How To Using a Surface Grinder to Make the Grind

E

erinstokes

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Oct 10, 2022
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Hi all! I'm a total newbie to knife making. I have the advantage of a knife-obsessed brother and a tool maker dad, who has a personal machine shop. I got into knife making when I decided to make a knife for my husband as a Christmas gift.

I'm not sure what would be the best way to do the grind on the knife - is that something that's possible to do on a surface grinder? If so, any tips for accomplishing that?

Thanks!
 
You can use a surface grinder.

considerations
You need a long support under the blade, it wants to flex
You need to angle it in 2 axis. There is taper from top to bottom and handle to tip - it's a compound angle

hard stones have very very small depth of cut.
The greatest use of surface grinders are with abrasive belt conversions.
 
Welcome Erin. Fill out your profile so we know where you live and a bit about you. It may allow a nearby maker to offer help and teaching.

There are lots of ways to make a knife. A machine shop will have most of them. I would talk to your dad and ask how he suggests using hois equipment to the best advantage.
Read this tutorial to get the basic idea of how to make a knife with simple tools.

How to instructions for making a knife

These are the instructions I use to get someone started with a profiled stainless steel knife blank. I thought there might be those who could use the tutorial and pointers. Some details are specific to a particular knife project, but the info is universal. You can start with a bar of any type of...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
It sounds like you're doing stock removal, which is just carving a knife shape out of metal. your dad might have things like fly cutters or face mills you can use pre-heat treatment.
Also files are very useful
 
As a rule, surface grinders grind a flat plane, which works out to a straight edge. I have wondered about springing the work so that, once unsprung, you could develop a belly. Might be practical for some kitchen knives.
 
I did this (grinding in a bevel) recently with my surface grinder attachment on a z wear knife. The spine is stiff enough to hold well. Basically this is just an efficient way to get off a lot of material pretty quickly but there’s still plenty of hand grinding left to be done
 
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