FILING THE BEVEL

[DANA HOLMAN]

QUESTION GUYS
DO MOST OF YOU GUYS FILE THE BEVEL ON YOUR BLADES, OR WITH A BELT SANDER? I USE MY BELT SANDER, I THINK THIS IS WHERE I'M SCREWING UP I CAN'T SEAM TO A STRIGHT EDGE. GIVE ME SOME DIRECTION
THANKS

[Jeremy]

I freehand grind with 2x42 or 1x30 belt sander.  If you're using a handheld belt sander, just clamp it in a vise.

Getting even grind lines and a straight edge just takes practice.

[DANA HOLMAN]

thanks jeremy
i am using 1x30 beltsander but may try filing, it only takes 1 f@#@@# up and you can start over
thanks

[Holm-Made]

I've made about 200 knives and never got good at doing the bevels 100% on the belt grinder.  My grinder runs too fast for good control.  I grind for a while then straighten the bevel out by draw filing, then repeat as many times as necessary.

By draw filing I mean this;  I use a single cut bastard file and grab it my both ends and use it like a draw knife running the length of the bevel, tip to handle and back and forth.  I finish the bevel by wrapping sand paper around the file.  
Hope this helps.  Chad

[DANA HOLMAN]

THANKS CHAD
THAT SOUND GOOD, I'VE GOT A SKINER I'M WORKING ON AND I'LL TRY IT THIS WEEKEND. CAN I BUY A SINGLE CUT FILE AT HOMEDEPOT OR DO I NEED TO ORDER IT?
THANKS

[madness522]

Here is a simple jig I made to do the bevels from a 2"x2" aluminum angle iron. I'm am just starting but with a little practice I think this will work pretty good on my 1x42" sander.

 

Here are a couple that I used the jig to grind. The top one is a piece of circular saw blade that is all but useless for making a knife but I do like the shape! And the other is O1.

 

[DANA HOLMAN]

THANKS MADNESS
THATS GAVE ME A GOOD IDEA OF HOW TO MAKE ONE
THANKS AGAIN

[madness522]

Just to make sure you know it was turned around for the pic  

[mwmwmb]

chad and maddness those are both good tricks i will try those my self. thanks guys.

[mwmwmb]

quick question what angle bevel do most folks do?

[Holm-Made]

Also if you plan to do much filing, do yourself a favor and use annealed steel.  Good Luck,  Chad

[tippit]

I do my bevel freehand to 25 degrees...just a feel thing.  I do it in the slack belt area just above a 4 inch wheel.  The belt is pretty tight there with just enough give to convex the edge.  I put my bevel on after the blade has been quenched and tempered.  One pass at a time and cooled.  I start with 50 grit belt--120grit--400grit.  My last grit I'll move into a fairly slack area to just put a wrap around polish on the edge.  They come out as sharp as a fine diamond hone on a Gatco sharpening system.  I'll try to post a couple of pictures for explanation...tippit.

[tippit]

Ooops, I may have read this wrong in that I was talking about putting my edge on the finished blade     Sorry about that confusion...tippit

My bevels of either flat or hallow grind are all free hand.  I do my bevel blade shape with 36 grit belts to quickly hog off the metal.  Then it's a matter of taking the scratches out with 50--120--250--400--finally a worn out 400 grit for my finish.