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

[Tankerwolf]

I did the 1x30 with s30v for my first two knives. Rough times. The Craftsman moves roughly at the speed of light so the lines take some getting used to. I did the reverse of the guy above just to get the feel of it on scrap ( pieces I've screwed up beyond help) steel. I get it started with a guide then free hand the final. I am not even remotely close to a pro and maybe in a year I might be cool enough to be a hobbyist but the point is that 2x42 moves so fast, it embeleshis mistakes in an instant. Go slow and soft.

 

[john april]

i will suggest the bubble jig. it will train you to hold the bevel at the same angle until you can sense it for yourself. i went from crappy blades on a 4x36 free hand (never got the hang of it) then a jig. the jig cured my spine to edge angle problems but made any corrections and curves more difficult. then i got the bubble jig, and after 20 knives i could feel/sense when the blade was flat on the platen, then the bubble jig was hampering me so i tried it without it. all of the sudden i was freehand grinding. my blades are not great, but they are worlds better than they were a year ago. i suspect going from a 1" wide platen to a 2" wide made the inconsistencies in your left to right pressure on the platen show up more. one side of the platen/belt will dig in more than the other due to the increased leverage from the platen being wider.