How flat are your flat grinds??

Z

zealot

Joined
Jun 17, 2006
Messages
578
I am finding that my flats are turning out more convex. Is this the end of the world? will it effect cutting performance? thx
 
I had very minor convexing like this and found that for me the issue was not enough belt tension. The poet tension was causing the belt to bunch up very slightly at the top of the work. Are you using a platen? And on what type of grinder?
 
Depends on the purpose of the blade. If you are asking, however, how to get flatter grinds then how about telling us your grinding method and equipment? Is your platen truly flat? Slap on ceramic glass and there is yet hope for our civilization!
 
zealot said:
I have a craftsman 2x42 is there a way to adjust the tension on it?
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Yes. The handle that releases the tension from the top wheel can be taken off and the spring advanced to the next hole. The craftsman platen is also complete garbage. Look up mods to it. There are plenty that make it workable.
 
The tensioning spring wears out on those machines. I had to attach a lanyard around the handle of the belt release and tie it down to add tension to the whole belt. Make sure you aren't pushing too hard into the platen as you need to take advantage of the speed instead of the torque of the motor. If your motor is changing sounds, youre pushing too hard.
 
strider214 said:
Depends on the purpose of the blade. If you are asking, however, how to get flatter grinds then how about telling us your grinding method and equipment? Is your platen truly flat? Slap on ceramic glass and there is yet hope for our civilization!
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Who has these? I made a platen liner out of a tile but it sux..

LucyCustomKnives said:
Yes. The handle that releases the tension from the top wheel can be taken off and the spring advanced to the next hole. The craftsman platen is also complete garbage. Look up mods to it. There are plenty that make it workable.
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I'll try this too. thanks everyone!
 
As you do more knives, you will take pride in getting things closer to "perfect" as your skill set and tools improve. Don't beat yourself up as long as you are doing your best with what you have to work with. I use a granite plate with good sand paper on it to take out irregularities in flat blades such as kitchen knives.
 
strider214 said:
It's really called pyroceram. You can buy it from many online retailers including USA Knifemaker. I bought mine at One Day Glass and they sent me an extra one for free. http://www.onedayglass.com/pyroceram.php
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SWEET! thanks bro

Willie71 said:
As you do more knives, you will take pride in getting things closer to "perfect" as your skill set and tools improve. Don't beat yourself up as long as you are doing your best with what you have to work with. I use a granite plate with good sand paper on it to take out irregularities in flat blades such as kitchen knives.
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thanks for the encouragement man.
 
Karburized said:
The tensioning spring wears out on those machines. I had to attach a lanyard around the handle of the belt release and tie it down to add tension to the whole belt. Make sure you aren't pushing too hard into the platen as you need to take advantage of the speed instead of the torque of the motor. If your motor is changing sounds, youre pushing too hard.
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Damn that sucks. They sell all the parts on the Sears website. I'm going to have to order a new platen for mine, once I get the pyroceram in. I jb welded on my tile platen liner and I don't think that sucker is coming off.
 
zealot said:
Hey mc,If you check on youtube they have tutorials on it.
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Yeah I have but I am always skeptical about what I watch on youtube, most of the time it's people with little know how who should not be posting videos like they're experts
 
Mostly flat... most of my blades have some amount of convexing, however slight. I like them that way. Tangs, however, have to be flat.
 
As far as the glass goes...

Right to your existing platen. JB Weld or 3M double sided outdoor carpet tape are what a lot of people recommend. I use the tape and it works just fine. Two words of caution, though. It is glass and it can break so build a ledge (check out YouTube or if you're still reluctant then search this site) and two, your platen has to be FLAT before sticking the glass on or it will crack.
 
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