Tormek Community Forum

In the Shop => Hand Tool Woodworking => Topic started by: Ken S on March 29, 2013, 07:54:26 PM

Title: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Ken S on March 29, 2013, 07:54:26 PM
I came upon a recommendation to sharpen pocket knife blades with a single (one sided) bevel instead of the usual double bevel.  Some of my woodworking library is still in moving boxes.  I can't find the source, however, I believe it may have been Leonard Lee's VHS (not his book).  I would appreciate it if anyone having the VHS or DVD would check this for me.

The single bevel would seem logical to me.  It would be both easier to sharpen and the lines would more easily hug against a straightedge.

Any thoughts?

Ken
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Herman Trivilino on March 29, 2013, 10:24:23 PM
At first thought, Ken, it seems that the ability to cut along the edge of a straight edge, something that's done quite a bit in carpentry and craft work of all kinds, would benefit from a single bevel.

Of course then you'd have left-handed and right-handed knives, just like you do with scissors.

The only draw back I see is that to attain the same edge angle, you'd have to sharpen at half the bevel angle.  Shouldn't be a problem with  a Tormek and the right jig.   ;)
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Elden on March 30, 2013, 09:38:58 PM
I did a little online looking. Didn't really find much. Apparently there were a few made with a single bevel.
Emerson was mentioned. I haven't heard of that manufacturer for knives.

The following was a kind of interesting discussion in regard to single bevel knives.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?165897-Small-knife-with-single-bevel

Seems to me, just try it and see what you think.
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Jeff Farris on April 02, 2013, 06:47:47 PM
Grafting knives are sharpened with a single bevel. Also, marking knives, used in hand cut dovetails. For a general purpose knife, I can't see an advantage.
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Mike Fairleigh on April 02, 2013, 10:44:44 PM
Quote from: kb0rvo on March 30, 2013, 09:38:58 PM

http://www.candlepowerforums.com (http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?165897-Small-knife-with-single-bevel)


Oh no, another torch-a-holic.  ;D

For a general purpose knife, I would think the results of a single bevel would range from "no different" to "I hate this" depending on how the knife is used and in what materials.  For thru-cuts, it may make the knife wander.
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Elden on April 03, 2013, 12:23:30 AM
Actually, it was brought up by a Google search for  "single bevel pocket knife." Maybe someday.  :)  Recently, been checking out Tormek Users group.
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Jeff Farris on April 04, 2013, 03:46:38 PM
Oh, those pesky technical terms.

A Scandinavian grind is beveled on both sides of the blade, but there is only one bevel (on each side) running from roughly the middle of the blade to the cutting edge. This as opposed to a typical blade the tapers from the spine to the bevel, and then has a secondary bevel that creates the edge or a blade that has a parallel spine, with a faster taper to the bevel and then the edge bevel.

Look at "Mora" knives for good examples of Scandinavian grind. They're popular in Scandinavian countries for general purpose work, hunting knives and carving knives.

I think of a "single bevel" as a knife that is shaped like a chisel....beveled on one side and flat on the other. That's what a marking knife or grafting knife looks like.
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Elden on April 04, 2013, 05:40:36 PM
Interesting. So a Scandinavian grind sounds like it might be a little more blunt or at least have less clearance. I 'll have to do more looking. Yes, the terminology can leave me bewildered!
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Jeff Farris on April 04, 2013, 06:57:22 PM
It's a very long bevel...10ยบ per side..I think. Very nice carving blades, because you have a long bevel to ride in controlling your cut. The blades are typically laminated, similar to Japanese chisels, with a harder center sandwiched between softer supporting plates.
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Elden on April 05, 2013, 06:10:27 AM
Did a little checking on Mora Knives, found this picture (first).

Edit:Second picture added 09/19/2017. This picture is somewhat similar to the original however is photo from Japan, I believe.

Thats a pretty good sized grinding wheel that he is using!
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Rhino on May 01, 2013, 06:17:51 AM
The stone is in good shape with a lot of wear left.  However, he lost the water trough, the universal support, the leather honing wheel and all the accessories.  It looks like an older model without the horizontal universal support and without the quick release shaft. I wouldn't pay more than $200 for it.  :)
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Rob on May 01, 2013, 09:26:47 AM
LOL  My planar knives would reduce it to half that size in a single sharpening :-)
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Herman Trivilino on May 01, 2013, 02:52:03 PM
And it looks like he's invented some kind of an inverted version of the HK-50!   :-\
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Rob on May 01, 2013, 04:45:07 PM
haha oh yeah...with the jig on the top
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Elden on May 01, 2013, 11:32:15 PM
Rob, I believe that you got that wrong. I think you meant half of your planer blades would be gone before 100 RPM passed!
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Rob on May 02, 2013, 01:42:49 AM
 8)

You wouldnt want your fingers to get too close would you!!
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Elden on May 02, 2013, 03:32:58 PM
My comment was obviously an exageration. ;) I do wonder what the rpm of the wheel would be. Definitely wouldn't want to try a finger on it.
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Herman Trivilino on May 03, 2013, 04:19:07 AM
Note that the grindstone is turning away from the operator, which is why the tool being ground is placed under the platform rather than on top of it.  If we were grinding the same tool at the same angle this might be a better way to set up the HK-50.
 
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Elden on May 03, 2013, 05:41:58 AM
Hadn't thought about it that way. The rotation of the wheel would be cramming the blade between the rest and the wheel. Suppose that the rest probably pivots and is held in place by the operator. Thus there would be no danger presented by the knife being wedged between the wheel and the rest.

I remember seeing another link to a post showing a Japanese craftsman doing the entire beveling process free handed on the same wheel. Impressive!
Title: Re: single or double bevel for small knife blades?
Post by: Herman Trivilino on May 03, 2013, 03:39:46 PM
Anyone who can do that is a true craftsman.