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