KMG for sharpening?

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drysideshooter

Joined
Dec 6, 2011
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244
My teenage son and I have enjoyed making some simple knives with tools we have on hand. We are interested in making some higher quality knives while continuing to learn.

After reading a LOT of threads and info about belt grinders I think we will probably take the plunge and get a KMG variable speed. We also do quite a bit of gun work and have learned its typically wise to start with good tools.

My question is if the KMG is also suitable for final sharpening of knives with the proper belts? I don't know if we will need something like a stropping wheel? We already own an Edge Pro Apex that we use for sharpening household knives, and it works very well.

From what I can tell, other than for sharpening and sheath making tools, a KMG and a heat treating oven should allow us to grow in to the hobby?

Any advice or thoughts would be very much appreciated.
 
Yes you can sharpen on a KMG,it takes practice just like the other operations you will perform on the grinder.
 
Sure you can sharpen on it. Get a reverse switch on the VFD and it will even make it easier.
 
yep reduce the speed way down and wet the belt with a spray bottle most of my knives are sharpened this way witha well used 9 micron belt being the one i finsh with

wet here is the key cause you will overheat the edge withought even knowing it (you will never see the color at the true edge )
i sharpen edge down so i can ajust angle by looking at the spine of the blade distance from the belt. this sweeping grind also piles water up behind the edge on the wet belt. keep things even and watch burr production. you can then strop the edge on a leather or felt belt or bench strop
 
I have 3 KMG's in the shop and have had great performance from them.

I do all my initial edge grinding on a KMG. Its fast accurate and repeatable. Here's a video we made earlier this year that you might find insightful.

[video=youtube_share;iFzVjH8DXYo]http://youtu.be/iFzVjH8DXYo[/video]
 
A sincere thank you for all of the information. The bubble jig and ERU both look very worthwhile. I really like well thought out tools like those.

I have a Foredom, jig saws, metal chop saw, etc. I was thinking I can probably use the Foredom for doing some jimping and things like that? Other than a lot of belts for a KMG and a heat treat oven, what other tools should I be considering?
 
Well, a tool that can be very useful is a surface grinder. However makers who manage to get these often put a belt conversion on them. No, I don't have one. Frank
 
Buy as you need. If you,re into tools, it,ll never end. A lot of these guys end up with full blown
machine shops. As far as the KMG goes if i where going to order one today it would be A Vari-3 hp
w/ 14 inch contact wheel,flat platten,small wheel attachment + tooling arms for each. Accessories
would be the D-D small wheel work rest and USA Knife Makers small wheel guide.Or just ask for Robs
opinion he"ll point you in the right direction. Good luck.
 
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