Perfect straight or curved grind line before hand sand?

E

EdgeCraft

Joined
Mar 27, 2009
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How perfect are your grind lines before you hand sand? I'm having the devil of a time getting the line perfect first with a hollow grind, using an 8 inch wheel for a 3 inch cutting edge for about a 6 inch fixed blade. Thanks.
 
I've never even tried a hollow grind, but I imagine the same applies... practice practice practice! If your bevels aren't clean and crisp coming off the grinder, it will only take (much) longer to straighten them out by hand-sanding.

I very often use smooth-cut files to even out my grinds on flat/sabre/convex knives before going to hand-sanding, but I'm not sure how one would do that on a hollow.
 
I do machine finish or full polish and only hollow grind. I try to make sure the lines are near perfect before heat treat especially the top of the grind.
 
It's takes time and practice to get perfect staright lines most of the times when you see perfect grinds the maker has had some CNC or laser cut blades done even they won't admit it. Practice on getting your grinds to match and getting them as close as you can and eventually they will be on the money
 
Robert Carter said:
most of the times when you see perfect grinds the maker has had some CNC or laser cut blades done even they won't admit it.
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That's an interesting statement! Are you talking about bevel grind or the knife profile? If you are talking about bevel grind I strongly disagree!
 
I'm talking bevels,swedges,compound grinds if it's to perfect to be completely custom wether you like it or not it more than like isn't done by hand.
 
I'm not saying its not possible just saying if it looks like a production model grind it's possible it could be laser or CNC
 
Robert Carter said:
I'm talking bevels,swedges,compound grinds if it's to perfect to be completely custom wether you like it or not it more than like isn't done by hand.
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I can e-mail you a long long list of makers that will be happy to prove you wrong Sir!

Fred
 
I wasn't trying to start anything but if you can clearly see laser marks on the blade c'mon I can buy a rolexi scratch off the i it doesn't make it a Rolex.
 
Robert,

Always loved your dad and grandpa's work. The Pardue's have been around as long as I can remember.

I have seen some great makers who can grind beautiful lines, but I know what you are saying. I was watching a YouTube video of a custom knife maker when he pulled out some blanks off the CNC...lol and I thought he was hand grinding before I saw that...lol
 
There are many many makers that can grind perfect blades just great beautiful knives that are full custom made. When you sale a knife as a custom handmade knife it should be that and not something that still has machine marks on it. I just hope I can fill the big shoes that Mel and joe are wearin. I shouldn't have said nothing I didn't mean to kinda jack this thread I just see the word perfect and machined comes to mind
 
If you have a good eye, you can see how things have been made. I don't think CNC or laser will handle bevels very well. When I get a staple set of profiles, I would love nothing more to have them water-jetted. I want to spend my time on the bevels and the flats.

Unfortunately, I can't comment on anyone else's knives in regard to bevels other than David Sharp. I've seen them and held them and they piss me off. I know he free-hands and I know his bevels looked machined - He's that good. And he's relatively new to the business but mark my words, he will have a nice article in Blade by 2014 is he keeps it up.

EA
 
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wow, I'd like to know who all these makers are.....

how'd they get so much money for tooling machinery ?

where can I buy a "knife-o-matic 2000"?
 
mgysgthath said:
Watch SR Johnson's sub hilt fighter DVD as well, that man is talented.
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That is probably the best video I have seen on knifemaking.

It is kind of funny how many famous knifemakers came out of Utah, especially the Manti area SR Johnson is in.
 
AVigil said:
That is probably the best video I have seen on knifemaking.

It is kind of funny how many famous knifemakers came out of Utah, especially the Manti area SR Johnson is in.
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I believe that is because Mr. Johnson is very free with his knowledge.
 
The important thing is to just make each one the best you could possibly make it. Perfection is a goal that shifts every time your skill and "eye for detail" increases.

If your grinds aren't perfect, pre-ht learn to draw file properly and practice it a bit. You'd be surprised ow quickly you can make a perfectly straight upper grind line by draw filing once you're doing it right. Each time, you'll do a bit less cleanup.

After heat treat things aren't quite as easy but at least the bevel is set deeper so it's a bit more forgiving to keep things straight. I'd also say that increasing the speed you swipe the blade across the belt can help. Try swiping a bit faster with a bit less pressure. It's the same concept of trying to draw a straight line incredibly slowly vs a quick swipe. The slowly drawn line usually has quite a few wiggles compared to a smooth line drawn quickly.
 
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