You should do a video on your plunge line technique.. If you want to give that secret away.....
No secrets on my end mate! I learnt a lot from people online, so I make a point of sharing everything I learn if I can!
I actually use a jig to do my grinding. Took me about 3 days to make, but it really only required a drill press and some patience, biggest issue for someone trying to replicate it would be the bearing block. I'm keeping that in the back of my head to see if I can come up with a simpler way of doing it. You can see it here:
http://imgur.com/a/ffxVM
The technique for the plunge lines is nothing too revolutionary but I believe it's different from what a lot of makers do.
First thing is I use a file guide clamped to the blade to make sure the plunge lines are equal left to right. Then I make sure my platen is dead square in both directions to my work table.
Basically I run the belt exactly at the edge of the platen, using an old file to test when the alignment is right, then I knock the grit off the corners of the belt using the same file. I start with a 36 grit blaze belt, move up to an 80 grit blaze belt, then 120 grit blaze, then 220 grit a/o, then A20 trizact. Every belt is setup the same way, right at the edge of the platen.
Each pass I do actually starts in the middle of the blade, then I work back and touch the plunge, then head back toward the tip.
This seems to work well, I get plunge lines that are identical left to right. Each plunge line is mostly square (which helps it to look crisp) but has a gentle radius right at the corner to make sure that's not a stress riser.
Here is a photo of a blade with the file guide attached, and clamped in the jig:
And the large work table I made for my KMG:
Here are some more results! (Don't mind the wobbly swedge, first one I had done...)
I'll make sure to do a video of the process at some point too!
