We need a tutorial on how to do a "belt" finish that does not look like ass. That sees to be what I end up with when I try.
How I machine finish a kitchen knife. This is what I do on plungeless stainless steel blades. Hopefully some find this useful. Here's what I do.
1. grind my blade horizontally. Belt progression is 60/120 Ceramic. Finish each grit drawing the blade horizontally with the butt lifted to give a 45+- degree angle. this helps to make sure the bevels are flat.
2. After addressing the flats and bevels on each grit, up to 120, holding the knife vertically with a magnet: I will rock the blade slightly from the flats to the bevel to wash out the 45 degree plunge.
2. Switch over to Norax a165 grinding vertical. I address the flats all the way to the tang to ensure the tang is flat and my "ricasso" area will be good in the end. Here is important to make sure you have a dead flat surface where your scales will be. (Hopefully, you didn't take that 45 degree plunge up past the handle area)
3. After addressing the flats and bevels on each grit, up to A30, I will rock the blade slightly from the flats to the bevel.
*All of the vertical grinding can be done on a flat platen, however after a165, I switch to a 12 contact wheel. It takes a really careful technique. You want to draw lightly, quickly and evenly from ricasso to tip. If you pause, you will create a divot in the flats. If you've ever sanded a hardwood floor with a drum sander this is something you are INTIMATELY familiar with. Be especially alert at the tip so you don't round it off. I actually rest it on my index finger and let that finger contact the belt as i draw it off. The high grit norax belts don't bother my finger in the slightest. *
You can stop here if you want, I do the following:
4. Very fine scotchbrite belt loaded with black compound.
The above belt progression is what I do for pretty much all my knives, just no vertical grinding on field knives. And on non-Kitchen cutlery, I often use a well broken in cork belt loaded with black compound instead of the Scotchbrite. It leaves a slightly finer finish.
Hope someone finds this helpful.
