Anyone notice the new SVM-00 Small Knife Jig?
I don't even know if it's relevant anymore considering the IH jig.
It also does not help with sharpening a machete, while the IH jig does both.
I'm not sure how, since it's gripping the handle, it compensates for many pocket knives with more than one blade since in that case the blade is off center in the handle. I need to read further.
But it appears that Tormek does listen.
http://tormek.com/international/en/grinding-jigs/svm-00-small-knife-holder/
I can't find anything about it's cost or availability.
I don't think it handles the offset of a multi blade pocket knife. Not that I could tell from watching the video or reading the PDF.
I don't really know how much of a bevel angle change it would make with the amount of offset caused by a blade being on one side of a pocket knife. In a larger pocket knife the blade could be 1/4" or so off center.
Am I correct in my thinking that would change the bevel slightly?
I am definitely buying this one.
For a blade that is not centered, I plan to add some paper to one side or the other and center it myself.
There is going to be a lot of adjustments involved. For example, this will not work if the knife and handle alignment is not good (for example, blade bent to one side, twisted, etc.). I don't mind. A new toy to play with.
Note: Some knives are difficult to mount in line with the Guide Bar. Knives can also be sharpened with asymmetrical bevels. In these cases, and if the angle is not correct when you turn over to sharpen the second side, you can adjust it separately with the Micro Adjust
I believe the above statement is as close as they come in mentioning the multiple blade knife. ;) The bevel would be approaching the wheel asymmetrically. The Ionut - Herman jig is better in regard to the multiple blade knife and in regard to large (machete style) knives. Their jig looks great for what they have pictured, however.
Mark, your jig will do well on the multiples as well.
That note in my above post, is from the PDF instructions.
Well....I've seen it all now. In future I recommend any jig ideas from this community get a patent before they express it in public.
This forum is clearly a source of product innovation input to Tormek. And I don't mean specifically the recent posts. R&D takes cycle time so that's just coincidence....but clearly, through discussion this forum focuses where the weaknesses are....Tormek can then swoop in and develop the jigs.
Perhaps an acknowledgement would demonstrate good manners and courtesy!
Great job, Tormek AB. You are catching up with the forum!!!!
I think it would be very sporting, since forum members have produced several ideas for sharpening small blades, if Tormek would list a discount code on the forum for free shipping if any of us order one of the new SVM-00 jigs within sixty days. No discount, just free shipping. How about it AB? After all, we are "the party faithful".
Ken
I'm much more inclined to use and develop my skills using Herman's jig ideas than I am to get Tormek's SVM-00. I applaud Tormek for listening and addressing some shortcomings with their small knife jig. On the other hand, though, the SVM-00 still has notable deficiencies...or at least significant inconveniences. I'm anxious to hear from you guys that will buy and use the SVM-00.
Tom
I will probably buy one of the jigs for two reasons:
1) The Tormek is a hobby for me, as well as a practical sharpening tool. I'm curious.
2) I think the jig ideas on this forum are certainly very workable. No problem there. I can see the possibility that the Ionut/Herman jigs will do a better job in many situations, and, perhaps, the Tormek idea would shine in others. The forum jigs certainly seem faster and capable of handing more situations, I like options.
Ken
;) that looks interesting, I didn't believe they would do something considering that this small knife jig is a very old story.
In my opinion though a platform type of jig offers a couple of major advantages.: It is easy to set the angle, you set the angle for 20 similar knives and you are done all that remains is simpy sharpening; It allows for sharpening microscopic knives as well and Samurai swords, Viking swords and everything in between; On the top of everything there is no special hand move involved for the curved tips of the knives where you would have to rather lift the knife handle than pull it towards you to get consistent bevel width and angle.
But if this was triggered really by the forum discussions it is really great, it means someone is still listening.
Ionut
I am sure that the need for a small knife jig has long been recognized by Tormek's developers and engineers. Their drill bit jig demonstrates their dedication and skill.
I too am very impressed with the SVM-00.
If you watch the video you can see that it has a bit of trouble keeping the bevel angle constant along curved blades, especially when the curvature increases near the knife tip. So the homemade platform jig is an advantage there.
Another advantage to the homemade platform jig is the ability to set the bevel angle on a knife blade that has a grind. That is, a knife blade whose sides are not parallel.
