Hi everyone,
Since I am making folding knives it is pretty important to keep things flat and parallel. For my folders so far I have been using flat ground O1 so I haven't had to worry too much but I would like to start using some of the ATS-34 I have in them as well. The problem I have is how to get rid of the scale from the ATS-34 I have. The first thing I tried was on the flat platen on my grinder but that was pretty unsuccessful at both flatness and parallelism. I then got some surface ground at a local engineering shop but needless to say at workshop rates it is going to be rather expensive if I get that done each time I do an ATS-34 knife so I am looking for an alternative.
I don't have room for a surface grinder in my workshop or the cash to get one so that is out of the question. I do however have access to some parts to make a disc grinder. I was thinking of making a lapping machine or something that I can put the rough profiled blades into and get them nice and flat with the scale off them. I could also use it to flatten the liners as well rather than hand sanding them like I do at present. Whilst this will get them flat will it keep both sides of the blade parallel? it doesn't matter so much if the liners only have one side parallel but it is important for the blade to be flat and parallel. Any other ideas aside from buying a surface grinder? I could also use it for some damascus I forged as well and it would remove the need to buy flat ground steel giving me more options for steel types to use.
Edit: A lapping machine might also be useful for thinning down micarta etc for liner lock back spacers once I try out some more folders other than slip joints since they couldn't be done on a surface grinder anyway
Alistair
Since I am making folding knives it is pretty important to keep things flat and parallel. For my folders so far I have been using flat ground O1 so I haven't had to worry too much but I would like to start using some of the ATS-34 I have in them as well. The problem I have is how to get rid of the scale from the ATS-34 I have. The first thing I tried was on the flat platen on my grinder but that was pretty unsuccessful at both flatness and parallelism. I then got some surface ground at a local engineering shop but needless to say at workshop rates it is going to be rather expensive if I get that done each time I do an ATS-34 knife so I am looking for an alternative.
I don't have room for a surface grinder in my workshop or the cash to get one so that is out of the question. I do however have access to some parts to make a disc grinder. I was thinking of making a lapping machine or something that I can put the rough profiled blades into and get them nice and flat with the scale off them. I could also use it to flatten the liners as well rather than hand sanding them like I do at present. Whilst this will get them flat will it keep both sides of the blade parallel? it doesn't matter so much if the liners only have one side parallel but it is important for the blade to be flat and parallel. Any other ideas aside from buying a surface grinder? I could also use it for some damascus I forged as well and it would remove the need to buy flat ground steel giving me more options for steel types to use.
Edit: A lapping machine might also be useful for thinning down micarta etc for liner lock back spacers once I try out some more folders other than slip joints since they couldn't be done on a surface grinder anyway
Alistair
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