How much do I need an "angle guide" for making a knife?

[yoyoma]

Still looking into options regarding doing everything with files vs getting a cheap 1x30 belt grinder, and I'm trying to figure out how much I need something to "hold an angle" when grinding the knife (before and after heat treatment).

Is it necessary or very useful? I'm worried about messing up the angles on the knife doing everything freehand, but am not sure if that's really going to be a problem.

Anybody with experience can answer?

Thanks!

 

[Guirotin]

As a full time knifemaker, i dont use jig for controling my angles.
Is such a jig useful ? For most people yes.
For me i dont like it, i go freehand, with a lot of experience you feel absolutely everything with your fingers. With a jig, you can only see.
And when you make thin and long blades (=kitchen knives), i found out that the feeling is super important.

But it takes a lot of time to master this.
Go check my thread in handiwork display, you will see what i can do without jig.