What's going on in your shop? Show us whats going on, and talk a bit about your work!

If the stone doesn't work for you, a diamond dressing tool is pretty cheap ($10-20) and can be found at most home improvement or Harbor Freight-type stores.

To clarify, I used to use a Craftsman 2x42 and I fully understand the pain (too fast, not enough HP, bogs down easily), never tried dressing the 2x42 belts.
 
Okay yes I see they are crazy cheap. Got one coming. I'll keep the Manticore at home. Thank you.
 
So how long should it take to establish the primary geometry on a blade like those? Took me an hour on the Hudson Bay knife and about an hour and a quarter on the machete. Is that fast or slow for makers with a higher end set up?
 
And how many blades that size should one be able geometrize on one belt?
 
Okay so I just established geometry on a 15N20 Hudson Bay with 24 grit. All one belt. Kept Stacy in mind as though he were in the shop whacking me with a stick and shouting “you’re not pushing hard enough!”

The result is that I found myself adjusting my technique, angles of attack, points of contact, anything I could do to push as hard as possible the whole time.

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Not only can I say that I believe this is thinner than yesterday off the 24 grit belt, but I got it there about five minutes faster.

That being said, I also believe there is room for improvement.

But I’m gonna go back and look at yesterdays pic to see if maybe it’s in my head or not about the thickness.
 
From the pics I’m leaning somewhat toward today’s is thinner off the 24 but after doing an edge pinch again, now that the blade and my hand are dry, it’s for sure. This is chef knife thin behind the edge. I’m going to grind another now on the same belt.
 
Yeah, no. That belt is on the floor now. Fresh belt. Would have taken me a week of straight grinding.
 
I still like the “use multiple coarse belts per big knife” option. In one hour and with three 24 grit belts I was able to finish the geometry in the second Hudson Bay with time to spare for 120 grit and coarse scotchbrite. Treating coarse belts as disposable still seems like the way to maximize output for me. Still no idea how fast or slow this is compared to conventional knife making shops.

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So you’re telling me on a grinder like that, you can grind at least four 11” long and 2+” tall blades in an hour (not 11” overall length, just the blade)? From 3/16” stock to basically full height flat grind and .010” or so behind the apex?
 
First, I want to say how impressed I am at the volume you turn out. I haven't seen a bad looking blade in a while. Maybe those don't make it to Shop Talk ;)

When grinding a simple blade shape in a normal steel on a 2HP 2X72 with VFD, I spend at most 10-15 minutes per long blade to get ready for HT. YMMV

I would say:
Coarse - 24-36grit - about 4-5 minutes a blade
Medium - 120 grit - about 3-4 minutes a blade
Fine 220-400 grit - about 4-7 minutes a blade.

About half that for a short blade.

About 4-6 blades per the three belts used.

The trick is run ceramic fast and press hard. Leather grinding gloves and push sticks are helpers. When hogging the bevels, there probably isn't such a thing as too much pressure. I get blades to glow red while grinding bevels.
Slower for the medium and fine grit's.

Your lower power single speed grinder will still do the job just fine. It may take a few minutes longer. Find its sweet spot with pressure that does not bog it down and use that range.
 
Waaaaa I’m doing everything wrong! 😭 🤣 😭 🤣

I actually grind everything post heat treat, I guess that’s the discrepancy I didn’t factor in to what was said.

And thank you for the kind word Stacy, that means the world to me coming from you. I haven’t posted that much in shop talk, generally sticking to my sub forum. Maybe a little embarrassed about my ghetto shop and processes. 🤷‍♂️

But I like you guys even if I’m not in your league, so try to get the nerve to show up from time to time.
 
My error, I forgot you grind post HT.
Post HT is probably the same times, but that is with a spray mister. When grind and dunk is done, it takes longer.

On big and thick blades I grind the main bevels about 75-80% pre-HT because it makes the post HT grinding faster. On small thinner blades I do it all post HT.

If you set up a Cool Mist spray (or clone) you will be amazed at the efficiency and belt life it gives.
 
Not 12" but I've got a 7.5" blade next, I'll time it.

I too grind freehand, no jigs, post heat treating.

All of that effects things.

I usually like 50 grit ceramic.
Ive tried a few 36, but wasn't thrilled at the time, maybe I'll try again?

I don't think I've seen 24...

Seedy mentioned good belts for freehanders that fracture easier. I still need to try them. But so far I only found them at Truegrit, I think
 
Just heat treated this blade of CPM154, this has to be one of the nicer heat colored blades I've seen. I wish there was a way to preserve this finish, but....alas, it's gone now and on it's way to finishing.

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