(http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b553/htrivilino/KnifeCrossSection_zps0f69adf1.png)
As I've discussed before, when you set a knife like this on the platform of the homemade jig you can measure that angle between those two nonparallel grinds, and then adjust the platform to compensate for it. I know no way of doing this for any knife of any size using the Tormek knife jigs.
Just to clarify, let's say I have a knife and I want to sharpen it to a 20o bevel angle. I set the platform of my homemade jig at 20o using the angle master. Then I set the knife on the platform with the cutting edge against the grindstone as if I'm about to sharpen it. Then I use the angle master and measure the angle that the top side of the blade makes, and find that it's 24o. This means that there is a 4o angle between the two faces of the blade (because they are not parallel). I remove the knife, set the platform at an angle of 18o and Bob's your uncle!
I don't know how you guys allow for blades shaped like this. Personally, I just stopped buying kitchen knives with blades that have that shape.
I think the innovative thinking that has come from this rag tag, globally distributed and multi backgrounded group of people is absolutely spot on.
I'm a firm advocate of Maslow's hierarchy of needs....once the fundamentals are satisfied ie a house, job, family etc....the middle aged male mind can get no greater satisfaction than coming up with original thought about solving complex problems and then delighting in sharing it.
I think your home made knife jigs are absolutely commendable. I for one, though not personally engaged as I freehand mine, have read with wide eyed fascination at the creative, inventive purpose with which that discussion has developed. We have been privelidged to witness the birth of original thought....personally I always find that exciting....even if, objectively (like my wife) some might find the subject matter a little dry.
When a commercial operation goes into manufacture.....it's a big thumbs up to the value of the idea. I would encourage either or both of you to seriously consider investing in the commercial patenting and production of your idea....Tormek and all clones could use it..plus bench grinders. It's a winner in my opinion...few refinements. There's a multi tens of thousands dollar business right there. No premises needed, YouTube promotion and mail order. Have to sink some capital into design and build but hey.....that's how businesses start right?
I love it...keep it coming
While we are (quite rightly) congratulating our forum members for their ingenuity, let's not forget the fine work done by Robin a while back with the improved universal support bar he designed and had manufactured for sharpening tall cleavers.
Sadly, when he offered them for sale to this forum at a very reasonable price, only one person (me) was willing to purchase one from him. I thought it would be a useful tool for sharpening my favorite Chinese cleaver. And, I would be supporting the ingenuity and industry of a fellow forum member.
Ken
People will always vote with their feet where moneys concerned. If the product solves a problem, is priced right and people have a genuine need..they'll vote with their wallets
The fact is, this jig is nothing more than a tool rest that gets so close to the grindstone that it's going to make occasional contact.
It may be a commercially viable idea, but I just don't know. There may be legal issues, too.
I sincerely doubt there would be legal issues....this is free trade we're talking about...you of all nations should know that. I appreciate its a big commitment and a lot of risk. It's not for everyone. It's a durn good idea though.
Ironically Herman you hit the nail on the head when you said the word "only". The best ideas are usually the simplest.
I believe one of the first legal issues would be the patent which Tormek holds on the Torlock mechanism.
The jigs are certainly good ideas. I doubt if they would be commercially viable, patent or no patent.
Ken
It was a joint effort. Without the contributions of many of us that jig would not exist.
I don't know if we could bypass the patent rights by having the jig ride piggy back on the existing scissors base or tool rest jigs.
Personally, I would be willing to participate in field studies of jig prototypes with Tormek for free. All I'd get out of it is the free jigs and the recognition.
This is a hobby for me, not a profession.
I suppose if I had more ambition I'd have a better chance of getting rich, but I doubt it. I don't think this is a patentable invention. I could be wrong.
Plus, if it's such a good idea why am I the only one using it?
You wouldn't need to infringe any Tormek patents. In fact if the jig required the torlok or scissor base then you're helping Tormek because your jig will leverage their unit sales.
Interesting logic that you don't think there's a market for this jig yet Tormek clearly do! You don't think it's patentable, yet Tormek clearly do!
Now...actually putting the effort into doing it is a different issue of course....hard work, lots of risk etc
But the logic stacks up.....Tormek have validated the market requirement by doing it
I still think it would be courteous of Tormek corporate to acknowledge the ideas kicked around by this forum (I mean you long timers, I'm not referring to myself).
