Plunge lines

Big Smitty

Big Smitty

Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
509
Can anyone help with advise on how you make your plunge cuts on your knives? This has been a bit of a struggle for me and I am looking for "how to" direction. I do not have any one close by to mentor me, although I am still looking. Right now I am using files and a Sears 2X42 grinder with a flat platen only, that I upgraded by adding a piece of ceramic tile to with JB Weld. Just looking for tips and any tutorals that could help improve my results as they are middle of the road at best now.
 
Uncle Al now has a filing jig that has carbide plates so you can use it on your grinder. It is outrageously expensive, but no more screwing up my filing jig:D
 
I do a shallow steep grind with a used belt just about to the layout lines on the edge. This creates almost a stop for your grind, and is easy to control because of the angle.It also makes your belt last longer. It only takes a couple minutes, and from there you can concentrate on the rest of the grind, and not dwell in that area trying to shape it as you grind the main bevels. Also helps with those nasty 2" dips;-)
Might be kinda hard to understand in text without seeing it, but I hope this helps.
 
jdm61 said:
Uncle Al now has a filing jig that has carbide plates so you can use it on your grinder. It is outrageously expensive, but no more screwing up my filing jig:D
Click to expand...

I fully agree it is "OVER PRICED" but I just purchased one also. Definately makes a huge difference. Hopefully it will pay for itself as I hope not to waste as much metal!:eek:
 
jll346 said:
I fully agree it is "OVER PRICED" but I just purchased one also. Definately makes a huge difference. Hopefully it will pay for itself as I hope not to waste as much metal!:eek:
Click to expand...

I have destroyed 2 regular filing jigs on the grinder. The first time I used this new one with a fresh 120 belt, the grinder didn't even leave a single mark on that carbide!!!!!!
 
Is there a website address for Uncle Al's? I can not find it through Google. If anyone has the address it would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
You knifemakers!!! LMAO


Always wanting to get the most $$$ out of your knives but bitching about what every other craftsman charges for his or her time/skill/knowledge.

"But my knives are made by me in my shop and nobody else!!!!"

Oh... like the tooling Al offers???

Shame shame :p

I have Al's old school guide and the new one with carbide. Personally I use the old one more... But being able to shove the carbide one up against the grinder is pretty cool :)

As far as plunge lines go.... I have a small band of Lebanese children that I hire to do all that sort of drudgery :)
 
NickWheeler said:
You knifemakers!!! LMAO


Always wanting to get the most $$$ out of your knives but bitching about what every other craftsman charges for his or her time/skill/knowledge.

"But my knives are made by me in my shop and nobody else!!!!"

Oh... like the tooling Al offers???

Shame shame :p

I have Al's old school guide and the new one with carbide. Personally I use the old one more... But being able to shove the carbide one up against the grinder is pretty cool :)

As far as plunge lines go.... I have a small band of Lebanese children that I hire to do all that sort of drudgery :)
Click to expand...
Sheesh!!! lol. The only thing that I don't like about my new carbide file guide is that it doesn't have the spings like the one I got from Jantz or wherever the hell I found it. The tolerances on the new one are pretty tight, so I have to pry it open.
 
Good point Joe. My "old jig" from Al has the springs in it. I wish the new one did as well. I closed it all the way once, and it was all I could to to get it open again.

And no, I don't know why I did that :p
 
NickWheeler said:
Good point Joe. My "old jig" from Al has the springs in it. I wish the new one did as well. I closed it all the way once, and it was all I could to to get it open again.

And no, I don't know why I did that :p
Click to expand...
Same reason I did......to see if it was perfectly square, ya anal retentive, OCD/ADHD bastid!!!!:D
 
If a person looks in the tool & die catalogs, like MSC, there is extreme high pressure grease. It's used on hardened dowels when set in... just in case they ever have to come out again. Using this grease makes a file guide a lot easier to get open again (after checking squareness)... helps me to pull on alternate ends, back 'n forth until it opens.

Mike
 
Just practice without a jig. It will take a little while to learn how to do it without a crutch but you will save a ton of time in the long run and develop a skill that will help carry you through any grinding challenge that you may encounter in the future. Just grind a 1/4 inch in front of your desired plunge initially and crispen up your plunges with a 220 grit after your rough grind. It takes training but if you get used to using crutches to grind you will always be dependant on them and limit your own abilities.
 
Dave Banks showed me to do plunge cuts the way Ken describes. I was trying to set the plunge-cut on the grinder edge and deal with it through the entire grinding process. Dave had me leave it alone mostly and when cutting it, set the blade on the platen lightly and well away from the plunge-cut, then slide into it. Dave also showed me to switch the belt direction so I was grinding each plunge cut with the same edge of the belt... the two edges cut differently.

Mike
 
Thanks for all the input! I am going to try working on some wood blanks to improve my abilities. I have ground 2 knives and was just not happy with how crips and clean the plunge cuts were. All of the comments are appreciated. For now I am going to try to stay with free handing it. This is due principally to the fact that the file guides are expensive. If I had the $150 to spare on the carbide ones, I would not mind having a set.
 
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