Thread: Preferred contact wheel size for rough grind?

I'm in the process of a grinder build and was wondering what size contact wheels are mostly preferred for rough grinding 7/8 to 8/8 razors?

Any advice from any of you razorsmiths is much appreciated!

Regards,

JC

I am guessing 8" for some 6 for others and you could go to 10. It all depends on what you want to end up with. Wedge to double hollow you have to make that choice first.

I'm shooting for the 1/4 hollowish range, or there abouts.

I am curious about this whole wheel size for grinding thing, though I am not a razor maker. When sanding a blade for restore I use a cork, with a diameter of 1" approximately. Sometimes it doesn't reach down into the hollow. How can a 6" or greater wheel be used?

I use an 8" wheel for most of the work, and then use a 4" wheel for hollowing out further.
To answer souschef: most razor makers don't make hollow grounds that hollow, which means that near the spine the hollowing is less shallow. Generally this doesn't really matter because most people request 7/8 blades or higher, which means that the part near the edge can be as thin as a hollow ground without needing to have a wheel radius smaller than 4".

My 8" is my most used contact wheel in the shop. For a 1/4 Hollow on a 7/8 or 8/8 definitely an 8". For wedge type I'll use a larger wheel.

I use the 8 or 4 most of the time.

Charlie

My 8" & 4" are the most used in my shop, I seldom use the 2". Keep in mind that I make more knives than razors...but plan for that to change this year.

Thanks gents!

8" and 4" contact wheels to start off it is.

Appreciate the advice!

JC

For roughing in I use a 8 for most every size.
Heck I would use a 10 if I had it...lol., for roughing in your just remove material to an except able leave before HTing
After HT I use a 8,6,4. All get about equal time.