Surface Grinder Alternative

[Josh Perdue]

Do any of you guys use a 4x36 harbor freight or similar type grinder to flatten your profiled blanks or scale material?
Looking for another way or option as opposed to buying a surface grinder attachment.

 

[DevinT]

A disc sander is best but a good one is pricey.

Hoss

 

[AVigil]

 

[koduu]

Do any of you guys use a 4x36 harbor freight or similar type grinder to flatten your profiled blanks or scale material?
Looking for another way or option as opposed to buying a surface grinder attachment.

If the material is flat from one side then you can use just a regular 2x72 grinder with a wheel attachment and a flat plate.

basically you just flatten out the plate to be square to the wheel and feed in the blade from below the plate, inbetween the wheel and plate. doesent give you accurate results but if your material is like 5 mm thick but you need to make a 2 mm knife then its the cheapest and quickest way to do it. Be aware that the blade will occasionally grab the wheel and fly right to the floor so but something to soften the blow (wood plate or a larger pile of grinding dust). take ca 0.5 mm cuts max and cool the blade often. I usually start from the tip, push it in for a few inches, then pull it back out, cool it in water and then push it back in , but this time i will pull instead of push the rest of the blade through.

Also you really gotta watch how your hands and elbows are positioned, so that when it grabs the blade then the hand would not automatically force the grab to be even stronger.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

It is necessary to point out that wedging a bar of metal between the work rest and contact wheel is not the safest idea. The above idea is dangerous.

 

[JV Knives]

While I get what Koduu is saying, it is necessary to point out that wedging a bar of metal between the work rest and contact wheel is not the safest idea.

100% with Stacy on this one....that could work, but would make me as nervous as lighting a cigarette with a blow torch. Wedged items from a 2x72 big wheel come out of there in a hurry.

 

[Natlek]

While I get what Koduu is saying, it is necessary to point out that wedging a bar of metal between the work rest and contact wheel is not the safest idea.

What Koduu is saying is the most dangerous thing I ever read on bladeforum I don't even believe that he tried it. Does he understand what will happen if he changes the angle just a little while he drag steel down that gap from hell ?

 

[Natlek]

I posted somewhere pictures how I done that once or twice ....I can t find where and I can t find picture in comp.
Something like this , I hope it is clear . Align steel you grind with belt , set guide and grind once twice .Then align steel again with belt , move guide fix it and grind ................

 

[kurtmm]

I would agree with AVIGIL. But, You can if you have the resources go to tool and machine auctions.

 

[Lorien]

my alternative to a surface grinder is a granite slab

 

[DanF]

Lost my index fingernail like that, ripped it right off.

 

[Josh Perdue]

Thanks for all the responses I appreciate it.

 

[Seedy Lot]

I think Josh you need to ask yourself what tasks you think you would use the surface grinder for and then see if these task can reliably be accomplished without the surface grinder.

I have a love hate relationship with my surface grinder attachment but when I ask it to taper tangs or grind through mill scale it performs.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If it is just reducing thickness and flattening a bar after forging, a grinding magnet and a 36-grit belt on a pyroceramic glass platen will work just fine.

 

[JV Knives]

I posted somewhere pictures how I done that once or twice ....I can t find where and I can t find picture in comp.
Something like this , I hope it is clear . Align steel you grind with belt , set guide and grind once twice .Then align steel again with belt , move guide fix it and grind ................

I think the issue here is one of holding the "blue" line parallel to the "red" line and keeping it that way allllll the way across the material in 2" sub sections....harder than it looks

 

[Natlek]

I think the issue here is one of holding the "blue" line parallel to the "red" line and keeping it that way allllll the way across the material in 2" sub sections....harder than it looks

I done that and it works .Green part is guide so you can keep Blue line parallel to Red line .Make several pass and move grin part .......I think that I explain in previous post how it would work ?

 

[JV Knives]

I done that and it works .Green part is guide so you can keep Blue line parallel to Red line .Make several pass and move grin part .......I think that I explain in previous post how it would work ?

Yep…get the concept.