Wheel direction

[Dinosaur]

I'm kinda confused. I bought the Tormek T-8 with the knife angle setter and the knife jigs. I follow the tuturials the same as on the YouTube videos.

But the thing is, their wheel is turning away from them and the knife edge. But my wheel is turning toward me toward the knife edge.

I have the 600 grit diamond wheel. But that wheel will get damaged if I sharpen with the wheel grinding toward the edge.

So is there any way to reverse the spinning direction? Because obviously I can't sharpen knifes like this.

[Royale]

I think it's quite common for Tormek T-8 users on this forum to sharpen with the grindstone spinning towards the knife edge (called edge leading) I run my own sharpening business, and I sharpen almost all customer knives edge leading as well.

The grindstone spins only in one direction, and the way the T-8 drive system is designed, I don't think it'll spin in the opposite direction consistently even if you cracked open the machine and reversed the polarity of the electric motor.

Don't sweat the diamond grindstone getting damaged with edge leading sharpening. The diamonds are electroplated onto the steel hub, and is pretty robust (think of it as "gluing" the diamond dust with another metal... Tormek uses nickel I think)

I do sometimes sharpen edge trailing (grindstone spinning away from knife edge) when I've ground a distorted knife edge flat, and have a square edge where the cutting edge was. I'm still not too concerned with the knife edge damaging my diamond grindstone, but more cautious about the edge catching onto the grindstone, and the entire knife gets thrown away from me.

If you're concerned with damaging the grindstone with edge leading sharpening, I propose starting with light pressure and a small knife (3-4 inch blade) to get a feel of the grinding process. 600 grit against a blade will give some "pushback", but still waay easier to control than a dull blade on the 360 grit diamond grindstone.

[RickKrung]

I'm kinda confused. I bought the Tormek T-8 with the knife angle setter and the knife jigs. I follow the tuturials the same as on the YouTube videos.

But the thing is, their wheel is turning away from them and the knife edge. But my wheel is turning toward me toward the knife edge.

I have the 600 grit diamond wheel. But that wheel will get damaged if I sharpen with the wheel grinding toward the edge.

So is there any way to reverse the spinning direction? Because obviously I can't sharpen knifes like this.

I think it is simply a matter of which side of the unit you are standing or sitting on.  Viewed (and working) from the front, the wheel is turning away from you (edge trailing).  Viewed (and working) from the back, the wheel is turning towards you (edge leading).  Those who work from the rear of the machine typically stand.  Those who work from the front can stand or sit.  I sit. 

I've not heard before that the diamond wheels will be damaged by edge leading sharpening.  I've been doing it that way for years and they all still work fine (DC, DF, DE).  This Tormek video shows a knife and a chisel being sharpened edge leading, starting about 0:22 - 0:25. 

Where did you get that idea? 

Rick

[PANIC!!!]

To switch from edge leading to edge trailing you need to flip the machine, or you move to the other side. That's it

[BPalv]

I have to say, I love my rotating base.
I thought I would just pick it up and turn it for honing.  The base makes it sooo much easier.

[Drilon]

I agree completely!

[ABall]

I'm kinda confused. I bought the Tormek T-8 with the knife angle setter and the knife jigs. I follow the tuturials the same as on the YouTube videos.

But the thing is, their wheel is turning away from them and the knife edge. But my wheel is turning toward me toward the knife edge.

I have the 600 grit diamond wheel. But that wheel will get damaged if I sharpen with the wheel grinding toward the edge.

So is there any way to reverse the spinning direction? Because obviously I can't sharpen knifes like this.

Its quite awkward "just flipping the machine round" I dont mean hard to do without the spinning base I mean unless you have the multi base, MB-102 and move the bar to the other side its a steeper angle because of the bar position. I just tried it. Not to mention if you have the new KJ-45 the pivot parts hit the welds on the bar due to the angle. Google AI just told me its fine to do edge leading on the diamond wheels and I couldnt see any info on the product page to the contrary. Ive been using CBN wheels the same way for 5 years and they still cut like new, just dont use lots of pressure as others have said.

[Herman Trivilino]

I'm kinda confused. I bought the Tormek T-8 with the knife angle setter and the knife jigs. I follow the tuturials the same as on the YouTube videos.

But the thing is, their wheel is turning away from them and the knife edge. But my wheel is turning toward me toward the knife edge.

Many very experienced knife sharpeners will sharpen with the grindstone turning away from them. Personally, I find it better to grind with the grindstone turning towards me. It's faster, and with the homemade jig I use I get far better control. But it is a matter of preference.

So is there any way to reverse the spinning direction? Because obviously I can't sharpen knifes like this.

As others have pointed out, the way you do this is to turn the machine so that the opposite side faces you. Then you will have to mount the Universal Support Bar (USB) in the mounting hole on the side of the machine facing you. The USB will now be upright rather than horizontal.

[Ken S]

I have been fortunate to have been coached by two Tormek master knife sharpeners, Steve Bottorff and Stig Reitan. Both are quite capable of sharpening; however, both have different preferences. Stig like to watch the water flowing over the knife edge while edge leading. Steve generally sharpens farmers market knives freehand edge trailing for more control.

Both directions work.

Ken