Vertical grinding question

N

NcDrake

Joined
Dec 16, 2021
Messages
4
I have a square wheel 2x72 with a 9 inch platen and a table. I have to remove the table to expose the full platen but when I grind vertical with any knife larger than 10-12 inches for things like vertical grinding the flats the upper or lower guide wheels will not let the blade sit flat on the platen as they sit just slightly further forward to allow a very small gap between the platen and belt back.Is this a common issue with 4 wheel design (which I love for everything else)? Or am I missing something about how to use a square wheel properly for this purpose? I can grind horizontal with no issue with this setup but I typically like to switch back and forth between horizontal and vertical for the flats.
 
I’m not familiar with what you refer to as a square wheel. Is your platen not adjustable to be able to set just proud of the idler wheels ?
 
I finish grind kitchen knives vertically also. What john said is spot on. If you cannot adjust your platen in relation to your wheels, get a piece of pyroceramic glass and attach it to your platen.
 
Keith Nix said:
I finish grind kitchen knives vertically also. What john said is spot on. If you cannot adjust your platen in relation to your wheels, get a piece of pyroceramic glass and attach it to your platen.
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Exactly. Probably a worthwhile upgrade regardless, since it only costs like 10 bucks + shipping and some JB Weld.
 
Thanks all
Sounds like my platen is to far back but if I bring it up flush with the wheels or past them won’t the back of the belt constantly make contact with the platen?
 
Seems like all the setup videos ask for a small 16th inch or so gap if not what keeps it from wearing out the platen? Thanks for the input.
 
NcDrake said:
Seems like all the setup videos ask for a small 16th inch or so gap if not what keeps it from wearing out the platen? Thanks for the input.
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It will wear the platen slowly. If you have a mild steel platen you'll get a few tens of hours of grinding before it needs resurfacing. A hardened steel or ceramic platen will easily last ten times as long. Acquiring some wear on the platen is a cost of having the grinder cut well. I shoot for my platen being only about 1/32" or 1mm proud of the wheels.
 
It's the only way to keep the wheels from biting your bevels. After you've done your vertical grinding, set it back to where you normally keep it
 
The platen should stick out just barely enough to get the clearance you need with your thickest belt and leave it there. If it sticks out too much, I think 1/8 inch is way too much, you will get way too much friction and will wear out platens and or need platen chillers. I grind large blades vertically often and have never worn out a mild steel platen or had the platen ever get more than warm to the touch (no chiller) in the 13 years that I have had a 2x72.
 
NcDrake, the wheels on the platen are adjustable on a square wheel machine. there should be allen head screws on the sides of the wheels, loosen these and you can move the wheels forward or back.
 
I use a graphite layer on my platens. It self lubricates, lasts a long time, and cushions the platen slightly.
 
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