OK you fantastic, flat grind pros - don't you be reading this, because it ain't for you. You guys don't have this trouble.
I've been flat grinding and have made some pretty big messes. However, I found something that really helps to clean things up and recover.
The Problem
As you are flat grinding, as long as the blade stays flat it is easy to keep it that way. However, if you tilt it a little on one pass you start to create an extra bevel. Then the next pass you over-compensate and you have a third bevel. Then you try to fix that one .... Pretty soon you have a mess on your hands.
For me it happens most easily from the belly to the tip and on one side. I can feel it without looking because the blade starts to 'walk' up and down on the belt. I cringe because I know what happened.
My Solution
As soon as you feel/discover the problem, get out the biggest course bench stone you've got. Place the best part of the blade flat on the stone. Now draw/push the blade across and scratch the heck out of it. Like you are sharpening the whole side. Concentrate and you'll actually get the whole thing flat again.
You'll know when it is flat, because the scratch pattern will cover the whole bevel.
I find 2 things. One, any gouges show up pretty quick. Two, I can re-flatten the bad part of the blade to match the rest. If I go slowly and carefully.
Now when you put the blade back to the belt, you can get a nice smooth, flat draw again.
Food for thought,
Steve
I've been flat grinding and have made some pretty big messes. However, I found something that really helps to clean things up and recover.
The Problem
As you are flat grinding, as long as the blade stays flat it is easy to keep it that way. However, if you tilt it a little on one pass you start to create an extra bevel. Then the next pass you over-compensate and you have a third bevel. Then you try to fix that one .... Pretty soon you have a mess on your hands.
For me it happens most easily from the belly to the tip and on one side. I can feel it without looking because the blade starts to 'walk' up and down on the belt. I cringe because I know what happened.
My Solution
As soon as you feel/discover the problem, get out the biggest course bench stone you've got. Place the best part of the blade flat on the stone. Now draw/push the blade across and scratch the heck out of it. Like you are sharpening the whole side. Concentrate and you'll actually get the whole thing flat again.
You'll know when it is flat, because the scratch pattern will cover the whole bevel.
I find 2 things. One, any gouges show up pretty quick. Two, I can re-flatten the bad part of the blade to match the rest. If I go slowly and carefully.
Now when you put the blade back to the belt, you can get a nice smooth, flat draw again.
Food for thought,
Steve
