Just upgraded to a 2x42 and now my bevels suck, help?

A

Alpha_Knives

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May 25, 2016
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Hey guys, this is my first post but have been watching the forum for almost a year now. Haven't seen anyone else have this problem (guess I'm just special, har har) and figured I'd throw it out there and ask.

Quick info/intro: Started knife making as a hobby about 8-9 months ago, and got addicted, whoops. I have played with multiple knife designs and found my "style" if you will. Along with that I tested different HT/Temper methods on O1 steel to see what works and what doesn't, and have read probably close to 200+ pages on Heat Treat, Temper, and Metallurgy only to realize maybe O1 wasn't the best route to start off with. Now that I think I've worked out MOST of the beginner/novie kinks... I think now I'm ready to take my knife-making small step further.

I figured if I'm going to start selling my knives here and there I'd like better quality equipment. Better equipment = better product , right?.
So I got myself a 2x42 Craftsmen belt grinder along with quality belts to accompany said grinder (Norton Blaze)...quite to upgrade from a HF 1x30

I have since made a few modifications to the 2x42 as per the recommendations from some of you fine gentlemen on here as well as YouTube University.

Modifications:

- Cut off bottom housing portion (for faster belt removal and access to bottom grinding wheel)
- Modified adjustable grinding table
- Ceramic glass platen

After all the time & money spent on these modifications I was excited to jump in and use this beast of a grinder (well, compared to my puny HF 1x30) Only to be sorely disappointed when my bevels looked like utter garbage! It seemed as though I had completely forgot how to grind a bevel...lines not straight, various pressure points....just terrible. I'm at the point now where I've tried grinding bevels on 5-6 different knife blanks and they're so uneven that I end up just having to flat grind them...very frustrating. Especially since I had finally felt like I was really getting decent at grinding on the 1x30 (By the way, I freehand grind and have never used a jig....but I'm almost ready to give in I'm so frustrated!)

Just wondering if anyone else has made the switch from a 1x30 -> 2x42 and had a similar experience or anything....Any advice/comments/critiques are welcomed and appreciated!


*Sorry for the lengthy post, I'm just a thorough kind of guy, Lol.
 
While I haven't used either of those grinders (I jumped straight to the 2x72) I can say I feel your pain. The key seems to be muscle memory and good lighting. Keep your elbows in and tight to your body, shoulder width stance, and try swaying left and right rather than moving the knife with wrists and arms. Practice, practice, practice!!!!! Mine are finally starting to look better with every knife. The "bubble jig" is a little bit of help for me to keep a ballpark degree consistent. Good luck and practice! Lol
 
I went from filing my blades to the 1x30 to the craftsman 2x42.
I built a grinding jig right from the start.
I've built probably 20 knives in it, and sold all.

As for free hand I suck.. But I will keep trying.
Pick up some cheap mild steal from Lowes or Home Depot just for practice.

The speed is fast so use a light touch, and make sure it's at a comfortable height.
You want to be able to see directly down on the blade, to see what's going on.
And have fun !
 
Just buying a nicer grinder doesn't mean you're gonna have cleaner bevels. YOU are the one who has to have the skill and be able to position the blade against the belt. It doesn't matter if you have a $3700 TW-90 grinder or a $60 1x30" from harbor freight. YOU are going to have to develop your skill.

It takes some people YEARS to get the point where they make high end blades. Some are able to get better quicker, some are never able to get the hang of it and quit. Knifemaking is not an easy thing to do. If you decide this isn't a fleeting interest for you, then get comfortable with failure. Learn from it, and try not to view it so negatively. I know that can be hard to do
 
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Sounds to me like a learning curve. I have a 1x42 which I started out with and it went pretty slow at grinding blades, so control wasn't really much of an issue. It was pretty easy to control. I then went to a 2x48 and it has higher rpms and it takes a lot more concentration especially with higher quality belts bcause they will rip into that steel like nothing. I think it'll just take time to get used to the new machine.
 
The platen that comes on the Craftsman 2x42 is a POS.
 
Thanks guys for the feedback!

I think JG hit the nail on the head for me. I guess it's all part of the newbie process...not sure why I thought (even though I know I know better) having a better grinder would equal better bevels, ha!
You guys are right, I guess I'll just have to keep practicing on this new machine until I get the the feel for it again.
 
Oh? Did I unknowingly step on another maker's name? Didn't mean to if I did...just tried to think of a quick username. No problem changing it if there's an issue
 
Taximanny said:
I went from filing my blades to the 1x30 to the craftsman 2x42.
I built a grinding jig right from the start.
I've built probably 20 knives in it, and sold all.

As for free hand I suck.. But I will keep trying.
Pick up some cheap mild steal from Lowes or Home Depot just for practice.

The speed is fast so use a light touch, and make sure it's at a comfortable height.
You want to be able to see directly down on the blade, to see what's going on.
And have fun !
Click to expand...

