Holding Folder Blades when Grinding

[John Frankl]

Just wondering what people use to hold small folder blades when grinding?

Bare hand seems to lack control and leverage. Vice grips will mar the ricasso. Pictures would also be great.

Thanks.

 

[Matt Markell]

Subscribed as this is something I could use on smaller hidden tang fixed blades as well.

 

[Brian.Evans]

Make two blades at once and use one as a handle for the other. Works really well.

 

[Brian.Evans]

Meaning, cut them out with the tips pointing away from each other, pivots in towards each other, then getting one side at a time and cut apart when you're fine grinding. That's the way Don Robinson does it and it works well.

 

[Don Nguyen]

These are some pictures I've seen of Tom Watson's jig.

I think I remember he ground blades with something like this too:

 

[silver_pilate]

I don't do much with folders, but for the two blades I have ground for folding knives, I used a hand vise like this one.

--nathan

 

[clockworkfish]

vice grips plus a strip of leather works well. leather prevents the teeth from maring the steel

 

[John L]

I use the knife frame to hold the blades....notmally with bolsters and scales attached. I can flip open and closed to see how centering going. I think many slipjoint makers do this.

 

[John Frankl]

Thank you all so much for the replies so far.

medicevans: The double blade thing works great for me right now because I am actually grinding two very similar blades. They are already separate and drilled, but I can bolt them together. I never would have thought of it without your help!

I may also go with leather and vice grips or a hand vise--have both--in a pinch.

Don: The last photo looks good. Don't need/want a jig, but that last handle looks promising.

John L: I may try this as well. I did this to fit up the locks, etc., so it's certainly doable.