Knife Grinding Jigs or Guides

A

Albin

Joined
Aug 31, 2001
Messages
643
I'm starting (for about the 3rd or 4th time) making knives again. I'm currently working on a drop point from a file. In the past, I haven't been happy with my knives, mostly due to my poor grinding results.

Are there knife grinding jigs or guides that I can buy that will help in grinding my blades? If so, where?

Thanks for the help!

Albin
 
I don't want to be the thrower of cold water here, but, IMO, the use of grinding jigs is counterproductive.
The longer you use a jig, the longer it will take to learn proper freehand grinding techniques.
You will be very limited in the type of grind you can do, etc.
If they were so great,Hell, we'd all be using them. :eek:
 
i see ads for these in blade magazine. i am with MJH, besides learning to make handmade knives means you hold it by hand. buy steel and belts with the money you would spend on a jig, and go have some hot grimey fun.:D
 
Albin, Does your grinder have a work rest? If so use it. You can also clamp your blade to a piece of angle iron and get even more control grinding.
 
Albin,

I know that grinding aids can get very controversial amoung makers.

I personally don't have the talent and skill to grind free hand and I don't have the patience to learn. I made a simple little aid based on one that I saw in Bob Terzuola's book. My knifemaking skills and talents are very minimum compared to some of the guys here on the forums but you can see what I do in these photos:

http://beaumontmetalworks.com/fixture/fixture.html

Just some food for thought.

Sincerely,
Rob
 
MJH, I hear what you're saying, but the next time I'll be able to work on the knife is probably the end of next week, if that. There isn't going to be any "practice" sessions per se, unless you count the current stack of botched blades, done over a period of last 8 years, as practice blades.
That's what so frustrating about making knives: I don't get enough "grinder" time to get good, plus I don't have the best of equipment, mostly "Chinese Specials" (yea, yea, lecture all you want: there is NO choice between a $39 Chinese grinder and a $850 knife grinder: its either the Chinese special or nothing; ok rant mode off).

Ray, the grinder I plan to use has a slow 8" wet wheel with no tool rest. What I plan to do is build a purpose built stand for this grinder that will incorporate a swinging table that will hold any tool rests and/or jigs. I'll probably make this before I start back on the blade simply because I don't want to screw this one up if I can build a tool that will help. The idea of attaching the knife to a piece of angle iron is pretty intriguing: I can see that helping in and of itself since it will give me a good "handle" so to speak.

Thanks for the comments and ideas, I appreciate it!

Albin
 
Albin, why don't you contact a maker in your area. Talk to them about a couple of lessons, or just to watch. You can pick up a lot that way. Should you live near me,you would be welcome at my shop for a few lessons, as is any aspiring knifemaker.
Believe me, once learned, these skills don't fade. I am coming off a long period of inactivity,ie;back/neck probs., and surgery. I went into the shop a few days ago and found that I have lost nothing I had before.;). Just a little out of shape is all.
Good luck to you.:)
 
Albin, have you considered getting a 200 to 300 dollar belt sander? I tried using one of the bench grinders for a little bit and I couldn't grind anything decent with it. The belt sander/grinders are much easier to control.
 
ok albin i can see were your having a problem when useing a cheapo grinder. BUT RFRINK you have no excuse! since you build these grinders.LOL all kdding aside i have thought about making a jig for the steak/paring knives i make since it is a set pattern that i have laser cut and this may help me bring down the price to make them more affordable for my customers. the most important thing is to tell you customers how you made it.
 
Chang,

Yes, Grizzly has a knife grinder, less motor for about $200. I've got a motor, so when I get ahead a few bucks, I might get it. Its a 2x72" belt grinder specifically made for knife making; its also a "Chinese Special", but what the heck, I'm in it as a hobby, not a profession.

MJH, I may take your advice. Anybody know of any knife makers in North Alabama?

Thanks to all for the help and advice, I really appreciate it.

Albin
 
Albin,

I don't know of any makers in north Alabama, but I know a couple in north Mississippi.

I use a small jig when grinding my folder blades. The folder blades that I make are small so one slip on the grinder and I have to start over. The jig helps me by holding the small blade steady. I can only grind blades that are 3 inches or shorter with my jig.

My jig consists of a small piece of angle iron with a hole drilled and tapped in the center of the bottom surface, and random holes drilled in the front surface. I fix the blade to the front surface of the jig with a small allen screw and nut. Then I have a large screw that is screwed into the tapped hole on the bottom surface. By turning this screw, I can adjust the angle at which the jig sits on the surface of a rest.

This jig will hold the blade steady and set the grind angle for you, but you can still screw up a blade until you learn to use the jig well.

Is it cheating to use a jig rather than free hand grinding? How about using a surface grinder rather than hand sanding and checking it with a micrometer over and over? What about a milling machine? Should you use a sledge and anvil rather than a power hammer or a forge press? And why use the a grinder when when you could be using files?

Tools don't make the knife, but learning to use the tools aids in making a knife better. If you are not going to make a knife in the neo-tribal style, why stop short of using a jig if the jig allows you to turn out a better product?

Just my opinion. -chris
 
Chris,

Thanks for your comments.

I reviewed the pictures of your shop: How did you modify the 2x72 belt grinder? It looks like a regular 8" grinder that was modified to have the belt, drive and platen. How did you do it?

Also, could post a picture of your jig, I'm having a hard time visulizing it (it doesn't help that I'm at work, on a telecon and writing a tech document all at the same time!).

Nice web site!

Thanks,

Albin
 
Albin, go to amazon.com, or some other bookseller, and get Krause publications, "Knives 2002". In the back listed, both alphabetically, and by state are all the knifemakers that want to be found.
In knives 2001, it listed 39 in Alabama. Good luck.
 
I am grinding knives with the tools I had including a cheap chinese grinder and a 4x36 inch Delta bench sander. I have made several 'servicable' knives and have found the grinder to be useful only for profiling. I've only done flat grinding but the lines on my last little knife are pleasing and symetrical. I only wish I could remember how I got that sweeping curve from the riccasso to the top of the blade. I have no previous experience and no jigs and if I can do it anybody can. I gave the first few I made away after extracting a promise that they would NEVER reveal who made them. Pretty soon I'm going to try making one while sober.

regards

Lynn

:confused:
 
Any jig or gadget you use comes with a price, that price is freedom. I don't now how many times I have been discussing a design with another maker and he states, "Yes, but my jig - gadget- ect won't allow me to do that" My grinding jigs have been with me since I became me. My thumb nails, if I break one I simply super glue on some sheep horn for a repair and continue. Naturally they are attached to my thumbs, and they ocasionally have to be repaired also.
 
In short, it appears to me that there are many ways to skin a cat! I doubt if anyone is totally correct, but a smart man would take the best of all discussions and adopt same. How's that for being subjective and yet balance on the beam?--Dan
 
Albin,

I bought the multi-tool attachment for my bench grinder that you can get from Texas Knifemaker's Supply. Then I took the wheel off, replaced it with a piece of angle iron, and fixed the wheel to the top. The multi-tool ran 2x30 inch belts, but now it runs 2x72 belts. I've not had any problems with.

Here is a link to a picture of my grinding jig. Check out my earlier post in this thread for a description of how it works.

Thanks -chris
 
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