Anyone use a rock for hollow grinding a blade?
- Thread starter Leeco
- Start date
Drew Riley
Well-Known Member
It can be done, but a belt on a contact wheel is far superior.
One of the bigger obstacles with a stone wheel is the uneven wear and changing diameter.
One of the bigger obstacles with a stone wheel is the uneven wear and changing diameter.
EdCaffreyMS
"The Montana Bladesmith"
Obviously it's something that CAN be done, but the question is..... Will you create more problems for yourself then you solve?
-"Rock" wheels abrade away as they are used, constantly reducing the diameter. This means the wheel is constantly reducing in size....changing the way it grinds.
-They come in very limited grit sizes (this means you have to figure out other methods to "clean up" the grinds)
-Compared to abrasive belts the amount of stock removal is painfully slow
-"Rock" wheels "glaze" and/or clog more so then abrasive belts, and are more difficult to clean/deglaze.
-They are very sensitive to speed versus how efficiently they work.
-The are susceptible to chipping/breaking
-Compared to abrasive belts they are just plain more dangerous to use.
I don't mean to be the rain on the parade, but I simply can't see any advantages to using a "rock" wheel for blade grinder over a belt. I guess that MAYBE, if an individual doesn't own a belt grinder, and only wants to "play" with making a single blade, it might be more economical, but if it's something a person wants to try, in order to see if knifemaking is for them....it's just gona drive you away.
-"Rock" wheels abrade away as they are used, constantly reducing the diameter. This means the wheel is constantly reducing in size....changing the way it grinds.
-They come in very limited grit sizes (this means you have to figure out other methods to "clean up" the grinds)
-Compared to abrasive belts the amount of stock removal is painfully slow
-"Rock" wheels "glaze" and/or clog more so then abrasive belts, and are more difficult to clean/deglaze.
-They are very sensitive to speed versus how efficiently they work.
-The are susceptible to chipping/breaking
-Compared to abrasive belts they are just plain more dangerous to use.
I don't mean to be the rain on the parade, but I simply can't see any advantages to using a "rock" wheel for blade grinder over a belt. I guess that MAYBE, if an individual doesn't own a belt grinder, and only wants to "play" with making a single blade, it might be more economical, but if it's something a person wants to try, in order to see if knifemaking is for them....it's just gona drive you away.
Raymond Richard
Forum Owner & Moderator
I did hollow grind 3 or 4 blades using an 8" stone wheel when I first started making about 20 years ago. It can be done but even with a good hollow grind using a stone wheel the scratches are very deep and finishing the blade is very time consuming. The best thing about using a stone wheel is you will appreciate a belt grinder that much more.