2018 Update: We have started manufacturing a Frontal Vertical Base for honing and grinding away from the wheel - please check our website knifeGrinders.com.au (http://knifegrinders.com.au/11Shop_VB.htm)
And below is the story of how it all started in 2016...
Being so grateful to this forum for heaps of helpful hints, I just want to pay back sharing my honing attachment.
I gave up on freehand stropping long ago, because no matter what technique I tried, I dulled the edge. I admit it is entirely operator error, but alas not everyone is born with freehand talent.
Thanks to two M12 x 120mm bolts, a piece of 35mm wood, and parts from the BGM-100 kit, I can now strop under a set angle.
4-6 slow passes across the wheel on alternate sides of the blade with very light pressure delivers hair splitting edge.
Pictures are self-explanatory.
(http://home.exetel.com.au/dropbox/Honing_Jig_1.JPG)
(http://home.exetel.com.au/dropbox/Honing_Jig_2.JPG)
(http://home.exetel.com.au/dropbox/Honing_Jig_3.JPG)
(http://home.exetel.com.au/dropbox/Honing_Jig_4.JPG)
Flipped to the right, accommodates cleavers thanks to farther distance to the stone compared to the standard support.
(http://home.exetel.com.au/dropbox/Cleaver.JPG)
Nice. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, thanks for sharing.
The use of the BGM-100 pieces is very interesting and solves one of the problems I've been having with a jig idea.
Good work!
~Doug
Congratulations Vadim! :)
Very innovative, simple and effective solution. Definitively inspiring for me. Thanks for sharing. :)
I suppose your jig enables to hone/grind keeping the blade flat = horizontal, also.
Jan
Quote from: Jan on August 15, 2015, 08:06:13 PM
I suppose your jig enables to hone/grind keeping the blade flat = horizontal, also.
It sure looks like it, doesn't it? Another simple, elegant solution.
Vadim, I would like to ask you whether the bottom rear corner of the wooden block does rest on the tilted Tormek steel housing?
Jan
Hi Jan,
Apologies for late reply, I was out bushwalking over weekend.
The M12 bolts allow some degree of horizontal freedom, ie I move the attachment back and forth; while the universal support offers vertical adjustment by design - these together fit cleavers of various shapes.
For honing knives I move it to the case.
For sharpening a wider cleaver I sometimes insert the attachment upside down as to what is in the pictures, to distance it from the stone.
With BGM-100 I could do without those bolts and wood, but was reluctant to drill the front of the Tormek as it is still under warranty.
Thank you for your detailed explanation, Vadim! :)
Your solution is really very inspiring for me, I am considering to buy the mounting set BGM-100, also. It offers an exceptionally wide variety of additional options.
Jan
I love this device. It solves a problem I have with sharpening long knives off the horizontal support. thanks you sharing.
Nice! Looks good for cleavers.
I believe this discussion, as well as several others, demonstrate the versatility of both the BGM-100 and the Universal Support. The BGM-100 seems much more useful than just with a dry grinder. I bought one with plans to mount it on top of either the T4 or T7 to provide a horizontal mount with the wheel turning into the edge.
With the Tormek mounted on a wooden board, the BGM-100 could be used in several locations to provide more control. Earlier I showed some pictures of using the USP and Tormek platform jig with a wooden platform to support drywall knives (and wheel dressers) on the side of the grinding wheel. I think there are many more yet undiscovered uses for these flexible tools.
Ken
Hi Ken,
If you have found a way to mount the BGM horizontally to provide grinding (cleavers) into the wheel, please share with us. I find grinding into the wheel gives more control.
Thanks,
FL
I will gladly share that idea. It works with both the T4 and the T7. My schedule is tight right now, so it may take a while.
Ken
Photos show BMG-100 used in place of the Horizontal Base to mount the Universal Support vertically and sharpen away from the edge, or hone, with regular jigs.
(http://home.exetel.com.au/dropbox/horiz1.JPG)
(http://home.exetel.com.au/dropbox/horiz2.JPG)
And extended for cleavers.
(http://home.exetel.com.au/dropbox/clever03.JPG)
(http://home.exetel.com.au/dropbox/clever1.JPG)
Congratulations Vadim and thanks for sharing your invention! :)
You have found very innovative usage of the BGM-100 set. Really simple and effective solution. In my understanding you drilled two new holes into the height adjustable bloc. Definitively inspiring for me.
Jan
Thank you, Jan, for the praise, though 'invention' is a too much word for this simple application.
There are many blades that are easier sharpened away from the edge, practically all curved knives.
I was thinking of a more elegant substitute to my original wooden block, that I wouldn't be ashamed of in front of the customer, and when I was considering reproducing yours, it occurred to me I might try the BGM-100 brackets.
