Grinding Issues!!! Could it be the ...

[talf904]

HELP!! This is driving me crazy. I recently bought a Craftsman 2x42 grinder and up until now its been great. I went to grind some bevels on a batch of blanks I made and I am having a difficult time with the plunge area. As you will see from the pics there is gap on the right side of the platen (platen is not flat and rounds to the gapped edge). Would this gap cause the characteristic you see on the bevel? I installed a plate steel rest in place of the factory one, but I am leary about using a glass tile as a platen "cap" - leary because of family members who worked in factories making glass products and they developed lung cancer. Could be coincidence but when you see it first hand you tend to be overly cautious. Thanks in advance for any help or tips.

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[leifjl]

A flat platen will definitely help.
Just wear a mask while grinding.

 

[Frank Niro]

You shouldn't be getting glass dust, just metal dust. Frank

 

[Mudbug007]

The platen that comes with the 2x42 is cheap and flimsy. You'll need to modify it or replace it. This is how I modified my platen nearly two years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvbGy_SqMtc

 

[talf904]

The platen that comes with the 2x42 is cheap and flimsy. You'll need to modify it or replace it. This is how I modified my platen nearly two years ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvbGy_SqMtc

Looks easy enough. Maybe I will have to give it a shot - I always wear a mask anyway. How long will the glazing on the tile last, or has yours even wore out yet?

 

[Mudbug007]

Mine hasn't worn out yet and I've done around 70 or so knives on it. It is showing some wear on the corners where I've nicked them up. Just make sure you put the two bolts at the bottom of the platen like he shows in the video.

I'd suggest getting a replacement platen from Sears or making your own before gluing a piece of ceramic onto the one shown. It looks pretty bowed.