sanding tang flat, really flat that is

M

Mungo Park

Joined
Jan 23, 2005
Messages
337
OK I am a nubie with a glass plate and sandpaper and a 2X72.
With these how do I get a ful tang flat. it seems to end up a little not flat at one end. That is the first or last 1/2' seems to be slightly rounded making a crack where the scales go on. Seems to happen with the grinder as well with the glass plate.
Any ideas of how to get rid of this?
Cheers Ron.
 
sounds like the belt is not tight on the platten lettign the wheel pull the belt upa hair and rounding yout tang off
 
Don't try and get a true flat on the platen. It's a very difficult thing to do l, and you'll just end up with "close enough to work".

Get it as good as possible on the grinder, then switch to the plate. Don't sand back and forth in a line. This results in more material taken off at the edges in line with your push. Use a figure-8 movement, keeping even but light pressure on the piece.

--nathan
 
If there is a machine shop close by and your tang is soft enough a good machinist could do it for you in a few minutes. Not sure about where you live, but it would be about 5 bucks here to get it done. Just a thought.
 
Yes, thank you, Nathan I think what you have suggested will be worth a try, also I have not checked if my belt is tight enough, I do not keep it really tight. Thanks all for your help, I think I will try a few more goes to see if I can get it flat myself, well flat enough to get the scales to fit nice, not perfect. Cheers Ron.
 
silver_pilate said:
Don't try and get a true flat on the platen. It's a very difficult thing to do l, and you'll just end up with "close enough to work".

Get it as good as possible on the grinder, then switch to the plate. Don't sand back and forth in a line. This results in more material taken off at the edges in line with your push. Use a figure-8 movement, keeping even but light pressure on the piece.

--nathan
Click to expand...

Ah, I'll have to try the figure eight. I use a flat board and paper to finish the tang and have the problem of rounding off the butt from sanding in a line. Thanks for tha advice!
 
Machine shop is cool, but....

1. Can they do it with a taper?

2. What if you actually take pride in doing it yourself?

The process is, to some people, just as important as the results.
 
John Frankl said:
Machine shop is cool, but....

1. Can they do it with a taper?

2. What if you actually take pride in doing it yourself?

The process is, to some people, just as important as the results.
Click to expand...

Yes they can do tapers. I was a machinist for 10 years. I can do a taper in my sleep in about 5 minutes. I would charge about $10.00.

I design knives on purpose that things need to be outsourced. I actually take more pride from helping my friends do what they love. Brad loves making Damascus. Chris face lights up when I when I bring a design in his shop. Jerry and I have a blast every time he powder coats a blade for me. Yes, you are so right the process is always more important than the results.
 
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