Belt grinder techniques! How to grind a knife

[@timhorton555]

I've watched hundreds of hours on grinding, no one has put all these bits of information together except you. Thank you.

[@Oldmaninabasement]

@@timhorton555 I'm going to try something that I seen I'm going to make it out of wood save us a lot of hassle I'll make a short when I get done it will be called belt sander table trial probably in a couple hours

[@Cptnbond]

I'm lucky I found this channel. Amazing tutorial for the beginner. Cheers.

[@adamalbright7479]

Thank you!! FINALLY I found what I was looking for. Cannot believe I never thought of just beveling a scrap of 2X4 and creating bevels from that. Bro, you saved me

[@keithwhatley5094]

This is great instruction man. I've been grinding a while and consider myself nowhere near an expert but I have watched a ton of videos (like everybody else I imagine). You have the most complete explanation here with not just "look how I do this, you do it too" but rather "you need to do it like this specifically for this reason" type of explanation. That's outstanding because it takes the mystery of what you're trying to achieve out of the equation. You're going to save a lot of people a lot of Steel. Practice may still be necessary but knowing specifically why you're doing something instead of just doing it because is invaluable.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

I'm glad you found it helpful, as we say on the ForgeCast Podcast, knowing the why is the most important! Cheers!

[@jedijoelam]

This is the video I really really needed. I just got started, and this video will save me from so many mistakes.

[@algordon5843]

Hi Sam Im a novice knife maker and an experienced KZbin watcher. I've been fiddling around with knives and the internet for more years than I care to admit and I can honestly say that this video has made the biggest contribution to my knowledge of knife grinding so far. Im hooked. Thanks mate.

[@SendARope]

Best video I've found so far. On point info.

[@weswerblades6497]

Best Knife making videos on KZbin!

[@fryscountrylifechannel4437]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@bucko1948]

great stick trick!

[@MadeInGarage]

Thanks, very useful information!

[@fourgedmushrooms5958]

Great tips 👍 my sander is in the mail, only a 1X30 but is a fancy one, and great upgrade from an angle grinder 😜

[@PracticalMinimalist]

Man, I learned so much from this. Thank you!

[@Mightymark226]

Best grinding video by far, well done.

[@troyswain1310]

Thanks for the tips. Almost done building my 2x72. I anticipate a few bloody knuckles haha

[@FoxRunForge]

Thanks for the in depth tutorial on grinding! May God Bless you and your family Greatly ⚒⚒⚒🙏🏻

[@brysonalden5414]

Thank you, Mr. Towns! I love the fact that I get such pertinent information all the way from your forge to mine, some 8,000 miles away.

[@kullcraven]

Good video thanks man. :) Happy 2023.

[@kensmapleleafretirement]

Thank you, Sam, for your great demo and explanations. I got a 2 X 72 today, so I will be giving knife making a go. Take care... Sam...

[@markdarlington9914]

would like to echo the previous comment this is the best video I have seen regarding grinding utilising all methods thank you very much for your time it really is greatly appreciated

[@J-Rigby]

Excellent instruction, sir.

[@girliedog]

Thank you very much for this excellent demo. You shared some great tips I've not seen on other video,

[@tonypozzuto]

Your a BEAST! Love the content!! keep it up, extremely helpful. Also, the podcast is fire!

[@garypostell5268]

Impressive amount of info skill and technique 👍💯🙏🇺🇸Thank You

[@chuckbowie5833]

Incredibly helpful, sir!

[@martinholloway7694]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video. Great information!

[@christaylor9778]

Very informative video, and one of the better ones I've watched. I really appreciate the explanations instead of just "do as I do" instruction. God bless you brother

[@Oldmaninabasement]

Thank you for your thorough explanations I use similar techniques sharpening on stones using my hips and legs for movement so this makes perfect sense yeah have to respect without fear nothing like an 80 mph belt going underneath the wrong nail hehe bloody mess

[@bradleach4947]

Man! What a great video dude! So much great information!

[@hermannauer4270]

German Belts - very clever!

[@mikee.1230]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I learned many things that I hadn’t gotten from other videos. Mike E.

[@badwolf6398]

I do a similar technique except for larger knives I just pull the knife and leave my pressure hand in place. Good vid keep up the good work.

[@tanzkoyolforever7743]

Good to see another video from ya!

[@ronaldcoleman1323]

Great job. Thank you.

[@ryanmorman7253]

This is a great, and informative video. Thank you for this!

[@phamworks]

This was incredibly helpful. Thanks for posting!

[@CMJ559]

Very informative. Thank you!

[@jerod5636]

Nice tutorial dude. Appreciate ya

[@ed.sol.crafts]

Dude! Thats awesome! Thank you!

[@mechwyn]

When I do the lineargrinding I use a old magnetic knifeholder. Its much more safety and the heat doesnt hurt my fingers... :) After heattreat you have to be carefull not to overheat.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

That is also a great Idea! My angle magnet broke so I didn't have it for this video

[@ValhallaIronworks]

Suuuuper good info. Now do one on how you achieve your gorgeous plunge lines lol

[@jackdawg4579]

Cheers for the video Sam - Why do you have the cutting edge of the knife up when grinding? I only make the odd knife for myself and have always ground with the cutting edge down.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

I need to be able to keep track of the edge thickness, and I find it easier to get my angle right when I grind edge up.

