. I am just recently exploring (and liking) draw filing.

One question: I am assume this needs to be done prior to heat treating. But most smiths I trust say to grind in the clip after heat treating (overheating the thin/delicate tip, etc.) How do you all deal with heat treating after the clip is filed in?
 
oops I read it backwards. If you use a controlled heat source there is no problem hting the clip/swedge. I have a salt pot for fine control. If you need to adjust the clip after ht then use stones and paper. I have a diamond file that works too but do not expect material to move very fast. It is a long tedious process.
 
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