How long does it take you to grind your bevels?

flatgrinder

flatgrinder

Joined
Dec 20, 2005
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Just out of curiousity I was wondering how long it takes you to grind your bevels to the point that you're satisfied with them to send out for HT? Granted it varies with type of steel, thickness, blade length and type of grind -but was wondering if you would share some info.

I recently timed myself and the time it takes to hollow grind the bevels (all the way to the spine) on a Loveless style hunter out of 3/16" D2 takes me 1 hour -for a 320 grit finish.

I start with a 50 grit then go to a 80 grit, followed by a 120 grit, 220 grit and finally a 320 grit.

I read somewhere on this forum that a member watched Bob Dozier grind and apparantly he's extremely fast.

I'm starting to think that to make a living being a full time maker, not only do you have to have excellent designs, as well as superb fit and finish -you also have to be fast.

So what about you other makers?
 
I'd say about 8-10 minutes (maybe as much as 15 if I'm having troubles) on a smaller blade drop-point (4-inches and less). Probably about 35-45 minutes for a 10-inch or less double-edged with fuller (have to mess with fixtures, but then it's just a few minutes of grinding).

I go 36-120-220. I think it's a waste to do finer finishes than that before HT, especially if its damascus. I use salt pots (which are good at preserving your finish), clean up on scotchbrite wheel (maybe a little touch up by hand, but usually not much), then etch. (I really only do damascus, so I don't get into the mirror polish thing.)
 
I have never timed my self but doing my small valor knives takes me around 10 min with a sharp belt an i onley go up to 120 befot heat treat. But some times it takes me longer but in the end i dont keep track because then it becomes work and thats when the fun starts going away.
 
If you haven't seen it already, you gotta look up Jason Cutter's thread from last year called "A 60-minute Knife".
Pretty impressive.
Mike
 
I'm new to this site but when I flat grind one of my smaller blades, it takes me about 20 minutes....but I see on this site that people don't grind past 120 grit or even 220 grit. Heck, I've been going up to 600 grit. The reason I was going to 600 was to get most or all of my major scratches off before I got it back from HT. I just realized today that that's not necessary. This site is amazing.

Daniel - Northwest Territories, Canada
 
it depends on size knife and steel thickness. I estimate 6 small thin 3/32" thick knives in an hour, 2 med sized 5/32" thick knives and 1 large 3/16" thick one in an hour but I havent timed it really. Gets frustrating knowing I am taking longer than I think:D

I start out 36 grit, 60, 120, 220 then ht.
 
i timed one recently, bird and trout with about 3.5" of blade 1/8 thick 440c took 20 mins per side, grinding on 40 grit then 240 then HT.
brett
 
You guys just depressed the heck out of me. I have been taking several hours per blade, but I am a beginner (about 15 knives done, three of which I would not take to a dog fight). Maybe I need to change belts more often.
 
Rookie7 said:
You guys just depressed the heck out of me.
Click to expand...


Two weeks ago I made the first grinds that I'd be willing to show someone... grinds that look like I know what I'm doing. I've been pissing away belts and steel for around two years, so don't feel bad. There's no doubt this stuff comes naturally to some, but I am certainly not one of them! It REALLY helps to watch someone that knows how to do it! I think my breakthrough can be directly attributed to Jim Siska's grinding demo at Ashokan. I owe him big time, and plan on reciprocating when I next get the chance.
 
Don't worry about it! Use your belts like they are free... Nothing like a sharp belt. A dull belt will screw up the whole works in a hurry.

Craig
 
in time speed will come. I have made about 125 or more knives since I started. Sometimes I am still VERY slow and I am perfectly okay with that:thumbup:
 
Yesterday, I went out to work on some Christmas orders. I did all the Flat Grinding on 22 cutlery blades,all CPM154. They ranged from 12'"(edge) chef's knives to 4" kitchen utility. About half were 8-10" fillet type.First I hogged off the bevels with a 36 grit Blaze belt on the 2X72,.Then I went to the flat grinds on the horizontal disc grinder ;flattened with a 36grit,cleaned up on 120grit,smooth up on 400grit.They are ready for HT now. It took six hours.That is an average of 16 min. per blade.
Obviously,working on multiple blades and doing repetitive cycles (do all at 36 grit,...) makes it faster.
Stacy
 
On a hollow-ground wheel, 10 minutes. On the flat platen, probably upwards of 15-20 min. (larger knives). But I leave mine at a 60 grit finish before HT. I learned to hollow grind from Tom Krein who worked for Dozier for a few years. Took me from hours to minutes at the grinder.
 
I only grind to 60 grit prior to heat treatment. It just works for me...

On a single 60 grit belt that is new when I start, on a 1/8" thick hollow ground blade less than 3.5" I can easily grind 20+ blades in 2 hours.

This is after grinding a couple of thousand of blades! It did not come overnight so don't feel bad all you guys that are starting out!

My first blades took a long time to grind and were pretty rough. If you can spend time with an experienced grinder that is interested in helping you learn to grind it can really jump your skill levels!!

If any of you live around NW Arkansas, OR want to make the trip you are welcome to spend some time in my shop!

Tom
 
For large knives 8" long blades, 1 1/2" to 1 3/4" wide about an hour. I finish them as much as possible before HT. Smaller knives anywhere from 10 to 30 mintues. I've made between 120 and 130 knives so far this year.
Scott
 
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