When to surface grind

M

Mike Read

Joined
Mar 27, 2015
Messages
117
I want to improve my folder making and would like to start surface grinding blades. I understand that surface grinding will give accurate parallel blanks but can also introduce distortion, so I need to figure out the best way of doing it.

I will have to outsource this work so finding the best way by trial and error would be costly

Can people tell me when they surface grind and why?

Do you

1 Get the raw material ground when soft and still in strip/sheet form
or
2 Surface grind the profiled blanks before hardening
or
3 Surface grind the profiled blanks after hardening
or
4 Something else

I will be plate quenching and cryo treating RWL34 and Elmax and grinding the bevels hard.

All advice appreciated Thanks

Mike
 
I do 2 and 3.
Before H/T to make assembly easier and after H/T because H/T will cause minor dimensional changes that will result in small gaps.
Just the way I do things YMMV
 
I surface grind before HT only if there is going to be a major thickness change or the material is really rough. Ordinarily I surface grind my profiled and HT'ed blades to final thickness after I have finished my backspacer and right before I set my lock. I use a wide variety of materials for my backspacers and it is far easier to surface grind the magnetic steel blade to fit the BS than it is to try to thickness Zr or Ti to fit the blade.

Bob
 
I surface grind profiled blades and springs/spines before HTing. Slip joint springs get another .005" takin off after HTing.
 
Thankyou for your comments.

At the moment I am planing to go with No 2 and surface grind profiled blades before hardening.That way I can drill pivot holes after surface grinding so they are perfectly square. I find plate quenching keeps things straight and any minor warping from HT I can grind out when I grind the main bevels.

BUt I will probably change my mind tomorrow:)
 
Are you asking this question, because you are sending them somewhere to get surface ground? If you have your own surface grinder you can just play with the process and figure out what works best. If you are having someone else do it you can just do the clean up work after heat treat by hand.

I can't wait till I can throw down for a surface grinder. It's my grail tool. Until then good old elbow grease and a disc sander will work for me.

Nick
 
chavez556 said:
Are you asking this question, because you are sending them somewhere to get surface ground? If you have your own surface grinder you can just play with the process and figure out what works best. If you are having someone else do it you can just do the clean up work after heat treat by hand.

I can't wait till I can throw down for a surface grinder. It's my grail tool. Until then good old elbow grease and a disc sander will work for me.

Nick
Click to expand...

I dont have a surface grinder and will be taking the blades to a machine shop. I find with plate quenching and foil wrap there is not much to cleaning up after HT so I am thinking surface grind before HT.
 
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