Why are gtinding jigs frowned upon?

Justin Schmidt

Justin Schmidt

Joined
Feb 18, 2016
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2,209
So something that's always had me scratch my head is how grinding jigs seem to be So frowned upon. If it's a pride thing I understand that. I have yet to use one for grinding because so many speak against them and I can't really come up with a reason why. To me it's the same as using a fence on a table saw or a vice on a drill press. To me it just seems they are there to ensure everything is aligned, no human error, and repeatability. So what are your thoughts?
 
I wouldn't say it's frowned upon, at least, I can only speak for myself. They can make sense in certain situations (like high numbers of one knife or scandi ground knives). but with jigs you will always be more limited than freehanding because you can feel the grind and adjust accordingly. It gives you more freedom to learn how to freehand imho.
 
Just about all grinding jigs I've seen are pretty one-dimensional, and it that regard, they can tend to be a little limiting, especially outside of the scope of a specific blade profile or design.

I don't necessarily frown upon them, but I will always recommend a maker learn to free hand grind as well, and not just rely on jigs.

I've tried to use at least a couple styles of jigs in the past in the effort to be a little faster or more consistent, but somehow I always end up reverting back to free handing, and get better results for it.
 
Agreed, it's not so much frowned upon more of a "why limit yourself?" My feeling is a knife is something that comes from inside you somewhere. Having small inconsistencies gives the knife soul. If we lean too hard to repetitive perfection and take more and more human element out of it than we might as well just go grab a Gerber from Walmart. Imho
 
I'm not the best at free handing large blades so I made and use a jig. Basically I put two 1/2" slots in a piece of angle iron and made a clamp out of 1/2" square tubing. This way I can adjust the angle of my plunge lines.

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Cleaning this one up this morning after heat treatment.
 
i used jigs for a year. my findings: they are limited in what they can do, ( try grinding a chute knife with one ). on many styles of knives, the bevel angle changes as you get toward the tip. with a jig you are stuck with one angle. its also harder to make a correction on a goof up. if there is a tiny piece of metal/grinding dust on the workrest on which you slide the jig, it throws the angle off. same thing happens if there is a piece of dust between the jig and the knife when clamping it to the jig. instead i usually suggest the bubble jig grinding system, it teaches you to hold the knife at the same angle. after about 12 knives i did not need the bubble jig anymore.
 
I can see where yall are coming from. I've seen alot of people say while grinding you must constantly change the angle but the few videos I have watched using a jig they never have done that. And most have some sort of way to change the height of the angle. I tried the Gough filing jig and It definitely wasn't for me. I might try a grinding jig just for giggles
 
I am one that does both but I am a fan of jigs. For me I look at manufacturers of knives as a judgement of goal of consistency to work toward--they are certainly using some sort of fixturing--read
'fixed jig' to produce their products. And that's where I think a jig can be good, if you are trying to build multiple iterations of a particular blades, I think it's worth the time to figure out a jig that will work for you--when I do one-offs I use the freehand method, I've got several jigs though, and some are a big help in achieving what I'm after on certain blades...FWIW I highly recommend
DD Work Rest products--he has an Instagram account and he builds some fantastic work rests, grinding jigs and vises. His stuff is also on E-bay, just search for D-D Work Rest. I think that a lot of people are closed minded about jigs, but some guys who are seeking to build the best most consistent knife, like Aaron Gough end up with milling machines and appropriate jigs. Look at some of his most recent videos, and you'll see what I'm talking about.
 
I think most makers regard them as crutches. I don't have a problem with them. I do think it is important to know how to freehand grind... just as I think it is important to know how to use hand tools only. Freehand grinding can be a pathway to design a jig by. I will never put down someone for using tools to be more consistent. I use jigs for the majority of my false edges or Scandi grinds.
 
I do most of my grinding freehand. Jigs shine when repeatability, especially for a simpler design, is needed. I just did a big bushcraft knife with a scandi grind. No distal taper, no recurve. The jig allowed me to get a pretty even grind pattern on the edge. For a more organic design, jigs have less utility. Jigs are great for dovetailing bolsters, or grinding a raised clip evenly.
 
I use a grinding jig in many operations for the same reason I don't do all of my rifle shooting freehand.
Funny how some guys will get all out of sorts about using a grinding jig, but the same guy uses variable speed grinders, reversible disc sanders, vertical mills and lathes.
I call it T.P.S. (Tiny penis syndrome)
I say to use absolutely every single possible advantage you can find if it helps you make a better knife.
 
Fish30114 said:
I am one that does both but I am a fan of jigs. For me I look at manufacturers of knives as a judgement of goal of consistency to work toward--they are certainly using some sort of fixturing--read
'fixed jig' to produce their products. And that's where I think a jig can be good, if you are trying to build multiple iterations of a particular blades, I think it's worth the time to figure out a jig that will work for you--when I do one-offs I use the freehand method, I've got several jigs though, and some are a big help in achieving what I'm after on certain blades...FWIW I highly recommend
DD Work Rest products--he has an Instagram account and he builds some fantastic work rests, grinding jigs and vises. His stuff is also on E-bay, just search for D-D Work Rest. I think that a lot of people are closed minded about jigs, but some guys who are seeking to build the best most consistent knife, like Aaron Gough end up with milling machines and appropriate jigs. Look at some of his most recent videos, and you'll see what I'm talking about.
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I followh DD on instagram his knife vice is a thing if beauty. Expensive. But nice.

