Off Topic Grinding issues

Fresh belts make a world of Difference. It you’re getting the 2” dig, what I did was start at the tip and work towards the Ricassio with a distal taper. Remember that if this knife grinding thing was easy. Everyone would make their own! Every maker after a while has a bucket of Oh F&@? Blades. If they claim they don’t. Go the other direction quickly! ................................ I remove half the steel I want with each belt. 36g 60’g 120g them to Scotchbrite & Cork for finishing! Like others have said. Take your time!
 
Grinding is probably the most difficult operation in knife making and it takes a while to learn how to do it properly.

The frustration is real and grinding is a perishable skill. You have to grind regularly if you want to keep your skills up.

When I have people over who want to learn to make knives, I suggest that they start with a chisel ground knife.

It's less frustrating for them and I feel like they are able to get a better feel for how grinding works.

If you can get a clean chisel grind, you can get a clean double ground blade with a bit more practice.

I'd say learn to grind freehand first, then try a jig later.
 
Sam Dean said:
All really good advice above!

Edit: I'd like to throw one more thing in there, that I learned from @Joe Allen Knives-2017, but it's a little further down the road for you. When you shape a handle, (turn the grinder off....) close your eyes and feel all over. Notice how it fits your hand, look for flaws in the finish or shape, let your fingers inspect every detail. It's amazing how sensitive our hands are, and how much can be observed from feel rather than sight.
Click to expand...
My grade 7 student's are shaping the handles on the knives they are making right now with files. They bring me their blades and I feel the handles all over and hold them in dozens of different positions and find all sorts of things needing fixing up by feel. The kids thought it was funny at first and tease me that it takes forever to get feedback from me because I'm so busy feeling and caressing their knives. But I tell them "You can look with your eyes and do an okay job. Or you can look with your hands and create excellence."
Now when they show up I ask them to "look" at their handle themselves and tell me what they feel. Today one girl told me, "I already looked and found a problem, but I was hoping your hands were too old and calloused to see it and you would tell me I was done." Kid's too brave and smart for her own good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top