Is there a machine that does full flat grinding?

J

joaopbi

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Oct 7, 2024
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I have Arthritis in my hands, is there a machine that can do full flat grinding on knives? I need something that makes it easier
 
There are CNC grinders and automatic grinders out there capable of grinding bevels but this is industrial type equipment and may not be what you have in mind. A manual grinding jig with nice handles could help a lot if you haven't yet tried that already.
 
Contender Machine said:
There are CNC grinders and automatic grinders out there capable of grinding bevels but this is industrial type equipment and may not be what you have in mind. A manual grinding jig with nice handles could help a lot if you haven't yet tried that already.
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manual grinding jig with nice handles could help a lot if you haven't yet tried that already.? what would that be?
 
Are you currently a knifemaker, or just curious how to go about getting started with having arthritis?
 
Not sure if it will help You, but something to look at....
I have my disk grinder mounted so the working surface is parallel to the floor.

I use it to clean up any wonky marks left over on my 2x72 when i am doing flats
I purposely mounted this way as it's ergonomical and doesn't put weird strain on my wrists. It feels more natural to hold a blade like this.
almost like sharpening on a stone.

*something to think about.
 
joaopbi said:
manual grinding jig with nice handles could help a lot if you haven't yet tried that already.? what would that be?
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A bevel grinding jig is a tool that your blade can be mounted to and there are handles on the jig that you hold onto in order to manipulate the blade and the grind in the bevels. The kind I am referring to are used in conjunction with a large work rest on the grinder. Many different knife supply places make/carry them. I don't have arthritis but I do suffer from carpal tunnel and gripping things tightly with my fingers (free hand grinding for example) can cause it to set in.
 
I've got arthritis in my hands too... I just try to find positions that I can hold things that hurt less. I find that if I can find a position that doesn't try to push my joints to the limit of their mobility I can hold things for a lot longer than otherwise.
 
In the book Slipjoints My Way , by Don Robinson, he discusses a method using the mill to bevel flat grinds. I think this is used as a rough grind step that is then finished on a belt grinder.

He is a machinist originally, so approaches the knifemaking build process from that perspective. If you have a mill already or were planning to add one as part of your equipment, this technique may help.

Also, like others mentioned, there are many different styles of blade holders/jigs. There is one on the cover page at TR Maker right now that has a great big handle on it.
 
joaopbi said:
I'm a beginner at cutlery, but I have arthritis in my hands
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I too suffer from pretty bad arthritis in my hands as well. I was on a pretty high dosage of Aleve per my med Doc who is also a friend. He had me taking it prior to working and after. This helped.

OK this is gonna sound weird. I was at my Chiropractor one time and she had finished putting all my misplaced cowboyin' parts back together and then said what else hurts? I said the arthritis in my hands. She got her little accuator (sp?) thingy and adjusted every joint on every finger and thumb. Takes her about two minutes cause she would have been the kid on Ritalin in school. She literally runs around the table from one side to the other. Anyhoo she's been doing this for several years now, maybe 2.5 years, every couple of weeks. I have not taken Aleve for my hands since she started this. Don't even have any anymore. And I was thinking of buying stock in that outfit. I am literally pain free and can play the piano and the guitar again.....well ok I could if I could play those things but I can't. Obviously the arthritis did not go away and I still have big mis-shapened knuckles and crooked fingers but there is no pain. None and complete flexibility too. I've turned several folks onto this deal and it has worked for them too.

Its a thought.
 
I have a Contender Machine Contender Machine magnetic grinding jig. It has been a great boon for grinding because of the arthritis. My arthritis is auto-immune; psoriatic arthritis. I'm pretty trashed. Timely thread. LOL I just got back from a visit to the rheumatologist: gel injections in both knees and two shots in my belly of one of these biologic TV-wonder drugs, new 'scrip for an NSAID and pills to help at night. Full service stop! :)

If you're serious about making knives and don't want to just buy blanks and handle them, then I recommend investing in a high-quality 2x72 grinder that has a large worktable that you can move a good jig around on. Contender's workrest/table can't be beat (I have 2), but DD makes some very cool tables, too (I have 1). Make sure and check both out for ideas, if naught else.

Good luck. Arthritis sucks. Frustrates you, changes your life. Strive for workarounds...
 
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