My first Hollow Grind

panch0

panch0

Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
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Why didn't anyone tell me that Merlin didn't have to give me a blessing and that I didn't have to be peed on by a dragon flying by to do a hollow grind!!:D I never got up the courage until last week on a little piece of scrap and said I can do this and here is my effort. And as luck would have it my makers mark came out looking like crap!!:mad: Let me know what you think and what to do to improve it. Thanks!

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Pancho, that looks really good!!:thumbup:

I'm with you on the nervousness. I hate to throw away steel. I have only done flat grinding so far but really want to try my hand at a hollow. I'll use you as an inspiration. Yours turned out really nice. I love the blade shape, the swedge is a great touch, and the grind looks nice and clean.

Keep it up!
 
Hey Frank, from the pics it looks like you've been doing it for years. Good job, now go do another one HEHEHE.
 
Nice grind. It looks professional. I think hollow grinding is easier, I learned to flat grind first and once you have that down, hollows come much more quickly.
 
looks good! Im in the opposite boat i have only done hollow grinds so far and not one flat. I need to cuz i like the flat look but i just like how fast and quietly the wheel works as opposed to the platen.
 
Nice grinds, especially on a first.

I also feel that hollow grinding is easier, but someone once told me that whichever grind you learn how to do well first will be the one you think is easiest. From my experience talking to other makers, most seem to fall in-line with that. Either way, once you have one technique down the other will be easier to learn because you'll have figured out some constants, like how to stand and how to hold and control the blade.
 
Great looking knife, Frank!! Superb job all around. I'm in the same boat. I've flat ground exclusively for a long time. I've tried my hand at a few pieces of scrap with hollow grinding, but had mixed results. I had to scrap a blade I was working on with a hollow grind because the blade was just too big for the wheel I had. What I need to do is exactly what you've done: try it out on a small blade.

I've watched the videos, just never had the time to give it a real go.

--nathan
 
Looks great to me.
I know what you mean, I was scared to try but now I would rather hollow grind 10 to 1 over flat grinding.
 
Hi Frank. It's a "seller" for sure !!!! I prefer the hollow grinds, but occasonally return to flat grinds. Hollow grinds over a long period of time can make for easier sharpening. Frank
 
Looks really nice Frank! :) My only recommendation would be to take the grind up closer to the spine so you end up with a finer cutting geometry.

For the longest time, I always said that whatever particular grind a maker specializes in, is the one that they will say is the harder of the two... you know, because they take the path less chosen and do things the hard way. :rolleyes: ;) :)

Personally, I think whichever one you do the least of will be the harder of the two. I learned to do both around the same time and feel like it's sort of "6 of one, half-dozen of the other." ;) :D

Keep up the great work Frank! :)
 
If that's the case Nick, I'll have you know I specialize in wavy blade daggers. :p

Acrid, that's a good point, too.

I mostly flat grind, just because I like the look. Grinding on a platen sucks compared to grinding with a wheel though, as Sticky said.

You gonna hollow a bunch more now, panchO?
 
Poncho
i have ground a lot of both Flat/Hollow once you get past the original learning curve it's not that bad with either!! i have tried to teach several people whichever they wanted to learn , i have re-ground dozens of hollow ground knives for a "Friend" who is strugeling to become a great "Maker"the best advice Practice alot !! Scrap wood strip's help you not mess up in steel,if you mess up who cares grab another piece and try again ..lathe strip's at the home/lumber store are a cheap way to get the hang of it .. make some wood knifes to help get the hang of it .. good luck i hope you get it sooner rather than later
 
This knife is an inch tall at the blade, 1/8" thick, the wheel I have is 10" could I go higher and not get to thin?
 
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