Your ideas are good value. The trouble with many people in life is they don't believe their idea could possibly be a commercial hit.....poppycock in my view......many of the best inventions came from accidents (3m stickies for one), or people messing about in their shed
Give yourselves credit....there was some excellent creativity in those discussions.
Quote from: grepper on March 20, 2013, 10:33:27 PM
I can't find anything about it's cost or availability.
I just now got an email from Advanced Machinery/Sharp Tools USA. They have the SVM-00 for $32.
http://www.advmachinery.com/p-1107-tormek-small-knife-holder.aspx
Quote from: grepper on March 20, 2013, 10:33:27 PM
I don't think it handles the offset of a multi blade pocket knife. Not that I could tell from watching the video or reading the PDF.
I think it does handle that offset. 25 seconds into the video they line up the knife straight in the holder "using a table top". It appears that the table-top line-up assures that the blade is in the same plane as the center of the jig. It's not clear from the video just what it is you adjust on the jig to get the blade to line up, so maybe I'm wrong.
That's pretty good value.....$32....... Hard to resist at that price
I noticed the video did not include sharpening a machete with the SVM-00 like Herman did. I can see different uses for each jig.
Ken
Having tried neither of them, just based on intuition and perceived ease of use I've got to be honest and say I would buy Hermans.
I can't see any circumstances under which I would buy the SVM-00. Of course if I had it I would try it, but I would be surprised if I found it useful. It can't do knife tips as well, and it's harder to set up because you still have to go through the process of setting up the SVM-45.
Exactly. That was the point I was making in an earlier post about the best ideas being the simplest. There's minimal setup time, no messing around with clamps. All you need is the angle setup and away you go
Let's see how long it is before it is before Tormek comes out with something along the Ionut-Herman line. I am sure they will try to dress it up a little, if they do. Not saying what has been done is crude, far from it!
The fact that it can handle all lengths of knives with minimal set up and change from one to another is impressive.
Maybe a little more learning curve? Not sure as I haven't tried mine out yet. The weather isn't very conducive for being outside today. Monday? We'll see...
It's snowing here....meant to be Spring!
It's 1deg outside and when I took those Torlok pics today it was +3 I'm my workshop....ouch
To go a little further with the thought I posted in my last post above. If Tormek doesn't pursue the Ionut-Herman jig very quickly or doesn't at all, let's see how long it is before Jet or one of the other copycats does.
I've noticed Record Power have recently steamed into this market full speed ahead. It amazes me that Tormek are unable to enforce the protection of their patents in some way. These clones look identical in so many ways....I mean what's the point in having a patent if it has no teeth!
Here it is on eBarf:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-TORMEK-SVM-00-Small-Knife-Holder-Jig-Watch-the-video-and-see-how-it-works-/221205139079?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3380da8e87
I am not endorsing or downgrading this product by making this post.
Assuming delawarewolf is a legitimate Tormek dealer, selling the jig for full retail price, what's wrong with this?
Adding in the shipping cost, my local dealer is still a better deal.
Ken
Quote from: Rob on March 24, 2013, 10:36:52 AM
I've noticed Record Power have recently steamed into this market full speed ahead. It amazes me that Tormek are unable to enforce the protection of their patents in some way. These clones look identical in so many ways....I mean what's the point in having a patent if it has no teeth!
There have been a load of copies from different companies .Jet make have comprehensive set of jigs as well. Rutlands make water grinder as well.
When I went to buy my T7 I was looking at the jet grinder as well. The jet grinder was a fair bit cheaper. I also see the T7 demonstrated in store which swayed me plus all the jigs you can get as well and 7year guarantee. quality speaks for its self.
This jig has a major issue regarding setting the angle for non-parallel side knives, if the procedure of setting the angle is followed as per the video clip presented by Tormek the knives will end with different bevel angles on both side.
Having Tormek pursuing the solution that came out from this forum may render all their knife jigs pretty much useless, that is why in their design of this new small knife jig they made use of the older one and I don't see anything wrong with this.
In regards to the patents, enforcing patent holding may be a very expensive besides none of the copies I have seen get even close in the quality provided by Tormek but this is mainly a matter of time I believe. As you could see none of these copies offer the latest SE-76 type of straight edge jig or the same model of truing device, they all follow the older versions that Tormek had in the past. Enforcing a patent also doesn't mean that nobody else can use the idea, it means that nobody else can use it without paying some tribute to the original holder of the patent, there may also be a period of time after which you can use someone's patent without having to pay anymore for it.
