What size Contact wheel for a Wide hollow grind?

[Hankins]

Want to do a Hollow grind on a 3/16" thick x 1 1/4" wide blade so the grind ends about an 1/8" or less from the spine. This would take I believe either a very over-sized contact wheel or a Radius Platen...

How should I go about doing this?

 

[J. Doyle]

I'd go with a 10" wheel.

I have an 8" wheel and I should have bought the 10". I've done grinds close to that with the 8 but it requires some careful blending. And they get pretty thin.

A 12 or 14 inch wheel would really do it but wouldn't be as thin. A 10" should be about right though. You can get your height that way and also a bit thinner of a grind. I would think that would be a plus hollow grinding 3/16 steel. Just my two cents.

 

[Bruce Bump]

I sure like my 14" wheel. It does everything from my little slippies to my bowies. For double grinds I use a 3" or 4" wheel.

 

[LRB]

A 10" is good up to 1". Any wider and you need a 14". In my experience. If you go too thin, you just don't have good strength in the blade.

 

[butcher_block]

i think short of a 4' platten you will have ot "walk" the grind around and blend like i do for straight razors
after all you can make a hollow 1 inch tall edge to spine with a 2 inch wheel ( its jsut a bit tricky)
i really want a 36-40 inch sized wheel grinder at some point for kitchen knives

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

i think short of a 4' platten you will have ot "walk" the grind around and blend like i do for straight razors
after all you can make a hollow 1 inch tall edge to spine with a 2 inch wheel ( its jsut a bit tricky)
i really want a 36-40 inch sized wheel grinder at some point for kitchen knives

Would a curved platen work for kitchen knives? I've been thinking about setting up and machining some.

 

[Allen Newberry]

Nathan, you should make up some large radius platens. I think they would be fun to play with.

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Make one for me!

 

[Tait]

I'd be interested in one as well, if you make 'em to fit a KMG.

 

[Gary Mulkey]

I second the 14" wheel. I use mine from folders to bowies.

Gary

 

[butcher_block]

nate if you want to make me a 4' arc platten then sure they are good for kitchen knives (jp style single bevels and i know another guy that might want one )
on 99% of my knives a full flat grind is best less they want the blade to be slightly heavy (no one ever asked me for a hollow ground chef )

 

[Mark Knapp]

I rough grind on a 24 inch wheel on a machine I built with flood coolant and a fixture to hold the blade, cant do curves though. The wheel has worn down to about 18 inches, I got a replacement off eBay recently. After heat treat I finish on the 2 X72 with a curved platten (freehand). It works well, I like the looks of the shallow hollow grind.

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

Okay. I'll plan to do a run of curved platens by the end of summer. I've been wanting one, and once I setup to make one I may as well make a few...

 

[Dan Pierson]

Would these just attach to the normal KMG platen mount in place of the flat platen?

I'm interested, may or may not have the money.