Tanto Chisel Grind

[chavez556]

So I want to do a tanto blade with a chisel grind.

If the blank is 1/8" steel where would I make the scribe line if I want to make a chisel grind ?

 

[quint]

I personally start very steep and get close to the edge then work this bevel up to the height I want. I guess you could scribe a line to show where you want to get to. Personally I just play it by ear till I get what I think looks good and is good enough for a nice sharp edge.

If you want to scribe the line for the height of the bevel I guess it will be a personal preference for the thickness of the steel and height of the blade.

 

[chavez556]

So the blank is 3.62 mils wide. I was thinking scribing the center line at .84. Or is that too thin.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Unless I am reading you wrong, you don't understand a chisel grind. There is no centerline...it is a single bevel from one side only. The edge is at the junction of the bevel and the other straight side.
If you mean how thick should you leave the edge before HT, do it the same as any other blade. about .5mm.

 

[chavez556]

Well I make a scribe so I can eyeball how much farther I need to take the grind .

You answered my question . Thank you

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

No problem. That is what I thought you meant, but wanted to make sure.

.84mm to .50mm will be a good final edge thickness.

 

[hammon172]

be sure and think about what side you put the chisel grind on. say if you're right handed you want it on the right hand side of the blade and vise versa if you're left handed. doing this will help alot when you go to use it i have found. when you slice some thing with it the blade will pull to the flat side.

 

[chavez556]

This one is ready for HT . I did the front bevel on the slack part of the grinder. Let me know what you think.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Don't take this comment as being negative, but as constructive criticism.

It looks "rushed". There seems to be a place at the plunge that is sanded over, and the tip is sloppy because of the slack belt. The lines would look better if they were more crisp.
The main bevel looks good, but the tip should have been done with a file and then a hard backed sanding block. Some of this can be repaired after HT ( but it will be a bit of work).
I personally like a little shape to a knife, and this one has that "Sharpened Bar of Steel" look. That isn't a terrible flaw, but a tiny amount of curve, a taper in the blade, and some distal taper will do wonders in changing the look of a knife. The photo below is a very simple tanto, somewhat similar in shape to yours, but see how the tiniest difference in curve and taper makes it look better.

 

[fast14riot]

So the blank is 3.62 mils wide. I was thinking scribing the center line at .84. Or is that too thin.

Btw, so people don't get confused 3.62mils is equal to 0.09 millimeters. Use "mm" if your using metric units. I know you meant millimeters, but many people here don't speak english as a first language and might be scratching their heads with a blade as thin as heavy paper, lol!


-Xander

 

[chavez556]

Thank you for the advice Stacy! That is what I'm going for in this design . Simple almost industrial look. Do you think the convex tip is going to affect the cutting ability, or is it unattractive?

I really appreciate the advice !