Anyone care to share there way of doing it? I am flat grinding,so far this is the worst part. Does anyone use their contact wheel for the initial plunge and then "blend it in" on the platen? I am having a hard time with symetry using only the platen:grumpy:. Any help would be great. Thanks in advance...........
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
techniques for plungelines???
- Thread starter UPAROPE
- Start date
Anyone care to share there way of doing it? I am flat grinding,so far this is the worst part. Does anyone use their contact wheel for the initial plunge and then "blend it in" on the platen? I am having a hard time with symetry using only the platen:grumpy:. Any help would be great. Thanks in advance...........
- Joined
- Sep 17, 1999
- Messages
- 320
I rough grind, then set the plunges with a 120 grit belt. I hang the belt about 1/4" over the platten and move the plunges back to where I want them. I take a little chunk down to full depth and then move over and do another little chunk like maybe 1/16 until they are even. hanging the belt off the edge will let it cut a little smoother I don't push hard enough to bend the belt to radius. I'm only using the very edge of the belt not the whole flat that way I don't get that damned 2 inch line. I'm just be careful and go really really slow and easy.
Practice tip:
Use wood strips to practice on.
Clamp 2 pieces of steel on each side of the blade where you want the plunge cuts and at the right angle.
Back the belt so it doesn't overhang the platen. In fact a 1/100" from the edge.
Use the steel as a bumper, then press the wood (blade) against the belt and set your bevel. This will get your hands use to keeping a consistent starting angle (90 degrees or whatever).
Adjust the belt and do the other side.
You will have very sharp, perfectly matched plunge cuts.
Then do what Belstain said to make the shape you want.
Then do what Tom said.
A few times with the wood and the bumpers and you'll get the hang of it. (until you do it with a great blade, then it all comes apart
)
Steve
Use wood strips to practice on.
Clamp 2 pieces of steel on each side of the blade where you want the plunge cuts and at the right angle.
Back the belt so it doesn't overhang the platen. In fact a 1/100" from the edge.
Use the steel as a bumper, then press the wood (blade) against the belt and set your bevel. This will get your hands use to keeping a consistent starting angle (90 degrees or whatever).
Adjust the belt and do the other side.
You will have very sharp, perfectly matched plunge cuts.
Then do what Belstain said to make the shape you want.
Then do what Tom said.
A few times with the wood and the bumpers and you'll get the hang of it. (until you do it with a great blade, then it all comes apart
)Steve
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2000
- Messages
- 5,179
I use a "cheater" - two short pieces of 3/4" angle iron bolted together over the ricasso. They keep my grind symetrical.
And yes, I do most of the "flat" grinding on the wheel, then just flaten it out on the platen. Saves a lot on belts that way and goes much faster. Took me quite a while to learn that...
And once the plunge and grind are nicely cut in, at about 220 grit I run the belt off the edge of the platen and radius the plunges. That's what makes a beautiful grind!
Keep on practicing, one day it'll all -click!- into place.
And yes, I do most of the "flat" grinding on the wheel, then just flaten it out on the platen. Saves a lot on belts that way and goes much faster. Took me quite a while to learn that...
And once the plunge and grind are nicely cut in, at about 220 grit I run the belt off the edge of the platen and radius the plunges. That's what makes a beautiful grind!
Keep on practicing, one day it'll all -click!- into place.
i know a few guys that use the jigs mentioned...and some that use a round file to start the plunge cut...so when they grind, the belt has somthing to fall into,works for them... imho, nothing beats doing it free hand,no jigs no files... what i like to do is scribe the center of the blade,on the edge,and also the area where i want the plunge to start,also on the edge...then i work my way to those lines...keep at it, one day it will just happen!