Reuse of old sliding bevel-rotary knife

[Philip Davies]

I saw on HMT not long ago a post about building a rotary knife, which I thought I might be able to copy. I have put in a search fo this, but can’t find it, but thanks to who ever it was.
It did not go as smoothly as the video. I cut a circle from an old hand saw blade, but having ground an edge, found that rust pitting had left a notch. I found another, thicker saw blade, cut another circle, but it was so eccentric after grinding, I nearly gave up. The wheel is about 2” in diameter and there was at least 3/16” difference in the radii on opposite sides! I had chucked it in my bench drill and tried to true it with an angle grinder. What went wrong? I dont know.

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This antique sliding bevel had had a lifetime’s use when it came to me, minus the fastening screw, which is 3/16”, but the thread is so worn as to make tightening impossible. The stock is ebony. A quality tool, but no makers mark.

This is what I used it for. As suggested, I made guards, although I cut a finger putting them on.