[@jackdawg4579]

@@SamTownsBladesmith cheers Sam.

[@rifleman7313]

I just purchased my first belt sander/grinder specifically for making knives. An inexpensive 4"X36" from Menards. From everything that I have heard/read a glass/ceramic flat platen is incredibly helpful. However I have no idea where I could acquire one or how to properly attach it. Do you have any advice regarding this? Thanks

[@kengoodwin8972]

Berry good info thank you

[@vorsprung2330]

Hello How do you make your belts Do you glue them yourself?

[@54Mizery]

Thanks. I learned a lot.

[@stepbro4978]

I don’t know if anyone said it already,but I use magnets when vertical grinding.I haven’t been sanded on my hands yet.

[@curtisatnoblepursuitironwo5979]

Thanks Sam.!

[@lapatriot9268]

Thanks for the lesson! Question, what speed should my belt grinder be running at for normal grinding? Mine is a fixed speed at about 4k fpm. Looking at a speed controller, but I dont know if the grinder I have is a "soft start" or not.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

4ksfpm is fine, realistically for steel the faster the better, especially with ceramic abrasives.

[@aldenunion]

Hey!!!! Great video,you should be a shop teacher.. Covered it well.. Will help many..Salute

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thanks mate, sharing my knowledge is my passion, so I'm glad to hear it's working!

[@rifleman7313]

Great video, especially for a new knife builder like myself. I'm thinking about doing a wharncliff knife since it has fewer angles or curves to deal with, possibly with a reverse tanto style tip (if thats even possible) so the knife would have both a strong tip and a easily sharpened and controllable edge. Would a 4" X 36" belt sander be advisable or perhaps a more conventional size 2" x 72" be better? Thanks

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Cheers mate yeah wharnecliffe and sheepsfoot blades are good for straight line grinding practise. Generally speaking 4" wide belt grinders are only suited for wood, and belts made in that size reflect that. I would definitely advise either a 2x48 or 2x72 rig

[@OuroborosArmory]

I need this... as I hate grinding.. or a 4x36

[@murraybest1144]

Thanks for that....what speed do you set your belts to travel?

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

With ceramics the faster the better. My grinder runs at 7000sfpm

[@murraybest1144]

Thanks

[@normjones6687]

Is that a very expensive grinder? I mostly work with wood and have just started making knives. Not planning on one for a business. Just for myself. Thanks.

[@garethbaus5471]

That particular one looks to be at least $1000, but you can get a 2x72 for significantly less if you don't need variable speeds or as complex of a design. Grizzly is a company that sells a relatively affordable 2x72. If you don't specifically need a 2x72 you can still grind knives with a 1x30 or a 1x42 either of which can usually be found for $100 or less. I will tell you as someone who primarily uses a 1x30 that a 2x72 is worth the extra cost if you have enough money for it and expect to be making a lot of knives.

[@chancelot26]

Do you profile on the grinder before or after quenching/hardening?

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Almost always before

[@chancelot26]

@@SamTownsBladesmith excellent thank you!

[@chrislx2006]

I have a belt grinder on order and will try making a small knife out of an old file for a first attempt. Thanks for all the blade grinding tips! I had a thought of making a wood handle with a couple of big neodymium magnets to hold the blade against the belt. Provided the temperature doesn't go above 80C the magnetism won't be affected (and that's hotter than anything I can hold in my bare hand!). Yes, it's going to get covered in metal particles but they'll wipe off. So with that thought I Google the idea only to find the method is already well established lol, someone even sells a wood handle with magnet for the very purpose on Amazon. Guess there's not much new in this field.

[@delmarmorschel458]

Very good.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Thanks!

[@anhphinguyen3358]

Can you turn the grinder to horizon direction?

[@zahnklyberg9448]

Subscribed

[@tigerbladesoul5954]

How grit for use to sharpeninh knife ?

[@Anex2024]

It’s the z axis

[@jr-lr5ld]

Hey, what grinder is that?

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

It's the Fire Pants Fabrication Fireant 2x72. They're no longer in production, but the scorpion they now make is an awesome machine

[@jr-lr5ld]

@@SamTownsBladesmith Thanks for the super quick reply! I'll check em out. Happy new year!

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

@@jr-lr5ld no worries, and to you!

[@brucecampbellforpresident1393]

That knife is cool daddy-o

[@daveferguson46]

Fuckin excellent video. Thanks man.

[@nathandunning7150]

I accidentally touched the edge of my 1x30 belt and cut my hand quite deeply really quickly. I will be extra careful when I finally have a 2x72.

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Yeah, the belts give a nasty papercut!

[@guloguloguy]

WHY DOES EVERY KNIFE MAKER GRIND WITH THE SHARP EDGE LEADING????!!!! THAT SEEMS DANGEROUS, CLUMSY, AND A QUICK WAY TO SLICE UP A BELT!...

[@SamTownsBladesmith]

Tell me you've never run a belt grinder without telling me you've never run a belt grinder...