Need advice on fullers please...

Chris Railey

Well-Known Member
I am looking to do some fullers to reduce weight on larger blades. I can hammer fullers in but I do not see how that reduces weight since material is only moved and not removed. I am looking for a way to grind in a straight fuller or groove without a mill because I do not have one. Surely someone has a hand tool trick or something...Thanks.
 
I think that most folks do it with a small wheel set up in their grinder? Never done one before, but have seen it done that way, carefully.
 
When you hammer in the fuller you make the blade lighter for a blade of the finished dimension as opposed to a blade without the fuller of the same dimension. In short, you start out with a narrower bar, thus lighter, and then you widen it with the fuller.

Besides small wheels there are those who make a scraper to cut fullers into a blade. I'd google up something like "fuller scrapers" to see what I could come up with.

Doug
 
Chris, I ground in the fullers of the small bowies I have recently finished. I shot a little video of it let me see if I can find it.
 
When you hammer in the fuller you make the blade lighter for a blade of the finished dimension as opposed to a blade without the fuller of the same dimension. In short, you start out with a narrower bar, thus lighter, and then you widen it with the fuller.

Besides small wheels there are those who make a scraper to cut fullers into a blade. I'd google up something like "fuller scrapers" to see what I could come up with.

Doug
When I think about it that does make sense for larger fullers because steel was moved from that area and displaced other steel which was perhaps ground away leaving less steel overall. The fullers I want to do are more like racing stripes than blood grooves. I will google scraper and see what I can find, thanks.
 
When you hammer in the fuller you make the blade lighter for a blade of the finished dimension as opposed to a blade without the fuller of the same dimension. In short, you start out with a narrower bar, thus lighter, and then you widen it with the fuller.

Besides small wheels there are those who make a scraper to cut fullers into a blade. I'd google up something like "fuller scrapers" to see what I could come up with.

Doug

Here is a informative link to another site. It is all about building a fullering tool! https://www.bladesmithsforum.com/index.php?/topic/9070-grooverfullering-cutting-tool/

I have been kicking around a different version of this one in the thread. Do I think it will work. Well there is not but one way to find out and that is too build it! If things ever slow down around here I may get back into the shop and try it!!
 
Here is a informative link to another site. It is all about building a fullering tool! https://www.bladesmithsforum.com/index.php?/topic/9070-grooverfullering-cutting-tool/

I have been kicking around a different version of this one in the thread. Do I think it will work. Well there is not but one way to find out and that is too build it! If things ever slow down around here I may get back into the shop and try it!!

OK That is going to happen this weekend. I have a couple of questions though. 1). I cannot tell what shape to make the actual cutter head. Maybe a "V"? 2). Am I correct to assume that the only part of the tool to touch the blade would be the cutter? The tool body does not slide across the blade too right?
 
OK That is going to happen this weekend. I have a couple of questions though. 1). I cannot tell what shape to make the actual cutter head. Maybe a "V"? 2). Am I correct to assume that the only part of the tool to touch the blade would be the cutter? The tool body does not slide across the blade too right?


Chris, this from what I can see!!! In that post in the video when he draws the tool, only the bit is touching and the wood handle touches. The bit will only cut a little depth at a time but with each pass it would cut deeper!!! About 2/3rds of the way down the first page there is another on made by dan pfanenstiel. On his tool he is using a U shaped bit.

On page 2 of that thread you will see this photo, groover11.jpg

If you look closely he has made a double ended bit, one end is U shaped and the other is V shaped!! The brass plate is a guide to run against the knife blade to guide the tool and keep it straight!!
 
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