How did your learning curve go switching from the 1x30 to the 2x42...any issues?
 
really not that bad...
Started on a 220 belt with a very light touch.
So light I can make 2 to three passes before the blade gets warm.
I keep a bucket of water directly underneath.
I now dip so much it's almost like wet sanding.
And the belt often throws water at me.

Build a jig first to get your confidence up.
Than move on to free hand.
I will start free hand and finish with jig sometimes.

I know some will say start freehand and stick with it.
But to each his own.
 
Interesting, I started with a yard sale Craftsman 2 X 42. Made the mods you mentioned just all on my own. Seems like a pretty good little machine but then I spent a week with Ed Fowler using his Burr Kings. OOOPs A world of difference. It has taken the better part of a year to put together my own 2 X 72 with speed control but again a world of difference but with the difference comes more learning curve.
 
Practice, practice, practice. like others have said it takes time, a new machine doesn't always offer instant gratification.
every knife you ruin should give you ideas of where your going wrong, once you start seeing what those things are you can work to avoid or go around them. if you keep at it chances are you'll get better. use cheap steel for practice and the same belts you'd use for quality steel. also I don't know what thickness steel or grit belts your using but if you use a higher grit belt like 120, it will take a long time to grind, but in the process it will give you more time to correct your grind as you go and more time to realize what you may be doing wrong. I'll end with this...your fortunate to have this knife forum to ask questions, the internet didn't exist when many of us started. so keep asking questions. I sure wish it was around when I started. come to think of it, there were no cell phones either, I think beepers were just starting to come on the market,....dang, now I'm feeling old !
 
Taximanny said:
really not that bad...
Started on a 220 belt with a very light touch.
So light I can make 2 to three passes before the blade gets warm.
I keep a bucket of water directly underneath.
I now dip so much it's almost like wet sanding.
And the belt often throws water at me.

Build a jig first to get your confidence up.
Than move on to free hand.
I will start free hand and finish with jig sometimes.

I know some will say start freehand and stick with it.
But to each his own.
Click to expand...

That's why I started with freehand grinds, cause I heard a lot of guys say you'll be thankful in the long run. But I'm glad you acknowledge to each his own, everyone has different styles and learning curves.
 
bladegrinder said:
Practice, practice, practice. like others have said it takes time, a new machine doesn't always offer instant gratification.
every knife you ruin should give you ideas of where your going wrong, once you start seeing what those things are you can work to avoid or go around them. if you keep at it chances are you'll get better. use cheap steel for practice and the same belts you'd use for quality steel. also I don't know what thickness steel or grit belts your using but if you use a higher grit belt like 120, it will take a long time to grind, but in the process it will give you more time to correct your grind as you go and more time to realize what you may be doing wrong. I'll end with this...your fortunate to have this knife forum to ask questions, the internet didn't exist when many of us started. so keep asking questions. I sure wish it was around when I started. come to think of it, there were no cell phones either, I think beepers were just starting to come on the market,....dang, now I'm feeling old !
Click to expand...

I'm not sure why I thought "oh this new bigger grinder will be so much easier and faster for me to use!" I didn't take the learning curve into account obviously (Rookie Mistake #289 and counting:rolleyes: ) I will certainly keep at it though!

I usually use 3/16" steel sometimes 5/32" or 1/4" as well and I use Norton Blaze ceramics/Combat Abrasives/Preferred Abrasives ceramic belts in 50/60 grit for primary bevel grinds and then 80/120 grit for secondary bevels

I'm definitely thankful to have the internet and this community and appreciate I got a lot of responses for my first post, so this certainly won't be the last time you see me around! As far as beepers go....I vaguely remember my Mom having one when I was very very young haha
 
It took me a decent amount of knives to get used to my KMG after upgrading from my $30 4x36. Keep at it!
 
I had the same problem with going from a 1x30 to a 2x72. I recently acquired a second 2x72 and it has its own learning curve. My muscle memory, speed, touch were way off for a 2x72. Like DFK, it took me a decent amout of time actually understand how my grinder would grind. I had to start walking away after i messed up to cool down and think about what i had done wrong. A bigger grinder really means quicker mistakes.
 
The 2x42s are really fast running. You have to learn to lightly start your contact as you can remove a lot of steel fast with a blaze running that fast. A carbide file guide helps a lot. I could never get a clean plunge on my 2x42 without the file guide. On my vfd 2x72, I can get them pretty even without a guide, largely due to being able to slow the belts right down.
 
I made the same upgrade a couple months back. HF 1x30 to a craftsman 2x42. I did a couple of knives witht a jig on the 1x30 and got pretty comfortable with it. Then made the switch to the 2x42 and had to start the learning process all over again. I'm now starting each knife off freehand and then cleaning it up with the jig. You'll get back into the groove of things. Just gotta get used to the new machine. Have fun!
 
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