Tapered tangs

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How do you guys go about tapering your tangs? I've been doing them on all the blades I've made so far for balance. Today I was grinding one down, and I couldn't help, but wonder if there is a better method than I use. I've tried a few ways.

Right now I'm just holding the blade with a magnet and putting the flat of the blade on a 4x36 with a 36 grit belt, and pressing more on the tang area. I've done it by holding the blade horizontally and grinding more towards the end of the tang, and working towards the ricasso (idk how to spell it). Then evening out that on a disc sander. I've also done it all on a disc sander.

What have you guys had the best luck with? Also how much do you tend to taper? As in where do you shoot for it to stop? I basically go until almost just before I start the distal taper towards the tip.

Any feedback is much appreciated.

 

[Tom Lewis]

I would suggest you get Bob Loveless book "How to make Knives". He tells and shows pictures of how he does it. I have used his method and it's really pretty easy.

 

[Gene Kimmi]

Here's a video I did explaining how I do them.

 

[ChristoDart]

Another video.

 

[fitzo]

Gene Kimmi Good vid, Gene!

Do you run your platen proud of the wheels or about even?

 

[Gene Kimmi]

Gene Kimmi Good vid, Gene!

Do you run your platen proud of the wheels or about even?

It's proud by about a dime thickness.

 

[AVigil]

I taper tangs like I grind a blade.

I mark the width I want on the end of the blade and with the end up I grind down the length of the tang to where I want. This way I can keep an eye on the end thickness and not over grind it to thin.

You just walk the grind down to the ricasso from the butt. Easy peesy.

 

[Blankblank]

Thanks for the replies. I've got some good techniques to give a try. Probably better than me just doing it by eye. I didn't even consider doing the hollow grind like that.

 

[Fred.Rowe]

Tapering the bevels or the tang is easily accomplished using a Bubble Jig. I set the platen vertical, place the BJ on the platen, adjust the bubble to the center of the vial, then place the BJ on the ricasso. Let the end of the bubble just touch the black line, which is about a 1/4 of a degree. Keep the grind line straight across the blade and stop the grind when it reaches the ricasso. Turn the blade over and repeat. This will produce matching tapers.
I grind both tang & bevel tapers in this manner.
Spray the blade surface with layout blue before you begin.
We are producing a video on this process to share on the forums.
Regards, Fred