Profiling with angle grinder

[jim moyer]

Some time back I mentioned I use an angle grinder to profile blades before taking to the belt grinder to save on belts.

This is a piece of hot rolled 5160 flat stock that I ran through the rolling mill then drew the knife I wanted with a silver tip pencil.

With a 4.5 inch angle grinder I did all the outer profile with exception of the tang for illustration.

This will be a faceted hollow grind so ground to center line and established the shoulders then took a mass of metal in the middle away. Now its ready to take to the 8 inch belt wheel to finish off. The final product will be a 9"' full tang with blasted finish.

Hope this helps those who asked me for pic,s.

 

[Sweany]

yep, a 4.5 makes a good hot cut too

 

[jim moyer]

yep, a 4.5 makes a good hot cut too

That it does

 

[J.Marsillo]

Thanks for that Jim, I thought I was the only one who used an angle grinder for knifework. Them flap wheels work pretty good too

 

[CanDo]

My first (so far only) knife is a thrower profiled from an angle grinder

 

[mete]

Do you use a 9" grinder for the big bowies ??

 

[CanDo]

Thanks for that Jim, I thought I was the only one who used an angle grinder for knifework. Them flap wheels work pretty good too

Say, how/what for exactly do you use those flap wheels?

 

[jim moyer]

Do you use a 9" grinder for the big bowies ??

Too heavy for me to get good control - so stick with the 4.5 myself. Don't know about the others Mete.

 

[J.Marsillo]

Say, how/what for exactly do you use those flap wheels?

The flap wheels just make the finish a little smoother before going to the grinder.

 

[JCaswell]

I find it more convenient to use a 14-inch abrasive cut-off saw. I just leave it in the 'up' position, lock in on and zip off the excess. I'll put small parts in vice grips to keep the fingers away from the 'blade'. Sometimes it's the fastest, way to get into certain contours.
As with everything, gotta be careful, though.