How to keep symmetry?

K

krept

Joined
Jan 14, 2002
Messages
568
Have a question and I apologize if this has been covered many times before.

I was wondering if there was a basic way or any tips/tricks that anyone has related to grinding blades and keeping a symmetrical angle. Both on the actual edge, swedge, clip, etc.

Is it pretty much a go-slow-and-check-frequently kind of thing? Compare often to a pre-cut angle?

Thanks!
 
If you scribe a centerline down the center of the cutting edge, and then keep your bevel equadistant from the center as well as the spine, then your bevels should be equal also. Hope this makes sense. Basically its grind, look, compare, grind, look, compare....... I grind oneside almost to where I want it then try to bring the other side in to match. That way, if you overshoot a little, you still have meat left on the other side. Once you get the bevels close, slow down and take it real easy and match them up. Once your that far, it is not the time to hurry.
 
Practice, practice, practice and ETC. I been making knives for 6 years and not at the ETC. yet. Those plunge cuts are a mother.
 
What both said. sattley Gave a good answer from a tech point of view but as usual George put it in real world terms. For me I start with good 45's on each side and go from there. Pressure and angle are something that come with doing it over and over. It's almost all feel and eyeballing for me. I've always admired George's knives and it makes me feel better that he has trouble with the plunge cuts also.
 
Good tips all of them! My method that works for me is:
I try to set my mind to the objective of my body becoming a grinding machine rather than a human.

I lock my forearms against the side of my belly, push my belly out as far as it will go(and some thought it was Angies Italian Cooking) then keeping arms and wrists stiff rock pack and forth on my feet. I change the angle by some wrist action when necessary. The Modified Michael Price Grind I am now using is more demanding on wrist action, but my forearms are always firm against my sides.

When I have trouble evening out plunge grinds I find it is usually due to variations in the belt. I grind the side that comes out looking best, then simply turn the belt around and grind the other side with the other side of the belt. This usually helps greatly. Worn belts to do not respond as well as broken in belts.
 
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