Recommendation? Magnet for grinding blade flats

David Mary

David Mary

pass the mustard - after you cut it
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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Looking for a magnet I can use to hold my blade flat against the platen and grind its entire surface. I've experimented trying to get a horizontal grind on flats and vertical grind on bevels with some success but I want to do better and I think this will help. Anyone suggest where to find such a thing (hardware stores here in Canada have been a bust so far)? Thanks!
 
There are probably purpose made magnets with a handle on them. I think I’ve seen them at online knife suppliers but I use a large welding magnet from Harbor Freight when sanding flat like that on platen or the disc grinder.
 
Thanks guys! Sometimes all it takes is the right keywords.
 
I've thought about this but we're grinding steel here. Doesnt the magnet and now the magnetized blade catch every little spec of metal dust as your grind it away? Does the blade become one of those annoying somewhat-magnetic objects that likewise attract metal particles? Do you have to do-gauss constantly?
 
There are things like this at the hardware store. Home Depot just calls this one a handle magnet and it's around $10. I'm sure there are other options out there.

master-magnet-magnets-96544-64_1000.jpg
 
David Schott said:
I've thought about this but we're grinding steel here. Doesnt the magnet and now the magnetized blade catch every little spec of metal dust as your grind it away? Does the blade become one of those annoying somewhat-magnetic objects that likewise attract metal particles? Do you have to do-gauss constantly?
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Great question I hadn't thought of and I'd really like to know too.
 
bikerector said:
There are things like this at the hardware store. Home Depot just calls this one a handle magnet and it's around $10. I'm sure there are other options out there.

master-magnet-magnets-96544-64_1000.jpg
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I'll have to check them again, though I'm not a big fan of Home Depot. I'll try Lowes first.
 
David Mary said:
Great question I hadn't thought of and I'd really like to know too.
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The reason I ask is because I see de-gauss machines on usaknifemaker and I assume its for this process? Perhaps with the types of steels we use the magnetic properties dont get imparted to the steel. I also ask because some time ago I had an odd way to collect fine iron particles. Below my grinder near the spark area I had a HUGE neodymium magnet inside a plastic bag. Over time it would grow an iron haircut on the outside of the bag and I'd peel the bag off the dump it. I assume all that would have been floating around. I also always thought thats exactly what would happen to any magnet I used or to the whole setup while I used it. cant imagine what doing things like hand sanding would be like on a slightly magnetized blade but perhaps HT would remove that
 
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Here's a related question. What can you do with the metal particles and steel wool that comes from grinding? I have huge wads of steel wool in my dunk tank. Every time I throw it out I wonder if there could be some use for it.
 
kbright said:
I have huge wads of steel wool in my dunk tank. Every time I throw it out I wonder if there could be some use for it.
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Fire starter.
 
Magnets are part of life in a full shop. Surface grinders, jigs, blade holders etc. Ye, they magnetize the blades... and everything else around them. You use a demagnetizer (degaussing machine) to remove the magnetism form blades and tools. Any good shop should have one. They run from $40 to $100 depending on how large and powerful you need. A cheap oval type watch demagnetizer will work for knives. A larger flat top unit will do bigger tools and things.
 
There is not such a thing like a 3"x12" magnetic chuck? kinda like the base of a indicator base but 12" long

Pablo
 
PEU said:
There is not such a thing like a 3"x12" magnetic chuck? kinda like the base of a indicator base but 12" long

Pablo
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What??
 
I asked if a base like this one exists in 3"x12"

Pablo

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I don't know... also I don't understand. Maybe I should clarify I grind freehand and horizontally on a modded 2 x 42.
 
David Mary said:
I don't know... also I don't understand. Maybe I should clarify I grind freehand and horizontally on a modded 2 x 42.
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There might be confusion because your thread title said surface grinding which some might take to mean on a surface grinder rather than what you meant, grinding flats using a magnet to hold the knife.
 
Thank you. I've changed the thread title to forestall further confusion.
 
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