This past weekend I got a chance to try a little slack-belt Khuk-grinding and was pretty pleased with the results. Previously, the only blades I ground on a belt grinder were from lawn mowers, and the machine really takes off metal fast. So, I was a little reluctant to put a khuk on it regardless of the grit # of belt and tried a few test passes with my Atlanta Cutlery "test khuk" to be sure. The 220 grit belt did a reasonably gentle job, so I started out with the AK, straight-arming it as Pendentive suggested.
The belt evened things out very smoothly, and it was interesting how many irregularities and depressions were exposed along the edge bevel during this grinding process. It didn't take very long at all to completely change the original edge bevel from wavy-straight to convex and perfectly uniform.
Then I skipped to a 600-grit cork polishing belt and that seemed to shine everything up pretty well without going through other intermediate grits.
The blade warmed up frequently, so I kept dipping it in a bucket of ice water and drying it off every few passes. So far the heat treatment doesn't seem to have suffered, but if anyone knows of a better system of keeping a blade cool enough, please advise.
The only problem encountered was I took a little too much off the tip during one pass, but not bad (not really noticeable). Next khuk I will be watching this closer and shouldn't repeat the mistake.
The end result was a whole new khuk, both in appearance and uniformity of edge. It is also sharp enough to take a fairly thin shaving off the edge of printer paper without any additional stropping. Bible-type paper would probably be a different story, but this thing hasn't gotten the green rouge treatment yet either.
Anyway, I'm pretty happy with how the blade turned out and sure appreciate all the posted info. on how to get this accomplished. It was almost as much fun as opening up the triangular box in the first place.
The belt evened things out very smoothly, and it was interesting how many irregularities and depressions were exposed along the edge bevel during this grinding process. It didn't take very long at all to completely change the original edge bevel from wavy-straight to convex and perfectly uniform.
Then I skipped to a 600-grit cork polishing belt and that seemed to shine everything up pretty well without going through other intermediate grits.
The blade warmed up frequently, so I kept dipping it in a bucket of ice water and drying it off every few passes. So far the heat treatment doesn't seem to have suffered, but if anyone knows of a better system of keeping a blade cool enough, please advise.
The only problem encountered was I took a little too much off the tip during one pass, but not bad (not really noticeable). Next khuk I will be watching this closer and shouldn't repeat the mistake.
The end result was a whole new khuk, both in appearance and uniformity of edge. It is also sharp enough to take a fairly thin shaving off the edge of printer paper without any additional stropping. Bible-type paper would probably be a different story, but this thing hasn't gotten the green rouge treatment yet either.
Anyway, I'm pretty happy with how the blade turned out and sure appreciate all the posted info. on how to get this accomplished. It was almost as much fun as opening up the triangular box in the first place.
I was quite taken back and almost depressed/angry. 
