Freehand or Jig

[WhiteBeard121]

Which do you do while belt grinding? If you've been doing this for some time, how did you start out? Would using a jig slow you down in developing your "eye" and "feel"?

Love looking at ya'lls beautiful knives, got to give it a try.

thanks for your reponses,

WhiteBeard 121

[Lin Rhea]

The use a of jigs is very limited. Most blades have curves along the length which changes the way it would ride the jig. That's why I eyeball nearly everything. As a rule, I dont like straight lines. That really influences the way I grind.

[tomsm44]

I haven't been doing this for very long, but I'd recommend free hand.  I haven't used any jigs but the ones I've seen look like they would limit you.  Free hand should allow more design flexibility.  If you're using a belt grinder, start out on really slow speeds if possible with about an 80 grit belt.  Takes a little longer but minimizes mistakes.  Faster rarely yuelds better results.  As you get better, you can increase the speed and use coarser grits if needed.   Just my 2 cents.

Matt Toms

[Lin Rhea]

There are places for jigs, of course, but Matt has the same approach as me. Take it slow and develope your eye.

[tomsm44]

Another tip someone gave me is to stick with one type of grind until you get it down.  Then start working on other grinds if you are interested in them.

[Lamey]

Ive never used jigs,  too many limitations. Heck I don't even use templates or even sketch my knives before hand.    

[Ringneck]

Learning to grind without a jig is the best way to go in my opinion.

[madness522]

I don't use jigs either. But I will use the work table to even up my plung lines. One thing that should really help you learn to grind is to pick one knife design you really like, maybe a 4" hunter type, and make 10 of them.  The goal is to have each one turn out better then the one before it.

[gables]

All good advice here. I use a push stick to push the blade against the belt. Where you apply pressure is where you will grind the most. You will beign to develop an eye and feel for grinding exactly where you want. It is also good to make a grinding pass and look at the blade each time to watch your progress. Scrubbing the blade back and forth across the belt can lead to uneven grinding. I have to concentrate hard to make my hands work the same when grinding the two sides.

One thing to clarify on jigs, there are jigs used for getting the angle of the grind and there are also filing guides that many people use, including Master Smiths, that allow you to perfectly align your plungs lines.

[tippit]

All my grinding is free hand.  Don't throw out your mistakes.  I find reworking later gives you great practice in correcting/improving your technic.

[WhiteBeard121]

Thanks for all the advice, I'll be sure to use it. There is so much great information here, makes for a good educational read.

Well, I now have three blades ready for the fire and oil. One is from a large farriers file, the other two from purchased stock. I liked working with the old file way better than the purchased material. Something "romantic" in old stuff. Working on my forge now, Wife gave me a cross peen hammer her grandfather used to have, need to shape a new handle for it.

Even though I haven't finished the first knife yet, I know I am a fledgling knifemaker and I have the stitches to prove it. Watch out for those portable cut-off grinders! It was educational, I got to see what finger tendons and knuckle bone looks like. Knife was bloodied before completion.

Having a ball...,

[Lin Rhea]

I'm glad you're enjoying it but please be careful. These tools can get you before a cat can lick his whiskers.   :eek:

[tomsm44]

 

That sounds like an expensive knife.  I got to see how far half of a cutoff wheel from a Dremel tool would stick in a tin roof a while back.  It'll get your heart rate up.  Luckily I've only got some scrapes and scratches so far.  Hope you heal up quickly.

[Bladepeek]

I jumped off a dock in high school - cut all the tendons in the bottom of my left foot when I landed on an old coffee can. Spent 6 weeks in a cast up to my upper thigh and 6 months on crutches.

The cuts and grinder-belt-knuckles from knife making at least lead to something useful.  

[Mperez76er]

I'm not a pro by all means but as I was going to give up and was looking for jigs I gave it my best my hollow grinds are coming out nicely I've learned the hard way but it is the best way ill see if I can post some picks of my progress

[akaboomer]

I have used file guides to even up plunge lines after heat treat some but otherwise its free hand. I started just using files and backing sticks so the transition to a grinder was hard for me.
Grinding is fast and lets me make mistakes fast. Keep after it, be safe and show us something from time to time.

Chris