Surface Grinder?

2

22h2

Joined
Dec 16, 2005
Messages
160
What is the best way to make flat parts for folders. I would expect that a surface grinder would be the best. Is there any other options (cheaper, lighter easier to find)

thanks
 
The best way is to use a surface grinder. I use one in my shop. And believe me it is flat.

It's the way I do it here. And yes you can do it on big grinders, but it will never be as good as a surface grinder. There are other ways and there are the right ways.

Hope this was of help to you. And I hope you have a great day in the shop. Have a good Christmas and New Year. :thumbup:
 
thanks Barks, would a surface grinder from grizzly or harbor freight work?

thanks
 
22h2 said:
What is the best way to make flat parts for folders. I would expect that a surface grinder would be the best. Is there any other options (cheaper, lighter easier to find)

thanks
Click to expand...

I have been making slip joint and lock back knives for over 15 years with a granite block and a elbow . There are some aspects of folder making that YOU HAVE TO use this method .
 
I want to buy my own soon. Im thinking about mounting a belt grinding setup on it but I still want to be able to switch back to a stone wheel though. Surface grinders in my opinion are very nice to have but not entirely needed for knives other than folders. Harbor Frieght makes a good one at a good price. Ebay has some good deals but the frieght is a deal killer unless you take a week long road trip.
 
Heatride,what do you mean "a granite rock and a elbow"? also, ive now use a 4by36 belt sander its all i can afford. i was going to buy the plans and make the 2 by 72 "no weld grinder" but after all the posts about grinders i am thoroughly confused. with the nwg i can build the base setup and expand as i am financialy able. do you fellows think that is a good plan? :)
 
willy m said:
Heatride,what do you mean "a granite rock and a elbow"? also, ive now use a 4by36 belt sander its all i can afford. i was going to buy the plans and make the 2 by 72 "no weld grinder" but after all the posts about grinders i am thoroughly confused. with the nwg i can build the base setup and expand as i am financialy able. do you fellows think that is a good plan? :)
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I meant your arm and your elbow sanding on a flat surface. I have no surface grinder Tony Bose does not have one. Todd Davison does not have one. The point I was trying to make you do not need a surface grinder to make folders. And if you use bushings in your folders like I do a granite block and elbow grease are pretty much a must. Here are just a few that were made without a surface grinder. Making pocket knives is not as complicated as some have been lead to believe. It just takes patience and time .
 
very impressive Glenn. I did read somewhere that Tony Bose does use a 4 x 36 belt sander to flatten parts. I use a granite slab as well to flatten parts I was just wondering if there was a better/easier way. I know a surface grinder would work well for this but if I could avoid the cost and find a way that would be almost as good, that would be real nice. thanks for the pics
 
22h2 said:
I did read somewhere that Tony Bose does use a 4 x 36 belt sander to flatten parts.
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I have two 4X36 belt sanders one fine belt one course and they do work well for flats. Don't get me wrong if I had room in my shop I would have a surface grinder , but some of this folder stuff has to be hand sanded .
 
22h2 said:
thanks Barks, would a surface grinder from grizzly or harbor freight work?

thanks
Click to expand...

I use a surface grinder from Harbor Freight. It cost me $999.00 8 years ago. I had to do some minor tuning and truing but it grinds things within .0001. It was well worth the money, and has saved me many many hours in flattening material. I purchased the 6x12 magnetic chuck from HF also. Once you mount the chuck be sure to true it up by grinding it with your new grinder. Be sure to throw away the crappy wheels that come with it and purchase new ones from a US maker. If you have never used a surface grinder you should probably find somone with experiance that can show you proper use and dressing of the wheel. You will also want them to show you the proper way to grind something.
 
Arthur Washburn said:
I use a surface grinder from Harbor Freight. It cost me $999.00 8 years ago. I had to do some minor tuning and truing but it grinds things within .0001. It was well worth the money, and has saved me many many hours in flattening material. I purchased the 6x12 magnetic chuck from HF also. Once you mount the chuck be sure to true it up by grinding it with your new grinder. Be sure to throw away the crappy wheels that come with it and purchase new ones from a US maker. If you have never used a surface grinder you should probably find somone with experiance that can show you proper use and dressing of the wheel. You will also want them to show you the proper way to grind something.
Click to expand...

Words from a wise men and he hit it on the money. :thumbup::jerkit::)
 
Thanks Arther, very impressive folders. your correct I have never used a surface grinder before but I am willing to learn. Glenn I new I had read something that said Tony used a belt sander for a surface grinder. Seems like a surface grinder would save allot of time and do away with certain issues when it comes to making parts flat.
 
I have a surface grinder. I do not use it often but when I need it I would not be without one. I have not made any folders with it as of yet, too many other irons in the fire. It does make those super critical forge welding billets so flat that the welds are flawless. If you have an opportunity to pick one up at a reasonable price do so. Just be careful, many have blown spindles and are useless. If you can see it in working order all the better. You cannot replace the accuracy and handiness of a properly set up and utilized surface grinder.

Chuck
 
A surface grinder isn't an absolute must, especialy with linner locks using nylatron washers. I've made several with nothing more than a disk sander. I do have a harborfrieght surface grinder and would not want to be without it, mainly because is speeds things up. I also have it converted to belt and it is awsome with double sided tape to get odd chunks of wood perfectly flat or several chunks of material for a spacer handle all the same thickness. And for cleaning up a rough forging or billet quickly. Even if you use it for folders you'll still need to hand sand on a flat plate to get everything just rite.

One thing to remember about the harbor frieght surface grinder or any that comes without a good magnetic chuck, it will cost dang near as much as the surface grinder.
 
Will52100: How did you convert your grinder to a belt operation? That is what I would like to do to my HF surface grinder. Thanks.
 
I believe I will start looking for a surface grinder. Just spent the last 2 hours hand sanding some Stainless seams like it would make things allot easier. Arthur I just noticed that I mispelled your name. Sorry about that.

Ted
 
Ted,
Just so yo understand, surface grinding is the most time consuming operation in the machinists world. It takes some time to get the piece done accurately but once it is done it is flat. As was mentioned earlier you may have to lap it a bit to get out the grind marks but it is a lot easier than trying to get a piece within .0001 of an inch by hand.

Good luck in your search.

Chuck
 
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