Grinding

[michdad]

Question for you grinders: On a large (9-15"), square pointed chopper blade, scribe a line for reference, or just mark hi spots with a sharpie and go by eye? I have been using a 4X36 belt/6" disc sander along with a variety of files. So far, things look pretty decent, but needless to say I am still learning! I have found out that a warm file is a pretty tool to work with!

'Couple of things learned for those like myself that think they might have the knack: For what it's worth I did buy O-1 to learn to grind on and just wanted to share a little. I did spend more $ on files than I did a sander (not including extra belts and discs). I did learn the hard way that I had too heavy of a "touch", but am improving every time I pick up steel. There are uses for a double cut file. I did remember to get chalk and a couple of brass bristeled brushed to keep my files nice.

 

[Bufford]

You are on the right track. I started out with 01 before moving onto stainless. Your eyes will be the most sensitive device for measuring the thickness of your grind. The reflection of the light of of your bevels will show all the high spots that appear as waves on the blade that need to be flattened out with further grinding.

A good grind can be achieved by keeping the blade moving across the belt in a fluid motion. Stopping anywhere will increase the chance of producing dimples and low spots on the blade.

Prior to grinding a center line should be scribed down the center of the bar stock, and these can be bought at most knifemaker supply stores.

 

[AcridSaint]

You can also use a drill bit to mark a center line, if it's the same thickness (or slightly larger/smaller for a double line). You'll probably want to make a contraption to hold it though, because most drill bits seem to scribe better in certain positions than others. Not as clean as a marking tool, but better than nothing in a pinch.

I tried marking off grind heights when I first started, I saw pictures of some blades that Bill Moran did that to. I just eyeball now though, because you're probaby not going to end up exactly where the lines are anyhow. Just compare the sides really well. If you can't tell the difference in the grind height, chances are most other people can't.

Something that you can also do is be brutally honest with yourself. Compare your knives to other knives. Actually look at them side by side and decide where you can improve. When you're starting out, you can do this with factory knives, you don't need a custom collection.

My first knives had these terribly short grinds, ugliest things you'd ever seen and not worth much as far as tools go. I've been carrying and using knives since I was a small boy, but I never bothered to put one up next to the ones I'd made to see what was wrong.

 

[michdad]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I have been using a sharpie to mark the steel, and eyeballing for my grinding. I will try a drill bit, never thought of that! So far the toughest thing for me to learn is how hard to grind!

Something that you can also do is be brutally honest with yourself.

Here is a little off subject short story you might get a kick outa:
I started off with a couple of "cheap ready to put handles on" blades, and thought the cord wrap handles I did were pretty cool. Showed them to my wife and a friend. Both thought they were pretty good, but you always wonder if they were just being nice. My 12 yo son spotted them in my box one day and wanted to look. First words out of his mouth were "Looks like something that you might do at Boy Scout camp".
That was both brutal and honest. Gotta love an honest kid huh?
I figured that I will learn to do this right (emphasis on learn) or find a different hobby!