straight line jigs?

HDCutlery

HDCutlery

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Jan 12, 2016
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So for the past 7 months of forging knives I have run into the same issue over and over and that is waves in the blade or slight bends etc. Now I know there is a thread on blade warp and I have visited and used some of the methods suggested with improvement. The problem is I cannot see the bends as others do and I hate to even consider it a reason though because I am 78% blind in my right eye. Now I am going to say this is NOT a disability as I can make precision cuts in my food prep, and heck I'm right handed and average 24PPD at 01 darts games. The information I am requesting would be is there some kind of jig out there that can help me determine straightness on my knives so I don't scrap as much steel? Keep in mind I have used laser lines and they work great along the spine but the line is too wide to determine the edge and I end up with multiple wobbles. Quite literally any insight on this will be greatly helpful and thank you for poking in for a look. -Brian
 
When I forge and check for straightness I sight the blade dowith one eye, so that shouldn't be too much of a limiting factor.

If I'm understanding you right, the only other thing I can think of is using a steel ruler like the tyou found in woodworkers square levels and just checking for flatness by putting it across the blade in different orientations
 
Surface plate for general flatness test and an edge scribe for the edge. A scribe is easy to make from a scrap of hardened steel or broken drill bit. Both will come in handy for a lot around the knife shop.
 
I use a granite surface plate and a height gauge. I have been happy with this set up. I use a surface plate with ledges. I clamp the blade down at the ricasso so I know that area is flat on the surface. Then using the height gauge adjusted to the center of the tip on the first side, flip the blade over and clamp the same way. Use the height gauge with the first side measurement to compare.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Dial-Height-Gauge-6-/G9618

http://www.grizzly.com/search?q=(categoryid:260050)
 
Do you finish the forging by placing the different areas of the blade in the jaws of a Vise? I have a large pattern makers vise that has 3/4 X 3 X 12 inch aluminum jaws that can be adjusted to align with forged bevels. This has been a big help in keeping blades straight throughout the forging process.

Fred








x
 
Thank you gents for the helpful tips. Ben I did get a chuckle as the one eye approach is the only standard I can take though for some reason it still is ineffective. I do recall seeing something some time ago about a drill scribe and will likely give a try. Now the vise trick I use on a regular basis when the whole thing starts to twist when drawing out the steel, I may try the surface plate in addition as further insurance. Now in that regard I do have some surface ground flat plate would that suffice as a sub for the granite? I can see as it being much softer material as no help at all
 
I think it would help. The hardness of the material helps with long term durability and wear resistance. But the key attribute of the granite surface plate is its flatness. You could do the same thing with a thick piece of glass, counter top, precision ground steel plate, etc. For the purposes of trying to find the center line of a blade you don't need the same kind of equipment NASA does.
 
Not knowing your history in terms of how much forging you've done, this may or may not help- after about fifteen years in the forge, I work as much by sound and feel as by eye, when straightening. If you're doing it right (laying the work on the anvil so that any distortion is cupped downwards and tapping on the high part in the center, if you can picture that) you can go by feel and sound. After that, check by any means that works.
A dead flat anvil face will help hugely, and for strictly flattening, it doesn't absolutely have to be even hardened.
 
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