How to level tool rests/even blade surfaces without a surface grinder?

JG Custom Metal Works

JG Custom Metal Works

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Nov 27, 2013
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I've searched like crazy before bugging you guys with this problem but could find the answers I was looking for. The only videos I could find were of guys using $5000 surface grinders getting their profiles perfect.

So here's my problem, I have a Craftsman 2x42 with the side wheel grinder. The tool rest on the wheel is uneven and I've ran out of clockwise adjustment to level it. The platen is off as well. This has lead to a halt in the production of my first blade. I've done some grinding on it and I'm unable to get it level. I figured I'd better just stop before I end up with a hunk of metal.

I have a glass/ceramic platen liner I was going to attach to the platen but I was going to get it level first. The plan was to flatten the platen out on the wheel grinder and then JB weld it to the platen. This is not really possible now that I'm unable to level this damn rest. Urghh..... why can't stuff just work the way it's suppose to? Anyway, I was hoping some of you fellows could offer me some words of advise. I'd really appreciate it.
 
You don't need to level the platen before attaching the glass platen.Just rough it up with some sand paper and before to clean it well. That's how I did back when I used the craftsman and it worked well.
 
Well, I did have a drill press vice surface ground to get the top parallel to bottom but other than that I get by with a micrometer in my back pocket to use as needed. When I started into wanting to make liner locking folders there was no way I could ever make a place for a surface grinder or pay the money that was needed even to get some sort of used one if one could be located. I did spend a bunch of money for a good 2 X 72 belt grinder that I've since converted to a variable speed drive. All I make is liner locking folders. No, I don't buy steel that allows me to use one size for the blade and one for the back bar. What is necessary is to learn you learn to do what is necessary or give it up. Frank
 
Jeremy Barnard said:
You don't need to level the platen before attaching the glass platen.Just rough it up with some sand paper and before to clean it well. That's how I did back when I used the craftsman and it worked well.
Click to expand...

This is good to know, thanks! Tomorrow I will do some sanding and then mount it up with some JB Weld.
 
Ceramic is some very very hard stuff. I've been able to slightly level a ceramic stone by lapping it on a diamond plate, but it can ruin the plate by pulling the diamond from the nickel substrate.

You could try lapping the steel on wet or dry paper in figure eights on a flat surface, glass or granite.
 
The work rest for the disc don't have to be level.You just want it to be 90 degrees to the disc.The platen is flimsy enough to bend by hand.Get a triangle square and getter done.
 
Strigamort said:
Ceramic is some very very hard stuff. I've been able to slightly level a ceramic stone by lapping it on a diamond plate, but it can ruin the plate by pulling the diamond from the nickel substrate.

You could try lapping the steel on wet or dry paper in figure eights on a flat surface, glass or granite.
Click to expand...


Good idea. Oh BTW, the ceramic glass platen is flat. It's from USA knifemakers. It's the metal platen that isn't. I will probably just sand it by hand on a flat surface like mentioned.
 
JB Weld fills gaps. The metal platen does not have to be perfectly flat, just good enough to hold the ceramic platen liner in the proper plane
 
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