Well, I was using a friend's grinder on my first full tang knife last night. It has a tapered tang and blade which was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I struggled with the transition point where it got thickest, then back narrower on the blade. I REALLY like how quickly I can progress on a blade with a grinder as opposed to my file, but I got a first hand lesson in how quickly I can mess one up....
I ended up with a bad angle and scooped a bit into the blade which meant by the time it was leveled back out, it was too thin especially at the tip. Even after grinding the tip back so it was thicker (which I don't like the profile now...) the tip is still too thin, I think.
I'm planning on continuing with it and am guessing there will be a bad moment when the quench comes. I suppose I'm working towards filling the knifemaker's scrapbox... I'm choosing to keep going to see what I can learn rather than just tossing it now. Worst part is this was for one of my brothers and I was hoping to show him at a family trip soon.
Ah, well.... Here's to growing pains.
Jeremy
I feel your pain. Thats why, for now, I am staying with the files. I have three I need to finish in time to get them to my brothers in Colorado before Bow season. Can't afford mistakes on these so NO GRINDING.
Chris
Keep grinding, it's the only way to learn!
Take your time. Try to develope good habits.
I agree with Jeff and Lin, Keep going and develop good habits, my first knife with a taper tang went together without any issue, I was lucky, its all the other ones that need help (thus the developing good habits part)
TBRA
Work on technique and good habbits. Good habits might include setting up extra lights, using layout dye, making grinding guidelines, wearing safety equipment and concentrating on how you stand and move at the grinder. There are more lessons in that knife so take it to completion. View it as a mark of your accomplishments and not as a series of mistakes.
I have ruined blades in a bucket as a reminder to slow down when power grinding.
Thanks for the encouragement-I think my biggest thing is to develop those good habits you're talking about. I tend to be somewhat slow (like molasses in January) on the grinder because I'm not wanting to mess up... One thing I think I need to do more, is create those habits of looking at the whole contact area (would've seen my lousy angle) instead of one little spot. Also, taking the time to keep looking and checking down the spine, the blade, etc., more would help.
Can't learn very well if I don't try-thanks for the pick-me-up.
Jeremy
one day it will hit you and you will be pushing that blade right into the plunge, sparks flying, steel burning up... just keep grinding!