Yes, I had to drill two 6mm holes in the sides of the BGM bracket for the bottom bolts, but that's the only modification needed.
The base BGM bracket fits the existing threaded holes just perfectly, I used the same screws.
And the 2nd bracket that holds the US, is mounted maximum outwards.
(And in this position, for the script the new ConstantHorizontal = 135)
This solution can't be applied to the new T8 with its cast sleeves, though.
Hi,
Never thought of using the BGM-100 brackets, nice work!
Its interesting how we are, I find it way easier to sharpen knifes against the stones direction, as I feel I have better control. It keeps the stone square, makes shorter burr and faster honing.
That being said, both ways gives a sharp edge.
Best,
Stig
Wootz, thanks for additional details concerning an alternative usage of the BGM-100 set. :)
I'm a big fan of your original solution shown at the beginning of this thread because it allows for unprecedented large range of USB's settings in both directions. This makes it possible to sharpen in a horizontal position, which has some advantages.
Even more, this solution can be applied to the new T8 with its cast sleeves. ;)
Jan
Thank you Tormek for idea (https://youtu.be/YUUctwKJglI)
Oleg, welcome to the forum! :)
Very nice sharpening system, congratulations! Thanks for posting your video.
Jan
Hello Oleg,
I like everything in your device.
Love how you solved the stones positioning relative to the knife jig support, and the support reciprocation.
Yours looks better than many guided sharpeners sold by famous brands.
Well, the horizontal bar of your knife jig support could have been longer, as at present it cannot accommodate really long knives.
Something like the US-400 for long knives e.g. http://www.hobbylegno.biz/en/universal-support-us-400-for-sharpening-very-long-knives-for-the-sharpening-machines-tormek-mod-t3-and-t7.html
Welcome to the forum, Oleg, and thank you for reviving a most interesting topic.
This topic is interesting for many reasons. First is Wootz' very clever jig. Also of note is Stig's comment about grinding away from the knife using the universal support in the horizontal position. I must have been asleep at the switch with this topic; I am pleased to see it return.
Both Wootz' jig and Stig's comment are examples of why the Tormek is not just a one trick pony. The techniques described in the handbook are good, well tested, starting points. A Tormek user may never vary from them and have a lifetime of very sharp tools. Or, he may explore new and interesting techniques.
Great work!
Ken
Nice creativity of you Woots and of Oleg. Love it.
This is and old thread, but I was hoping to gain some knowledge on the DIY tool.
How does this work with the rotation of the stropping wheel? I've always heard to strop with the rotation and grind against the rotation.
Great looking jig....I hope to build myself one soon.
If you are asking about Wootz's Frontal Vertical Base (FVB), there is quite a bit of historical discussion on this that is searchable. Too much to try to summarize for you. I didn't realize he had developed the FVB that long ago. For some reason, I thought he came out with it in late 2017 or early 2018.
Go to the "Search" function (the button in the header above the post listings, not the white box in the upper right corner - see image below) and search on:
"frontal vertical base"
And start reading. Then, figure out what you need to know and ask about that.
If you are asking about that alternative device for use with flat stoned, dunno nuttin'.
Rick
Quote from: AlfA01 on May 26, 2020, 07:17:17 AM
...
How does this work with the rotation of the stropping wheel? I've always heard to strop with the rotation and grind against the rotation.
...
It allows you to do exactly that....
https://youtu.be/UckPmizllk0
Quote from: cbwx34 on May 26, 2020, 02:07:43 PM
Quote from: AlfA01 on May 26, 2020, 07:17:17 AM
...
How does this work with the rotation of the stropping wheel? I've always heard to strop with the rotation and grind against the rotation.
...
It allows you to do exactly that....
https://youtu.be/UckPmizllk0
Very helpful....thank you.
Quote from: RickKrung on May 26, 2020, 09:13:48 AM
If you are asking about Wootz's Frontal Vertical Base (FVB), there is quite a bit of historical discussion on this that is searchable. Too much to try to summarize for you. I didn't realize he had developed the FVB that long ago. For some reason, I thought he came out with it in late 2017 or early 2018.
Go to the "Search" function (the button in the header above the post listings, not the white box in the upper right corner - see image below) and search on:
"frontal vertical base"
And start reading. Then, figure out what you need to know and ask about that.
If you are asking about that alternative device for use with flat stoned, dunno nuttin'.
Rick
Thanks for the reply. I've just joined the forum and I have
a lot of reading to do. Lol. I've also just ordered my T-8 and am anxiously waiting for it to arrive.
I do a lot of sharpening for my customers, including grinding chainsaw chains and repairing bars. I needed to sort out a way to strop butcher cleavers with the Tormek and stumbled up on this thread.