help me out with a couple terms...

SkaerE · Dec 12, 2002

ok, a couple knife terms im not quite sure of.

1.) the plunge : what is it? where does it start?

2.) the ricasso : is that the flat part that people normally stamp/etch their logo/name?

3.) not a term, but why are contact wheels covered in rubber?

4.) what exactly is profiling a knife? cutting/sanding to rough shape?

thanks to all in advance

rlinger · Dec 12, 2002

The plunge is where the edge starts, at the front of ricasso. I refer to it as the 'plunge line'.

You are correct about the ricasso.

I don't know enough about belt grinders to help much on that question.

Roger

RHINOKNIVES · Dec 12, 2002

because it cushion's the wheel as you work on the wheel. they come in differnt hardness, called durometers. it chatters like crazy if you press steel on a bare wheel. profileing is grinding the outside of the knife, before you start the plunge cut at the ricassio. hope this helps.

rlinger · Dec 12, 2002

Yeh, I forgot about profiling: the shape, its outline. When I profile a new design (or someone elses design that I want to copy) I use that finished 'blank' to trace a template for later use when I want to duplicate that design, or 'profile'.

RL

SkaerE · Dec 12, 2002

excellent, you guys are great.

hey, Rlinger where are you in W.Va? im down in SW Virginia.

rlinger · Dec 12, 2002

I am about half way between Charleston and Huntington but closer to Charleston.

The ricasso question was one of my first when I joined this site last spring.

Roger

Reg ELLERY · Dec 13, 2002

Re the rubber A lot was said about rubber a 5 or 6 years ago. There were a lot made with groves cut accross them on a diagobal. It was said to help things stay cool.
I believed the publicity and bought one. I have since used a couple of wheels without the groves. I think it feels better and gives a better curve without the groves.

Others may have their own preferance. I am just too cheap to re surface the wheel so its not that bad that I can't live with it.If I bought a new one it would not have groves. They feel smother to me.

I am not a professional either so it may make a difference to them.

E.V.Chavar · Dec 13, 2002

I agree with only using smooth wheels. After having tried both, I had all my wheels recovered with a smooth surface. I feel that this gives a much better /soother surface to the grind.and allows me to achive a much nicer hand finnish.