This type of machine is really not new, I am not sure if Tormek holds a patent on the entire machine, my grandfather had a wet grinder with a humongous wheel at least 30cm if not larger, the grinding surface was around 4 inches and the so called tray was actually the body of the device, the motor were my grandfather's feet and the whole thing was made of wood but essentially was following the same principle.
Ionut
I would be surprised if Tormek holds a patent on the entire machine. In my home library, Planecraft originally published by C&J Hampton Ltd of Sheffield, England (parent company or Record planes) and reprinted by Woodcraft Supply Co, shows "A Typical power-driven Wet Grindstone" (p49). the book was first published in 1934. (The book is still available from Woodcraft Supply, and is a worthwhile addition to a woodworker's library.)
The grinder shown looks more suited to a factory than a home shop. It also looks specifically designed for straight plane blade grinding.
We might be surprised as to what is actually patented and what is not. For example, the original Omnijig has only one patent. The patent is for the template which is used to cut sliding tapered dovetails.
The Tormek and Omnijig, for me, have some similarities. (The main function of the Omnijig is for very efficiently cutting half blind dovetails.) Both are solid, fairly simple but very versatile machines. I believe both are capable of more than the limited amount of accessories provide. The Omnijig is more constrained by this than the Tormek, as Porter-Cable chose to only produce six templates for it. I have modified mine to accept about sixteen templates and it is capable of far more.
I hope the Tormek will continue growing.
Ken
Aye
Im reasonably sure that industrial patents on product design in the UK expire after 20 years
Quote from: ionut on March 24, 2013, 04:48:40 PM
This jig has a major issue regarding setting the angle for non-parallel side knives, if the procedure of setting the angle is followed as per the video clip presented by Tormek the knives will end with different bevel angles on both side.
They set the blade of the jig on a counter top showing that it's the same plane as the blade of the knife. Are they fooling me?
A major shortcoming of all of the Tormek knife jigs is they have no reliable way of setting the bevel angle on a knife with a grind, also known as a secondary bevel.
The problem may still happen with parallel side knives of different thickness than the extension that is being clamped in the original knife jig. It can be argued that both situations are being acceptable given the fact the bevels are very small anyways.
I believe that just setting the small knife visually in the clamp, without referencing a hardtop surface, will give closer bevel angles on the opposite sides.
Ionut
Not working directly for Tormek anymore, I don't have a stake in this debate, but I will point out a couple things that might be overlooked on some of these issues.
Regarding centering blades where the sides are not parallel, Almost every knife with tapered sides has a bolster where the steel is flat and the bevels are even on each side. The table top method shown in the video and the instructions would work for tapered blades if you put your finger on the bolster, holding it flat to the table (if the blade thickness is close to the same as the clamped bar). From playing with my sample, it also appears that the logical approach is to visually inspect the alignment of the edge with the jig and adjust accordingly, as Ionut posted last night. In fact, it looks to me like it will keep the blade centered better than the SVM-45 alone, since the piece that goes in the SVM-45 is the "right" thickness to center correctly.
The bigger issue is multiple blade folding knives, where it is impossible to grip the handle with the blade centered. In those cases, to keep the bevel angles the same on both sides, you have to adjust the Universal Support or the stop on the SVM-45 for each side of the blade.
I don't know if Tormek considered the zero clearance tool rest idea or not, but despite its recent discussion here, it isn't exactly a new concept, nor did Herman try to claim that it was. I personally played with it a bit when Ionut first brought the idea up years ago. Perhaps I should have tried it more, but I felt freehand sharpening was an easier solution. The fact that it is an easier solution for me doesn't mean it is for everyone, and Herman's design certainly makes it easier to keep consistent bevels around a curve and centered on the blade.
Regarding timing, knowing how Tormek works, I can promise you, this design has been in development and testing for no less than 2 or 3 years.
Yeah I figured their cycle time wouldn't be quick :-)
Well I am not sure about that news, you Jeff not working directly for the Tormek, is that something recent? It doesn't sound good to me, what happened?
Yes that's what I have expected the new jig looks to be a bit too complex to be put together over night and be ready for retail as well at the same time and on the top of everything it doesn;t have any connection with the platform that emerged from this forum.
All the best,
Ionut
To be fair to Tormek AB, they are under a lot of constraints we do not have in our home workshops.
