What's happening in the David Mary Custom shop?

More of a conventional chopper than a smatchet at that point. Big Tiny 2.
 
So in the interest of making sure that Godzilla is perfect, Bob and I have agreed a new sheet is in order, which means there is still room after all on this one.
 
I figured since ulus are soon up, it's a good time to change the platen and shelf.

Two years ago when I got this grinder, I used the shelf as a platen and a shelf. It deformed to the point I couldn't get good grinds. Mid to late 2019 I learned about glass platens. But it turns out I have probably limited the life of them since I have used the deformed shelf all this time. Well my backup grinder has a brand new shelf, and I have one of Steve from little bear's platens left. I just ordered two more today. I'll throw the new platen and shelf together and see if my ulu grinding is a little easier than last time.

Here's one of those by the way, the one that I left gougy to make my deadline to hand over to Andy.

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No more gouges, but not perfectly symmetrical, either.
 
Agreed!

I have to get the grinder back in shape to work on it. So I have been on that tonight, but first, here's the table of stuff next up as it was before I started on the ulu. Ignore the Bowie, it's backburner still, but all the other blanks you can make out plus cutting the sheet tomorrow.

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Here's the new grinder, which is basically a backup at this point. This is the same model I own now, which I learned my current grinding technique on.

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I modded mine and use it flipped with the switch and belt pointing away from me, running horizontally, like this:


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Here's the new platen.

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And here's the old platen on the old shelf, next to the new shelf installed. It needed surface prep still at this point.

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Here's the new shelf prepped, and you can see it's not exactly perfectly flat to start with. But this one will also not be subject to the same forces that bowed my first one, as I will never use it without a platen.

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Here's the grinder as I type this post:

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Actually I repositioned the clamps and added two more.

Here's the guard I don't use because I change belts way too often. I threw the guard away on my first grinder the same day I first used it a couple years ago.

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Of further note are the platens I was running were nominally 2" x 6", with just over 2" width. Last time I talked to Steve I asked if he could cut to size, and so I am hoping to get 2" exactly x 7". It will affect my grinding efficiency, as I have been having to slightly track belts back left and right to grind different side of the blade.


Anyway, I'll go test it out now.


Almost forgot to mention, I had to cut the housing of my first one because otherwise thicker belts wouldn't fit, like coarse ceramics, or surface conditioning belts.

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The ulu is still fuzzy after an hour with the coarse grit. Single bevel. Should be quick work to bring the grind up to 220 and finish on Scotchbrite, but not before a bit more thinning on the 36 grit belt. Tomorrow.

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Here's what I've got so far from the .225 8670. A wharncliffe, a Charlie Mike Bowie tribute requested by jbmonkey, the khukuri, and tanto commission. The wharncliffe was what made sense to me with a piece of cut-off, and I have two others below. One is big enough for another CM Bowie tribute, or similar sized design, if anyone has any ideas. The other is 6 3/4" from tip to tip, and I'm open to ideas on that too.


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Still have to bring the Khukuri handle down a bit slimmer for the gentleman's unique hand size.
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