Knife is one of the tools that you can't do without in the household. In specialized stores, consumers are presented with a wide range of various kitchen, dining, multifunctional and hunting cutting products. For a knife to be effective and last for a long time, it must be chosen correctly. However, most home crafters prefer to use their own blades. Having the right tool and consumables, beginners face one problem - they do not know how to properly release the knife. This element in the design of the product is very important, since the appearance and cutting properties of a homemade blade will depend on its quality performance. You will find information on how to make descents on a knife with your own hands in this article.
Introducing the element
Despite the fact that making a homemade knife is a rather laborious process, this does not stop home craftsmen. There may be several reasons for this. Mostly this desire to satisfy their creative potential. Using improvised materials, you can create a knife of the type you like. Judging by the reviews, handicraft products are practically not inferior to factory ones. In addition, significant savings can be made. However, making a knife at home involves strict adherence to the rules, namely, the home craftsman will have to follow the sequence of actions. According to experts, one of the important stages of production is the design of slopes. These elements are made by milling flat blanks and are very important in the design of the blade, as they provide its piercing and cutting properties. How to make descents on a knife? What tool is needed for this purpose? Read more about how beginners make smooth descents on a knife - below.
Ways
Those who do not know how to pull down on a knife blade can be recommended to use one of three methods. According to experts, the most common tool for this task is an emery machine. This technique is used mostly by beginners. The second method is considered more difficult - using an angle grinder (grinder). The third is practiced by experienced craftsmen who "feel" the metal and can practically do without additional technical devices.
How to make descents on a knife grinder? Whatneeded for work?
Before you make descents on the knife, you should get the following tool:
- Blade blank. Judging by the numerous reviews, good knives are obtained from blades from old mechanical saws. Due to the fact that this material is cheap, in case of damage to the workpiece, it will not be a pity to throw it away, and the beginner has the opportunity to practice working as a grinder before making a descent on a knife from more expensive raw materials.
- Cardboard template of the future knife.
- Angle grinder (aka grinder). A thick abrasive 125 mm circle is installed on it. With its help, cleaning and peeling work is usually performed.
- Vise. On the workbench, they must be firmly fixed.
- Screw clamp.
- Angle or piece of pipe with a square section.
- Water container.
Where to start? Preparatory stage
For those who do not know how to make descents on a knife, experienced craftsmen recommend following the following sequence of actions:
- First, using the template, you need to transfer the outline of the blade to the blank.
- Cut a knife with a grinder. This must be done clearly along the marked line. At this stage, experienced craftsmen do not cut out the butts, otherwise difficulties may arise during the grinding of the descents in the future: the tip of the blade will turn out to be filled with edges. According to experts, this part of the blade is the most problematic.
- Draw a line of descents on the workpiece. This must be done on both sides. The line itself should be as thin as possible, but wellnoticeable from any angle.
- Clamp a rectangular pipe or angle in a vise. The workpiece will be pressed to it by means of a clamp. Experts recommend using two clamps. In this case, the master will be able to press the tip of the knife. If there is only one clamp, then it will have to be moved closer to the place of processing. The entire plane of the workpiece should be pressed against the support as tightly as possible.
In the preparatory phase, it is undesirable for the clamp screws to be too tight. It is enough just to prevent the displacement of the workpiece. It will be more convenient to work if the clamping devices are located on the opposite side. The places in the workpiece on which the descents are turned should, on the contrary, be closer to the master.
What do the experts recommend?
How to make the descent on the knife smoothly so as not to spoil the workpiece? Judging by the reviews, it is not uncommon for the metal to be cauterized, split, or pits form on it. According to experienced craftsmen, this is possible if the manipulations are carried out with a cutting disc. For this reason, it is desirable to work with a thick rough stone for metal. Masters recommend using an abrasive, the thickness of which is at least 7 mm. One of these very high-quality and wear-resistant products is the abrasive wheel from the Japanese manufacturer Makita. Judging by the numerous consumer reviews, it easily grinds even hardened steel. Having mastered the technique of making descents through peeling circles, many home craftsmen switch to thickcutting. To reduce vibration, which is a consequence of a significant axial load, you should work with circles whose thickness is at least 0.2 cm. If you ignore this advice and start with cutting, then sooner or later the beginner will still return to peeling. However, during this time, you can translate a lot of blanks. In addition, the cutting disc begins to vibrate strongly under the influence of lateral load. Often it breaks and can be dangerous for both the master himself and those around him.
About chamfering
First, the middle is marked on the workpiece. The line outlines the place for the future cutting edge. Then, tightening the peeling disc more securely, turn on the grinder. The cutting surface should be perpendicular to the edge of the knife. It is not necessary to lean heavily on the disk, on the contrary, they should barely touch the workpiece. First, a small chamfer is carefully removed along the edge along the marked line. It is important that a distance of 0.2 mm is maintained from the line to the middle of the knife. At this stage, you should be as accurate as possible. The grinder can be moved along the entire length of the cutting edge being machined. To prevent the metal from overheating and losing its original properties, it should be periodically cooled during operation. For this purpose, the surface of the workpiece is abundantly watered with water. Some beginners often ask questions: why chamfer a workpiece and what will it give? According to experienced craftsmen, it will be much easier to make an escapement with an existing chamfer, since it will be a clear visible lower limit that cannot be entered. It is important that the chamfer is removed along the entirecutting edge.
Continuation of work
After the chamfer has already been removed, you can start manufacturing on the blank of slopes. It will not be difficult to do this: the craftsmen carefully guide the peeling disk towards the butt. Judging by the reviews, at the points of contact of the disk, a perfectly visible trace remains on the surface, making it convenient for the master to monitor the movement of the stone. Since the chamfer border is noticeable, the home craftsman will know exactly where he should stop. Next, near the heel of the knife, you need to draw the beginning of the descent. To do this, you need to cross the end surface of the stone with the cylindrical one, carefully bringing the disk to the line. The cutting surface must be perpendicular to the cutting edge. When viewed from above, the disc will be turned vertically to the plane of the knife when working properly. A stone with a cylindrical surface will allow this to be observed: the cylinder, rolling along the workpiece, will indicate the vertical. If a deviation occurs, then the disk will stand on edge, which the master will immediately feel and stop work. Otherwise, you can make extra recesses with a stone in the workpiece, which is undesirable.
How to make descents on an emery knife?
Judging by the reviews, many knifemakers try to simplify their work as much as possible. For this purpose, various additional devices are created. The main mechanical "assistant" of such a specialist is a grinding machine. The tool is equipped with a motor, and the work is done by means of a stone. Output descent on the workpieceyou can just hold it in your hands.
It is enough to drive back and forth along the grinding wheel. The edge of the stone should be perpendicular to the surface of the workpiece. However, in this case, there is no guarantee that the same angle will be maintained along the entire cutting edge. It is possible that the hands will get tired of holding the workpiece and the descent will go astray. You can prevent this with the help of a special technical device. It is made from a steel plate, a piece of a corner and a clamp. The plate will be used as a platform on which the workpiece is located. So that it does not slip, it is held pressed to the corner. With this device, the width of the slopes is adjusted. To do this, just turn the clamp screw, changing the angle of the plate.
About handmade
This method is mainly used by specialists who know how to “feel” steel and know when to stop. They work with a file "by eye". The workpiece is securely fixed on a flat surface. Then, with a file at the right angle, they begin to make out the descents. Judging by the reviews, this method is tedious and long.
In closing
Whatever way the home craftsman chooses to decorate the slopes, it is important not to forget about safety. Before starting work, you should check the serviceability of electrical equipment and get rid of defective disks. Injury can be preventedif you use protective gloves and goggles.
