A Simple Hollow Grinding Jig

by Basta

63K9615

Intro: A Simple Hollow Grinding Jig

This is a jig I threw together from things in my shop that makes it easy to create hollow-ground knife bevels. I would have made an instructable out of it, but I don't have any pictures of the process and it's pretty easy to see how the thing goes together any way. The metal widget with the springs is there just to make sure the work rest (the piece of cherry with the c-clamp on top) doesn't move around and change the distance of the knife to the wheel. The c-clamp itself is cut down so I have a better view and control of the knife while grinding. I can also move it around to accommodate blades of different widths and thicknesses.

This jig could also work for with a bench grinder with a hard wheel. The roller that makes my hollow edge only has a 4-inch diameter, which is a little small for single edges...but it's the best I've got right now. And the blades end up devilishly sharp.

The last few images are of a knife I recently made with this jig, what I'm calling a "camp seax." Straight edges are easier. If you've seen my knifemaking Instructable, you can tell that I've greatly improved in a couple years.

15 Comments

bruce5000 10 years ago

check your messages like idea thanks

jetboy 10 years ago

can this be applied to a bench grinder?

Basta 10 years ago

Definitely. It's a little beefier than the tool rests that come with most grinding wheels, too.

ripit 12 years ago

just bein nosey here,is the base of yer jig a chunk of purpleheart?

reedje777 12 years ago

I'd like an instructable on how to build your grinder. Where'd you get that?

fishcake27 13 years ago

hey basta, about how much did this cost completely?

Basta 13 years ago

All I bought were the springs, the rest was scrap lying around...so I spent about $2.50. YMMV, especially if you don't weld. I'd guess about $20 for all materials.

pfred2 13 years ago

I like it! How do you adjust your belt tracking?

Basta 13 years ago

There's a lever to the side of the platen that tilts it laterally--part of the grinder, though, not the jig.

pfred2 13 years ago

Oh OK I thought you'd made the whole belt sander attachment I see it now you made the tool rest. I've made a few tool rests myself. I've modified this one a little more since this picture but this is the general idea:

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/1992/pict0241.jpg

For hollow grinding chisel and plane blades mostly.

I made this other one first though sort of a proof of concept before I committed to doing it in steel:


caarntedd 13 years ago

This is pretty good, and I think if you set this out as an instructable with notes to go with each of your pics, you would have a decent 'ible. None of your parts look difficult to make. Great work.