I'm interested to learn what size contact wheels other smiths are using when grinding some of these fancier handles on their knives. I'm trying to decide whether to spend money on the 4" or 5" wheel (already have a 2" and some small wheels) for "dishing-out" the sides of the handle.
I grind very few handles.
Very few.
But when I create the palm heel dish-out I use an 8".
I think the smaller wheels will be too acute.
Karl B. Andersen
Journeyman Smith
Ed--I'd be tempted to say start with your 2" and if you want a larger radius then do it with a slack J-flex belt. More tools are always handy but not always necessary.
OK! Thanks, I've got an 8" and a 2" so I'll just keep using them... <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//cool.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='B)' />
The rotary platten is one of my most used tools.
I use a 2" and 5", to rough them in. Then I use rasps, slack belt and paper.
Bob
I generally use an 8" wheel for the Loveless sort of reverse hourglass profile. I've used my 12" on occasion too for specific handles. Most of the fine tuning gets done on a 1x42 slack belt with a 100 grit j flex though.
