Sharpening luthier's knives

[jowl]

I have tried to sharpen my luthier's knives with only limited success. The larger knife is 12mm wide with a slightly curved cutting edge 30mm long, whilst the smaller knife is 6mm wide with a long pointed 40mm cutting edge. They are too small for the knife gig. Does anyone have any experience with sharpening these knives on the Tormek? Thanks!

[Jeff Farris]

Jowl,

The keys to freehand sharpening are a smooth grindstone and practice. Work with the machine turning away from the edge. Use the stone grader until the grindstone feels as smooth as glass. Mark the existing bevel with a marker and adjust your presentation to the stone to get the right angle. After a bit of practice, you'll get a feel for the angle of presentation. Try it with a few inexpensive kitchen knives or pocket knives until you gain confidence.

[jowl]

Hi Jeff
Thanks for the tips. I'll try them out and let you know how I get on.
Cheers