Nathan the Machinist
KnifeMaker / Machinist / Evil Genius
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2007
- Messages
- 15,715
36", 48" and 72" curved platens and water cooled aluminum chillers to fit KMG.
These are all machined of A2 steel and hardened to HRC 62-64.
They are 8" long and 2" wide and have the KMG 1/4-20 6.75" center to center mounting pattern.
Radius platens are $110, chillers are $60. Flat rate shipping in the USA is $5.
There are ten 36" platens, fifteen 48" and ten 72".
The radius platens simulate 3', 4' and 6' wheels. Be aware that the 72" grind is too subtle to really notice with your eyes. It is mostly used by folks making certain kinds of kitchen knives.
In using the radius platens I have found the effect is subtle, but noticeable. It isn't a flat grind, but it isn't really a hollow grind. I believe this is a historically accurate grind for blades ground in yesteryear on really big stones. I see this being a cool grind for blades made in an older style, and blades like kitchen knives where you would want a full height grind on a tall thin blade.
The water cooled platen chiller is a very useful gizmo. You just about need one if you're grinding with a belt warped around a formed platen, but even folks doing regular flat grinding have found these to be very useful. I've gotten a lot of great feedback about these and I use mine all the time and wouldn't want to be without it. Grinding against a cool platen is a good thing.
These have an internal meandering water path circuit where you can pump, siphon or otherwise flow water to control the temperature of your platen. I use ice water and get mine cold.
The mating surface is precision machined flat and the back of my steel platens are also precision machined flat so you can simply bolt these up and get fairly decent heat transfer. For better heat transfer or to use a platen I didn't manufacture you can use a little thermal grease during assembly to get really good heat transfer.
The chiller is sealed with a buna N o-ring that is rated to 250 F. The o-ring is compatible with water, antifreeze and most oils. It is not particularly compatible with acetone, so if you're planning to flow subzero acetone through it for use as frozen quench plates - you probably shouldn't. The assembly can be opened to remove clogs or replace the o-ring if necessary. If opened, you should use a little smear of grease to lubricate the o-ring upon reassembly.
The pipe thread is a standard 1/4 NPT. You are responsible for hooking up your own coolant supply. I recommend swivel push-to-connect fittings and 1/4" or 3/8" plastic tubing, though rubber hose and hose barbs work too. I'm using a dinky little centrifugal pump here and a bucket of water. The meandering coolant path in the platen chiller induces a lot of turbulence in the water flow which helps you get good heat extraction without needing a lot of water flow. An aquarium pump is adequate. Or you might opt to hook up to your regular water supply and simply dump the water (though you'll go to hell for wasting water). Just remember you don't need huge flow or pressure here. Keep up with your tubing to keep it out of the grinder wheels and mechanism using zip ties or similar.
These are (just under) 2 X 8 with a 6 3/4" center to center hole pattern for the KMG grinder. If these platens will fit your grinder and you would like to buy one of these, I need you to please follow these instructions to help me keep up with everything (otherwise folks will fall through the cracks).
1: State your claim in this thread.
2: send me an email (not a private message) carothersknives at gmail dought com
The email should include what you are buying, your BladeForums handle (i.e.: "Nathan the Machinist"), your actual name, your shipping address and your paypal email address.
I will send a PayPal invoice to that email.
3. Pay the paypal invoice. Once it is paid, I will ship your order to the name and address you gave in your order email.
If you don't want to use paypal, we can arrange to send a check.
I don't imagine there will be shortages this time, but if there are, it will be based upon first come first serve who posts in this thread. I have to do it this way to keep things sane.
Thanks,
Nathan
These are all machined of A2 steel and hardened to HRC 62-64.
They are 8" long and 2" wide and have the KMG 1/4-20 6.75" center to center mounting pattern.
Radius platens are $110, chillers are $60. Flat rate shipping in the USA is $5.
There are ten 36" platens, fifteen 48" and ten 72".
The radius platens simulate 3', 4' and 6' wheels. Be aware that the 72" grind is too subtle to really notice with your eyes. It is mostly used by folks making certain kinds of kitchen knives.
In using the radius platens I have found the effect is subtle, but noticeable. It isn't a flat grind, but it isn't really a hollow grind. I believe this is a historically accurate grind for blades ground in yesteryear on really big stones. I see this being a cool grind for blades made in an older style, and blades like kitchen knives where you would want a full height grind on a tall thin blade.
The water cooled platen chiller is a very useful gizmo. You just about need one if you're grinding with a belt warped around a formed platen, but even folks doing regular flat grinding have found these to be very useful. I've gotten a lot of great feedback about these and I use mine all the time and wouldn't want to be without it. Grinding against a cool platen is a good thing.
These have an internal meandering water path circuit where you can pump, siphon or otherwise flow water to control the temperature of your platen. I use ice water and get mine cold.
The mating surface is precision machined flat and the back of my steel platens are also precision machined flat so you can simply bolt these up and get fairly decent heat transfer. For better heat transfer or to use a platen I didn't manufacture you can use a little thermal grease during assembly to get really good heat transfer.
The chiller is sealed with a buna N o-ring that is rated to 250 F. The o-ring is compatible with water, antifreeze and most oils. It is not particularly compatible with acetone, so if you're planning to flow subzero acetone through it for use as frozen quench plates - you probably shouldn't. The assembly can be opened to remove clogs or replace the o-ring if necessary. If opened, you should use a little smear of grease to lubricate the o-ring upon reassembly.
The pipe thread is a standard 1/4 NPT. You are responsible for hooking up your own coolant supply. I recommend swivel push-to-connect fittings and 1/4" or 3/8" plastic tubing, though rubber hose and hose barbs work too. I'm using a dinky little centrifugal pump here and a bucket of water. The meandering coolant path in the platen chiller induces a lot of turbulence in the water flow which helps you get good heat extraction without needing a lot of water flow. An aquarium pump is adequate. Or you might opt to hook up to your regular water supply and simply dump the water (though you'll go to hell for wasting water). Just remember you don't need huge flow or pressure here. Keep up with your tubing to keep it out of the grinder wheels and mechanism using zip ties or similar.
These are (just under) 2 X 8 with a 6 3/4" center to center hole pattern for the KMG grinder. If these platens will fit your grinder and you would like to buy one of these, I need you to please follow these instructions to help me keep up with everything (otherwise folks will fall through the cracks).
1: State your claim in this thread.
2: send me an email (not a private message) carothersknives at gmail dought com
The email should include what you are buying, your BladeForums handle (i.e.: "Nathan the Machinist"), your actual name, your shipping address and your paypal email address.
I will send a PayPal invoice to that email.
3. Pay the paypal invoice. Once it is paid, I will ship your order to the name and address you gave in your order email.
If you don't want to use paypal, we can arrange to send a check.
I don't imagine there will be shortages this time, but if there are, it will be based upon first come first serve who posts in this thread. I have to do it this way to keep things sane.
Thanks,
Nathan
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