Long time lurker, asking about Fred Rowe Bubble Jig

N.W. Gean

N.W. Gean

Joined
Oct 10, 2018
Messages
463
Hello all! I've been lurking on your forums for a while, doing countless hours of searching, and attempting to make knives for roughly 4 months now, without a successful grind so far. I've tried jig and free hand but with mixed results. Today I was out grinding with a jig, and that wasn't going well, so I decided to try out freehand just for grins. The grind isn't great (also couldn't replicate it on the other side) but it shows signs of improvement and I think the bubble jig just might put me over the top. What do you guys think?
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BhiPOLL.jpg


How well does it work with the harbor freight 1 x 30? Removing the tool rest gives a lot of room on the platen.

*Edited to scale down picture
 
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That side looks good to me. Practice, practice and more practice. Id say to slow down, watch YouTube tutorials and grind from your weak side first. If you find a magic secret, I think there's a lot if people here who would be interested. I also recommend biting the bullet and getting a file guide then a different grinder, one with vfd. Or.. use a file and jig. I once heard that you need to fill a 5 gallon bucket with blades you've ruined and you'll never mess a blade up again! ;) It's true in my experience at least...
 
It will work just fine.

In the mean time try using dye chem on your blade and mark with a dial caliper 1/4" along the edge from ricasso to tip, then mark a line a 1/2" and another at 3/4".

Now get your angle set and aim gently grind from your edge line up to the first 1/4" mark on one side and then do it on the other side. Compare both sides and then grind to the 1/2" line on one side and then the other, compare and do it again.

The goal is to monitor what you are doing and work on making the exact same grind on both sides.
 
My grinding improved instantly and a lot since getting a bubble jig. I recommend it
 
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The bubble jig is the only "jig" I recommend. It is more of a tool, than a jig. Ot teaches you to grind and helps control the angle. Eventually, you will learn what the angle looks and feels like while grinding.

I think Fred's Bubble Jig package and instructions ( video and print) are well worth the price.
However, if you have a Wixey angle gauge ( Woodcraft $30, on sale often for $20), it will do the same thing as well. Just place it on the blade, set the blade flat to the (not running) belt and platen, hit the ZERO, and then grind at the angle desired. It may be a bit easier to watch a bubble than changing numbers for some folks.
 
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I've had one for a couple months and it did truly help - especially with setting the cutting edge.

It's also going to make you very aware of any rotation of the blade you do. I think that was what surprised me most - I like to (unintentionally) rotate the blade a few degrees when grinding haha. The bubble jig helps me keep the angle where I want it.
 
I have had all the same experiences as above. Fred Rowe is a really good guy and will help you along if you ask. Also a great tip I just got was to go to home depot and get as many paint stirs as they will give you. When you can grind a straight line on those then you can do the same on metal. I do this as a warm up if I haven't ground for a while. I don't recall where that tip came from but it was probably from BF.
 
Anyone who visits my shop gets a handful of 18" large size paint sticks. They are about 1.25" by 1/4". I bought a case of 1000 for a really cheap price. I use them for templates, for teaching, and anywhere a slat of wood is needed.
 
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