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Fascinating post, Mark.

Herman,

Having the bolt go through a slot instead of a round hole would allow the table to be lengthened or shortened as needed.  (Total length would remain constant.  The only change would be in the projected length toward the wheel.)  Even if the final jig had just a hole (or a couple of holes for some adjustment), having a prototype with a slot would give a good feel for what projected length worked well.

Ken

Tom,

One of the values of a forum like this is having varied backgrounds. As someone who only sharpens my kitchen knives, I'm very glad to have an old knife sharpening hand like you on board.

I hope all the new statistics will also reflect continuing depth and good information as well as quantity.

Ken

Mike,

I have one of the Veritas plough planes (my only L-N or Veritas plane).  What a well designed and manufactured tool!  The "compleat" collector in me made me purchase all the extra blades, inch and metric.  I have had only superb service from Lee Valley (Veritas).

I suspect Lee Valley is much better capitalized than L-N.  I am very glad we have both.

Getting back to honing on the leather wheel:  I think there are two subsets of things which can't be done on a Tormek.  The first is "Tools the tormek Can't Sharpen", tools well beyond the purpose of the tool.  An example of this would be circular or bandsaw blades.  The second (and larger catagory) would be "Tools I Don't have the Skill to Sharpen on the Tormek".  (through no fault of the Tormek)  This group is made up of those tools Jeff can sharpen through years of experience.  I put honing in that group.  I hope to lessen the size of that group.

Ken

Happy Birthday, and many more happy birthdays, Rob.

Ken

Good thought, Herman.  I would suggest making a very simple jig (block of wood with a hole in it).  That would make it easy to drill matching holes in any subsequent platforms which would be interchangeable.

I find this process of adapting and modifying the Tormek fascinating.  Not every path will be successful, but the end results should push back our knowledge frontier.

Ken

Thanks for the kind words, guys.  You two are catching up quite quickly!

For the record, I would rather the forum have twenty more 25 posters than one 500 poster.  I hope the increased activity will also bring us a deeper bench (more contributing blokes for those of you who speak English).

Ken

Rob,

I have found this series interesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7UvwyLSdsM

Just in case the link doesn't work, do a Google on "tubal cain taps".  I think the demonstrator, Tubal Cain, is a retired metal shop teacher.  He has done a series of you tubes. 

Ken

Herman can remember, as can I, the way the forum used to be.  When I started in 2009 (after Herman), no one had reached fifty posts.  I forget who was first to fifty.  It was either Ionut or Herman.  I was second, as I recall.  The two posts with the most threads had about twenty replies.

Things have really picked up recently, for the good.  Good work, guys.

Ken

Very nice post, Mike.  (Yes, we are in handtools.....senior moment..)

You might be interested in a recent podcast on the finewoodworkingwebsite.  it is a very long and fascinating interview with Robin Lee, President of Lee Valley and Veritas.  He describes his thoughts on the differences between his company's tools/philosophy and those of Lie-Nielsen.  His comments are very positive with good insight and the good manners one would expect from someone from Canada.  Interesting tool and steel thoughts, too.

I have enjoyed Deneb's videos on the L-N site.  I would enjoy meeting him someday, as I would that guy who demoed the Tormek.

Ken

I would think so!  I used to do all that with oil stones, much more hard work than the new abrasives.  That's the main reason I bought a Tormek.

By the way, I think that Trend diamond plate would be good for freshening up oilstones.

Keep us posted.

Ken

(fro Mike):  "My 51 is part of the first run of 100, electro-pencil signed by The Man."

Mike, my Bedrocks are signed by Fred Flintstone with a cold chisel!  (just kidding)...."The Man (Tom Lie-Nielsen) certainly knows how to make quality tools.  His Stanley inspired planes are leagues beyond the originals.  Your 51 is certainly a prime tool.  (Don't be afraid to use it!)  By the way, have you ever met Tom Lie-Nielsen?  (You might want to answer this in handtools.  we are getting off topic.)

Ken

Herman is correct.  His jig is much more practical than the one I imagined.  I was letting my mind wander as to how one of the existing Tormek jigs might be adapted.

With some practice, either Ionut or Herman's jigs might be a nice set up for someone sharpening knives at a fair.  The flat table would be much faster than using the regular Tormek knife jig.

Ken

Thank you, Mr. Rumpole.

My Yankee thrift got the better of me.  I decided to hold off cutting down my second SVD-110 until I actually have a need for a small knife jig.  For those who would like to make one:

Start with an SVD-110 jig.

With the jig in the USB and the long part of the table facing the wheel, note the location of the tightening knob.  Mine is on the left (toward the inside).  I assume all are this way.

I used my bandsaw with a 1/2" blade with 3 teeth per inch. 

Mark a line along the upside down jig along the edge near the tapped knob hole.  The line should be about 1/2" (12mm for Rob)

Laying the jig flat on the bandsaw table, cut off the half inch.  This extra step positions the knob further from the wheel.

Now, from the other edge of the table, mark a line a little less than two inches.  This part will be the remaining part of the table, and it should not protrude from either side of the grinding wheel.

On the remaining part of the table, cut off the part of the Torlock which would be between the USB and the wheel.  This is necessary to get the table angle low enough for the bevel.

When you are done, your jig will have the Torlock part and locking knob to the left of the wheel and the table just shy of the width of the wheel.  This will allow you to position small blades on either side of the wheel for double bevel sharpening without moving the jig.

Honestly, I don't think this jig will function any better then either Ionut or Herman's jigs.  It started out as just an alternate way to arrive at the same place.  It does look more authentically Tormek (for what that's worth).

Ken