chisel grind pros and cons

[lobo9er]

I am messing around with some leaf springs making some tackle box knives for my hunting/fishing group of friends. I am thinking about about doing them with a chisel grind. I dont have any knives with a chisel grind nor have ever used one. whats your thoughts?

And to throw it out there, I am amateur at best, these are going to be ugly. I am also thinking a chisel grind maybe easier for me to do.

 

[Sam1911]

I'm not sure they're going to be easier, but maybe. They are decent for some things, especially if you coordinate which way the grind faces with your "handedness." They are a bit clumsier in use that an equal beveled blade as they tend to "steer" more.

How are you accomplishing your heat treating?

 

[Fiv3r]

I have never been a huge fan of them. However, I have a japanese Nata (basically a hatchet/heavy duty machete) that a late friend gave me with a chisel grind that takes a ridiculous edge. Not something I would want on a precision knife, but I can see the merit. I could shave with that 2lb chunk o' steel

 

[lobo9er]

I was going to heat treat like 5160 steel. I dont know for certain thats what it is but its my best guess. The leaf springs are from a mid to late 90's jeep I got from a junk yard.

 

[Sam1911]

That is a pretty good guess.

 

[JShirley]

What color sparks does it throw?

 

[lobo9er]

bright yellow orange and the sparks "spread" or fan out. How can I explain.... each spark breaks apart into more sparks.

 

[hso]

Do they fan from the wheel or do they travel straight out and then break into fans?

Sounds like you do have at least have a carbon steel, but whether it is 5160 may be difficult to determine without hardening.

You could harden a bit as 5160 and see if it does harden.

 

[lobo9er]

they travel straight out then fan out.
While I was shaping with an angle grinder I was dipping into water one time it got way to hot, turning colors and after I dunked it into the water the corner I was grinding seemed like it hardened. Maybe just in my head but I thought it was tougher to grind down than the rest.

 

[JTW Jr.]

Chisel grinds are certainly easier to grind , dont have to worry about the edge being in the center of the blade , no plunge lines to worry about keeping even.

Chisel grinds never did anything for me , always made the knife look unfinished to me.

 

[lobo9er]

Thans again for all the response. Seriously everyone here is great. Hso and Sam1911 you guys are always there to answer questions. I already forked up my 1st knife "shaping" with the angle grinder. But thats why I bought some leaf springs, to learn on. I maybe able to salvage it into a smaller knife. Its the fun of learning. Either way these guys are getting my sweat and blood in a gift literally.