Looking for Grinding Set-Up Products or Jigs: Advice Needed

J

JayWilson

Joined
Jul 21, 2010
Messages
1
Hello,

I am a (very) amateur knife-maker in Mississippi, having spent a great deal of my spare time using the stock-removal method, profiling and flat-grinding blades (mostly by hand-file, which makes the hobby rather tedious and why I’ve been away from the hobby for nearly a year now).

My nephew has repeatedly expressed an interest in joining me in my hobby, which has renewed my interest. However, I wish to do it the right way this time around. We now have a larger shop area and am looking at various set-ups for both flat-grinding and hollow-grinding via jig.

My question is, what is a good set-up or product for consistent flat-grinding and hollow-grinding? I’m afraid I’m not too keen on doing it by sight alone. Any info or advice would be beyond-appreciated!
 
No jig will replace experience. You have to train your hands and eyes to work together.
Good stance, elbows tucked in, steady sweep across the blade.......practice,practice, practice.

However, Fred Rowe's Bubble Jig grinding aid will really help yo get better grinds.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...gs-for-sale-now-with-free-shipping-world-wide

Hollow grinding jigs are expensive, and won't really do you all that much good. Fred's jig is good for hollows too, IIRC.
 
I agree that practice is key.

But, i've made a jig using aluminum angle. Holes to attach the blade and screws in the base to dial in the bevel angle.

Going to try posting a pic from my phone. If it dosent work, i'll post it later.

pic now added

2011-11-05%25252015.10.03.png


This can be used for either flat or hollow grind. Depends on where your jig is mounted on your grinder.
 
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I have built some 12" and 5" angle iron pieces and extended the work rest on a KMG similar to Mac-the-knife-maker. I made several since resetting to a specific angle (1.5 degrees, 3 degrees, 4.5 degrees, 7 degrees) takes some time. Lots of people develop a steel or carbide type clamp to align the grind for each side. But most importantly we are just talking since we don't know how you are going to grind (What grinder will you be using - if any?
 
I'm not smart enough to know how to make a jig but I'm smart enough to know I needed help making my grinds. I bought the bubble jig, which isn't really a jig, and it still takes practice and hand control to get a good grind, but gets you making decent grinds a lot quicker. If you want guaranteed grinds immediately then get a mechanical jig not the bubble jig.

- Paul Meske
 
lonepine said:
I'm not smart enough to know how to make a jig but I'm smart enough to know I needed help making my grinds. I bought the bubble jig, which isn't really a jig, and it still takes practice and hand control to get a good grind, but gets you making decent grinds a lot quicker. If you want guaranteed grinds immediately then get a mechanical jig not the bubble jig.

- Paul Meske
Click to expand...
What you say is true Paul! If you want to take it out of the box and grind a flat bevel, purchase or build a sled style fixture; if your goal is to learn how to grind blades, get a Bubble Jig.

Fred
 
+1 on the Bubble Jig.

You will learn how to hold the knife and get immediate feedback on your flat grinds. I have ground about 20 blades and the best part is once you set your bevels with the bubble jig you just take it off and grind freehand since your angle is set.

There is nothing wrong with using a "Fixture" in making knives. But it does take away from some of the pleasure of being hand made. Heck if you are going to crank out a bunch of the same pattern a fixture is a wise choice and will allow you to make more knives quicker with less damage to your body.
 
jbblount, have you tried a tilting table and two pieces of micarta to hold the knife. It's far more easy to control. Frank
 
Frank Niro said:
jbblount, have you tried a tilting table and two pieces of micarta to hold the knife. It's far more easy to control. Frank
Click to expand...

Yea Frank I've tried just about everything. I really like my jig. It's smooth, solid and easily adjusted.
 
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