grinding jig

S

Saud

Joined
Mar 6, 2005
Messages
5
As a beginner, I would like to ask if there is such a thing as a jig that would help in setting the concave bevel along the blade IE. to keep the blade in the same place as you make each pass on the grinder. or do you guys and gals just do that by eye. Also, how far down do you take the edge of a blank before you send it off for hardning? Sharp and polished, or still slightly rough and dull edged. I know it will be much harder to work once hardened, but will belt sanders still cut it??? Thanks Saud.
 
im not a stock removal guy, but from what the guys around here say its better to learn to do it by eye. because the jigs limit what kind of knives can be made, and the bevels are not that good looking when its done. leave about 1/16 of steel on the edge before HT. the steel wont be all that hard to work on a belt sander after HT, the hardest thing is not killing the temper. what kind of grinder do you have? if you have a bench grinder i think it would be hard to make knives on that, the guys around here use a belt grinder. a belt grinder isnt a bench grinder, or a belt sander, theres a big diffrence. if you have an angle grinder and a belt sander you can make a decent knife. its easier to eyeball the grinds holding the grinder, instead of trying to see what your grinding on the other side of the bench grinder. just clamp the blade to the work bench and grind, then flip it over and try to stay even. the grind marks will be ground out with an 60 - 80 grit belt on the sander. you can also file the bevels in, but you wont be able to do a hallow grind, only flat and convex.
any qeustions just ask, the guys here are really friendly.
 
I tried a Jig back when I first started.. Never could get it to work right. Best thing you can do is JUST GRIND! You may fail alot, but it will come if you really want it. Thats my .02


Trace.
 
I agree with Trace. If you start to walk with a crutch, you'll have a harder time getting rid of it later. Like the man said, just grind :D It will take time but you'll be glad you went free hand.
Scott
 
The cool thing about knives is that if the grind is uneven or messed up you an just raise the price tag a bit and sell it as having a "compound" grind! :D
 
Thanks for the advise guys, I have a bench grinder, a small belt grinder, and an angle grinder so I will give it a try, can always grind away the mistake and make a smaller blade. Probably be the first guy to ever do that. and who would know its not the size I intended anyway right. Kind of like talking about the size of a fish you caught with someone who wasn't there. It's not really lying is it? Really appreciate the help and am anxious to get started.
Saud. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top