Tips on Cleaning up angles after forging? or not screwing them up in the first place.

hathegkla

hathegkla

Joined
Feb 3, 2010
Messages
201
so I'm still learning here and I know this will come with experience but the last couple blades I forged I ended up ruining the bevels when I tried to clean it up on the belt sander (currently using a 1"x30" but I'm looking into building a 2"x72"). I've made 2 small tantos 8"-10" and a small fixed blade utility blade and am having similar problems, uneven bevils. I'll get one side that looks great and the other side will end up having no definition.

I was reading in the stickeys about a magnetic bubble jig I could make to use with the belt grinder but all the links to the pictures are dead. obviously at this point its not just a grinding problem though, I need to get to the point where I can forge my bevels in more evenly on both sides, but eyeballing it is harder than I thought.

Would you recommend (as a beginner) doing more work by hand, using a file, or should I just get more practice in with the belt sander?

I'm also considering making a sen (draw knife for smoothing blades) since I've been making tantos but I've never seen one in action, just pictures. I might try making something like this: http://www.dfoggknives.com/photogallery/MakingSen/makingsen.htm
 
You can go to files and do more work by hand. The main benefit is you are removing material more slowly so you can correct sooner. The sen works well also but it takes some getting used to. It is just a file with one tooth. I made one and used it. It removes material actually a little faster than the file. But all of this requires a technique and you get that with practice. When you are done practicing, practice some more. The same thing with your grinding. There are no shortcuts. It takes a long time to get comfortable walking up to a grinder and doing it right the first time. When I perfect that I will let you all know. It is not being able to do it perfect all the time but being able to fix your screw-ups. They get fewer as you go along but they are still made. The best advice I can give you is get a better grinder. It is not a cure-all but a 1x32 is just not stable or powerful enough to really do a good consistent job.
 
thanks for the advice, I definitely need some more practice and am working on it. I can tell the grinder I'm using is not powerful enough, I just can't afford to buy or build a decent one just yet (even the parts are expensive). in the meantime I'll just practice my forging and heat treating and make due with what I have.

I think the sen will be a fun project, I've always been into japanese swords so making some more tantos will be good practice. I can always use a softer temper on the not so pretty ones use them as throwers.
 
I could not agree more. I am just starting myself. I have an older craftsman and I see the problems with the platen and the overall ligh duty approach to the machine. I am currently building a Coote. They seem to meet my needs in an affordable platform.

As far as the bevels. I bought the bevel jig and clamp from Fred Rowe. They are great for me. It is not just a cheater, but also a way to see the impact that small changes in angle have on grinding profiles. It will make me a better grinder. For the moment the clamp is the "God send" it allows me to create matching bevels without running my plunge down onto the ricasso. I am using it today. Go to Fred's website.
 
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