Video- might interest some

NickWheeler

NickWheeler

Joined
Dec 3, 1999
Messages
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I recently put this video together while building some blade blanks.

I am not trying to sell blades in shop talk, that's what the exchange is for...;) :) I just thought some new makers might be interested in seeing how somebody that's been doing this stuff for a while goes about it. :)

It's not a how to, so much as a "fly on the wall" type of video. :)

[video=youtube;RhijW7L9Cm4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhijW7L9Cm4[/video]
 
Cool video....thanks! But seriously.....change the damn radio station! :p
 
Great video Nick.

The blade style reminds me of a Corbet Sigman.

Thanks for taking the time and doing the vid....Much appreciated
 
Thanks! That was excellent.

The leather cutting at the end was too cool... great work!

What kind of oil are you using while doing the drilling?
 
Thanks guys :)

Morrow, okay okay... I'll put the country station back on just for you. :p I listen to damn near everything while I'm in the shop- top 100, country, alternative, crooner.... Just not rap so much. Well except for Macklemore popping tags and stuff. ;) LMFAO

Avigil- THANKS! Corbet is one of the makers that I learned about when I first got started and have always admired his work. In fact, the first knife I made for my Dad was a "copy" of one of Corbet's upswept tip hunters. :)

Daniel- Thanks bud :) When Angi watched the video she was just sure I was going to cut my fingers off at the end... :eek: :DAs far as the cutting oil- it's just Tap Magic (I think that's what I put in that one anyway! LMAO) The bit is just a regular 'ol HSS bit, turning a little slower than the books would say to run it. I can drill several dozen holes in S30V like that before I touch up the bit on the 9" disc. If I knew what the hell I was doing, I could probably get hundreds! :)



BTW- if it looks like I'm fumbling around when doing stuff like trying to measure the edge---- it's 'cuz I was, LOL. To film that stuff I was reaching around the tripod, and then trying to watch what the heck I was doing through the camera display. This proved harder than I would have guessed. ;)
 
Beautiful work, Nick.
Even if it's not intended to be a 'how to', I still found it very enlightening.

I notice you use different ceramic belts for different tasks, blaze(?) for hogging, 3M967(?) for flat grinding, and 3M984(?) on the rotary platen. If you had to choose one belt to do it all, which would it be?

Thanks.

Will
 
Thanks fellas. :)

Will, that's a good eye you have. :) Part of the reason I use different belts is because I am always trying different ones to see if I like one better than the other.... but the other part is because I feel (from experience) that some are better than others for certain tasks.

I like the Blaze belts, but not as much as many folks seem to. Unless a guy is grinding ballz out with heavy pressure, they don't last anywhere near as long as they are reported to last. While it's really hard to see in my low quality video, during the hollow grind hogging, my KMG was running full tilt/ballz out and that's with a 6" drive wheel! Also, I was pushing pretty damn hard. That's why it's so noticeable when I pull the blade off the belt to check it... it almost looks like I'm jumping from a burn or something... but it's just me backing the blade away QUICKLY.

For that scenario, the Blaze works really nicely.

For flat grinding, I can grind with it full tilt, but I don't like to. I prefer to back the grinder down to 50-60% on the VFD, which is still fairly quick with the bigger drive wheel. But it seems really slow compared to 100%! I also don't like to push as hard while flat grinding, especially when the blade starts getting thin. In this case, the 3M 967F (yellow) is my preference.

The only reason I had the 3M 977 on the rotary platen is because one of the last times I ordered belts that is what was in stock for ceramic in 120X.

I haven't tried the 3M 984 yet, but it seems to be getting good reviews.

So to answer your question, I would pick the 3M 967 if I could only have one belt.

Currently, my favorite belts are the 3M 967 for grinding, the Hermes Jflex (blue abrasive/yellow backing) for contours, and the Hermes 36X aluminum oxide for hogging off bulk handle material.
 
Good video Nick.
It was enjoyable even for a non knife maker like myself.
Now maybe I will do something with those blades you sent to me.
It's only been a couple years.
 
Thanks Nick! I definitely picked up a couple of good tips. The wheel before the flat platen is interesting and I haven't seen it done before but I'm not brave enough to try it just yet. Also like the rotary platen for feathering and if anyone has a free one for me just PM :). Why haven't I bought a scotch rite belt yet? Next order.
 
Thanks for sharing Nick.. I like the style of knives that you make. They look nice and as far as I can tell from the video they cut exceptionally well ! Something I am trying to achieve consistently .
 
Thanks again Nick! Well done...

You might want to try those 984 belts, I have been buying the 967's and 984's all year and just decided on the 984's... they do seem to work well with lighter pressure but like most ceramics do like to be pushed hard. They don't smell as bad as the 967's either! :D

I was blending some tips today, this video has already helped! Much appreciated!
 
By gawd I believe even I could grind a blade after watching that, and why does'nt that 9"
disc in the background have a variable reversing controler on it? Just giving you s%*t Nick.
In all seriousness Thanks for taking the time to do the vid.
Ken.
 
Thanks for the comprehensive explanation, Nick.

I bought some blaze belts recently and they didn't really blow my mind, but I do tend to grind with a light touch, probably too light to get the most from these belts.

Great information, Thanks.

Will.
 
I'm really glad some of you fellas liked it.

Daniel- Thanks for your thoughts on the 984, I'll give 'em a try for sure.

Mike- I have both brands in my shop, they're both high quality belts, but for sweeping into guards, palm recesses, etc. I think the Hermes belt is THE best there is.

Ken- Cuz it's controlled by the same VFD as that KMG :p ;) There's another variable/reversing 9" disc right next to that one too... and another one next to that one. ;) :D

The funny thing about all that, is for my flat ground blades, I usually stop at 60X on the 2X72 and then go right to the discs. It just took me a while to fully catch on to what some of you guys had known for years.

Will, it sounds like your reaction was the same as my initial impression of the Blaze. They are a great belt, just not quite what I had expected from all the buzz. I gotta admit though, I keep them around forever for grinding down stuff like weld prep and such.

Thanks guys :)
 
I can't believe I'm the only one to call you out on your BS here Nick.... but "Blue" dykem? C'mon man I threw all my blue so I could get red cause Nick Wheeler said it was necessary... :D

Seriously though Awesome video!
 
Great Video, I always like to see how other makers do things.

Can you explain in a little more detail about your process and thoughts about what it means when you blend the edge and then feather it? It looks like you take it to somewhere around .015" and then put an edge on it ( maybe not put an edge on it ) but I am missing what blending and feathering is in my mind.

Thanks Nick!!!
 
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