Thanks everyone for the different point if view and some encouragement. My thoughts is pretty much what Karl said to make the best products I can consistently. I don't necessarily wanna do "production" type work because the whole getting behind on orders and keeping up with customers wants and specific needs is a nightmare I really don't wanna deal with.
 
valknut said:
I don't necessarily wanna do "production" type work because the whole getting behind on orders and keeping up with customers wants and specific needs is a nightmare I really don't wanna deal with.
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A wise policy indeed.
 
For those of you who state that grinding jigs are limiting; a short story. I shipped a Bubble Jig to a gentleman in California last year. He wrote back to me within a month telling me how his 13 year old daughter kept asking him about grinding a full length dagger. She wanted to give it a try. He contacted me again, I told him how simple it was and the following month he sent me an e-mail along with a pic of the dagger his daughter had ground. Just about perfect, he was amazed. She said it was easy using the Bubble Jig; just keep the bubble centered.
We have shipped close to 3,000 Bubble Jigs over the last 7 years so there are a lot of makers out there that grind with jigs. It's still free hand guys, its just a sight reference instead of feeling your way along. Don't limit yourself by trying to fill an open slot. Risk something, you will amaze yourself.


The only thing that is limiting in knife making is the makers imagination, Fred
 
Fred.Rowe said:
For those of you who state that grinding jigs are limiting; a short story. I shipped a Bubble Jig to a gentleman in California last year. He wrote back to me within a month telling me how his 13 year old daughter kept asking him about grinding a full length dagger. She wanted to give it a try. He contacted me again, I told him how simple it was and the following month he sent me an e-mail along with a pic of the dagger his daughter had ground. Just about perfect, he was amazed. She said it was easy using the Bubble Jig; just keep the bubble centered.
We have shipped close to 3,000 Bubble Jigs over the last 7 years so there are a lot of makers out there that grind with jigs. It's still free hand guys, its just a sight reference instead of feeling your way along. Don't limit yourself by trying to fill an open slot. Risk something, you will amaze yourself.


The only thing that is limiting in knife making is the makers imagination, Fred
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Fred I gotta say anytime a grinding jig is mentioned no matter how many nay sayers there are your bubble jig is ALWAYS the exception of the rule. It comes very highly recommended. If I had the spare 80 bucks I'd get one
 
Karl B. Andersen said:
I use a grinding jig in many operations for the same reason I don't do all of my rifle shooting freehand.
Funny how some guys will get all out of sorts about using a grinding jig, but the same guy uses variable speed grinders, reversible disc sanders, vertical mills and lathes.
I call it T.P.S. (Tiny penis syndrome)
I say to use absolutely every single possible advantage you can find if it helps you make a better knife.
Click to expand...

That is some wisdom right there.

What I do find funny is some maker will blast people and try to make a maker feel less for using a jig, and then you see they actually buy kit folders and tweaks them a bit and sells them.

For me I rather buy a knife from a maker who actually made it using jigs then buy a "kit knife" from a person who calls himself a "knifemaker".
 
AVigil said:
That is some wisdom right there.

What I do find funny is some maker will blast people and try to make a maker feel less for using a jig, and then you see they actually buy kit folders and tweaks them a bit and sells them.

For me I rather buy a knife from a maker who actually made it using jigs then buy a "kit knife" from a person who calls himself a "knifemaker".
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Agreed. I've never heard of someone losing a sale because theydidn't "freehand" their blade.
 
I have not found a reason to disagree with any post here. I must admit when I think of a jig, the static angle adjust like angle iron etc is what comes to mind. I started my first 2 knives with a file jig. After I purchased a grinder I used the bubble jig (which was a great teacher) to get the feel of free hand angles. I HAVE screwed up using the bubble jig but it gave me good muscle memory. I enjoy solely free-hand at this point. Nothing against jigs, just not for me. Who knows maybe someday down the road I may try one.
 
Fochops said:
I have not found a reason to disagree with any post here. I must admit when I think of a jig, the static angle adjust like angle iron etc is what comes to mind. I started my first 2 knives with a file jig. After I purchased a grinder I used the bubble jig (which was a great teacher) to get the feel of free hand angles. I HAVE screwed up using the bubble jig but it gave me good muscle memory. I enjoy solely free-hand at this point. Nothing against jigs, just not for me. Who knows maybe someday down the road I may try one.
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To each their own my man. I could care less how someone grinds bevels its a small piece of the entire shebang. I just wasn't sure why they were frowned upon as much. Michael walker (creator of liner locks) uses a jig to grind bevels.
 
valknut said:
To each their own my man. I could care less how someone grinds bevels its a small piece of the entire shebang. I just wasn't sure why they were frowned upon as much. Michael walker (creator of liner locks) uses a jig to grind bevels.
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Many top tier makers will use jigs, especially on small blades. When you master the use the precision and repeatably is a big time saver.
 
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