Grinding Jigs

unky_gumbi said:
There is no such thing as screwed, where there is a will there is a way. I am not a full time maker and don't rely on making knifes to pay the bills so if I only make 3 or 4 knives a year it's still better than no knives. I have pretty much accepted that nice hand finishes are a thing of the past for me, but I have way too much invested in tools to just stop making knives, and there is no way I will get back even a fraction of what I put into purchasing and building them. I will probably never forge a blade now:(, but my forge can be used to HT simple steels like 1084 and 5160, if I make or purchase a hydraulic press I could make my own damascas.

I refuse to look at my limitations as road blokes, but instead I view them as detours I have to take to get to my final destination. I will try to make a 90° fix angle jig and see if I can add a screw type angle adjustment to my grinder with a angle scale. I have an old metal lathe, drill press, band saw, rotary table, and a tap set sitting there waiting to be used. I will also try to make something like Aaron's jig, prototyped in wood, to see if I can get that to work for me too. I have more time on my hands than I know what to do with thanks to my problems, and being Canadian I don't have to worry about medical bills, and anything that my heath care doesn't cover Workers Compensation does. WCB would actually like me to start making knives again, because I claim any income I make (cutting grass in the summer, blowing snow out of driveways in the winter) so they don't have to pay me as much.
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Many of us have our difficulties so to speak.
I had a martial arts teacher tell me years ago to learn how to turn my weakness's into my strengths!
That has stayed with me through the years in all of my endeavors.
 
Unki, Aaron, others,

I've been using a hand made jig from the git-go and have come to love and hate then at the same time. The lasting issue I have with any of the designs I see in this thread, and the issue that still plagues me, is that of grinding grit. It will spray down onto the work rest and cause the jig to "catch" and throws it out of line, especially at the higher grits. My work rest and jig base are both polished smooth which helps with this, but even so I have to wipe the surface with each stroke. I'll often have to re-polish the two surfaces every three or four strokes if grit creates a deep scratch.

I like the design of your jig Unki, with the long base.

Anyway, just some food for thought when designing your jig.

Unki, don't let your arm/elbow issue don't hold your down.

-Peter
 
P. McKinley said:
Unki, Aaron, others,

I've been using a hand made jig from the git-go and have come to love and hate then at the same time. The lasting issue I have with any of the designs I see in this thread, and the issue that still plagues me, is that of grinding grit. It will spray down onto the work rest and cause the jig to "catch" and throws it out of line, especially at the higher grits. My work rest and jig base are both polished smooth which helps with this, but even so I have to wipe the surface with each stroke. I'll often have to re-polish the two surfaces every three or four strokes if grit creates a deep scratch.

I like the design of your jig Unki, with the long base.

Anyway, just some food for thought when designing your jig.

Unki, don't let your arm/elbow issue don't hold your down.

-Peter
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What about a slotted work table? Nothing major, but just enough for the grindings to fall into lessening the amount of grit on the flats of the table itself.
 
Peter is there any chance you can allow for a bit more space between your table and the belt? This might allow more grits to pass through rather than land on the table. Frank
 
Frank Niro said:
Peter is there any chance you can allow for a bit more space between your table and the belt? This might allow more grits to pass through rather than land on the table. Frank
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With more room between the belt and table, I too would think grit accumulation would not be an issue. The table could have a notch in it that would wrap around the belt/platen if that is a reason that the table is so close to the belt.

Peter, what type of belt are you using that create this accumulation of grit? Just curious. Thanks
 
Frank Niro said:
Peter is there any chance you can allow for a bit more space between your table and the belt? This might allow more grits to pass through rather than land on the table. Frank
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That's a very good point Frank! I had the same grit issue until I started leaving more room between the belt and the table. I probably leave 1/2" now and have zero issues, even with 36 grit belts tearing off metal really fast.
 
unky_gumbi said:
What about a slotted work table? Nothing major, but just enough for the grindings to fall into lessening the amount of grit on the flats of the table itself.
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Unki,
How far away from Toronto are you? I'm in Toronto and if you like you're welcome to come try the jig out at my shop!

If it works for you I'd be happy to help you make any parts that you lack the tools to make for yourself!
-Aaron
 
PT Doc - This happens with most belts. 36 grit 987's are the worst.

Frank - When I set up for bevel grinding the work rest is about 1 1/2" - 2" away from the platen.

Unky - I've looked at having a local machinist fashion a slotted table for me. It'll coast a bit, but its getting more and more worth it with every knife.

-Peter
 
aarongough said:
Unki,
How far away from Toronto are you? I'm in Toronto and if you like you're welcome to come try the jig out at my shop!

If it works for you I'd be happy to help you make any parts that you lack the tools to make for yourself!
-Aaron
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I am about 4 hours east of you in a little town along the St Lawrence river, about 45 minutes south of Ottawa. I don't venture too far from home all that much because I am without a working car right now, the main reason I am not orange right now:o If I ever do find myself heading out that way I will be sure to drop you a message to arrange a meeting.
 
P. McKinley said:
PT Doc - This happens with most belts. 36 grit 987's are the worst.

Frank - When I set up for bevel grinding the work rest is about 1 1/2" - 2" away from the platen.

Unky - I've looked at having a local machinist fashion a slotted table for me. It'll coast a bit, but its getting more and more worth it with every knife.

-Peter
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I keep forgetting that the east coast isn't as populated as Ontario. The good thing about having a larger population is that there are more tradesmen around and there is always a friend of a friend that is willing to do the work for a case of beer:p I have an uncle that lives close to Lismore NS that was a machinist, but he gave it up for full time lobster fishing. He is retired from both now and already headed to Florida for the winter, other wise I would get a hold of him to see if he knew any one closer to you that could do the work cheaply.
 
unky_gumbi said:
I am about 4 hours east of you in a little town along the St Lawrence river, about 45 minutes south of Ottawa. I don't venture too far from home all that much because I am without a working car right now, the main reason I am not orange right now:o If I ever do find myself heading out that way I will be sure to drop you a message to arrange a meeting.
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Please do drop me a line if you're ever in Toronto! Always good to meet up with another maker!
 
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