Any company making any product or service must consider whether or not developing, manufacturing and marketing that product will bring in a reasonable business profit for the owners. Certainly the basic jigs outsell the more specialized ones. I do think it is commendable that Tormek has developed more specialized jigs like the DBS-22.
The Tormek engineers must consider the sometimes conflicting product safety regulations of many nations. The new switch is an example of that. We believe the change was made to comply with European Union safety regulations. I can't imagine Tormek marketing anything which would not comply with the regulations of the nations in the developed world.
They must work around what they believe to be the competency levels of the average user, and perhaps the below average user. The forum knife jigs presume some skill and judgement in knowing how to hold the blades while sharpening, as opposed to the blades being secured in a jig.
I hope that both the forum and Tormek will continue pushing back the borders of not known and not doable.
Ken
I would think so, too, Herman.
Ken
Another email message arrived today from Advanced Machinery/Sharp Tools USA announcing the new SVM-00 small knife jig with a release date of April 1 (no foolin').
http://www.advmachinery.com/p-1107-tormek-small-knife-holder.aspx
It appears there is no adjustment of the Guide Bar to place it in the same plane as the knife blade. That's a pity as it's means you'll have trouble getting the bevel angle the same on both sides of a pocket knife blade unless the blade happens to be centered in the handle.
The other thing I noticed is that the operators hand is not on the knife blade itself, but on the Guide Bar, the same position it would be in when sharpening with just the SVM-45.
I posed this question to Kurt Johansson:
Kurt,
I'm curious. Doesn't the angle setting for the SVM-00 have to be changed from one side of the knife blade to the other side, if the blade is not centered in regard to the handle? For example: a multiple bladed folding pocket knife.
His reply:
Hello Elden.
As I am never using any pocket knifes I have not tought about a problem when sharpening.
Luckely I found an old pocket knife with offset blade i one of my kitchen drawers so I took it out to my workshop and got started.
What I did was as follows, first I messured the offset of the blade which was 5mm on the right side and 9 mm on the left, difference 4 mm. I cut a slice of 4mm plywood as an inlay in the jig
on the right side of the knife and clamped the knife in the jig, setting the blade in the correct position. After that I used a black marker on both sides of the blade and by sliding the knife across the grindstone before turning the grinder on I could controll the setting of the knife in the jig. The first setting was not exact so I had to do some minor adjustments before everything was satisfactory.
I then graded the grindstone using the finer side of the stone grader and went on sharpening.
Everything worked out ok.
Please note that there is a learning curve.
Kurt Johansson
I told him that I would post his response here in the forum.
Interesting way to tackle the problem. Hadn't thought of that way.
Good thought, well expressed! Thanks to you both.
Ken
It's nice to know for sure that things like that have to be done with the SVM-00.
I don't see myself getting one, but you never know.
I do not see any reason to buy this jig if you have to "rig" it to work with knives that it is supposed to be designed to sharpen. It has the same drawbacks as the other knife jigs regarding centering of the blade and its related grinding pattern on the edge. I wonder who is going to be able to cut 4mm spacers or 4.3mm or 4.2 etc to get the perfect setting? Can you say, "this is not the answer"?
This story isn't over yet. The notion that you have to cut custom shims to modify a factory jig to fit offset pocket knives is in my view not a satisfactory solution. Some day, either here or at Tormek AB or even dare I say, Record power and/or jet, someone will produce an adjustable jig with some form of indexing so you can centre an offset blade to grind both bevels equally
It's really not rocket science and if they can produce a very expensive drill bit jig that will have incredibly limited market appeal, I feel certain there is a business case to justify a jig for all those millions of pocket knives out there.
To illustrate my point. Straw poll on this site (a community of special interest without question):
How many people own the drill bit jig? (I know Ken does, maybe one other)
How many people own the original short knife jig Svm-45? (Most of us I would guess)
The market potential for a decent solution to varied design for small knives is really quite big in my view!
I buy Rob's position on this one. The " solution " that Johansson offered up seems needlessly complicated ....certainly time consumptive....and not a really good approach to the issue. The Tormek line of knife jigs, in general, have some flaws that inhibit their usefulness. Before the bullets start flying, I want to acknowledge that Jeff ( and many others ) have worked wonders using these jigs. But those with real mechanical minds must certainly be able to come up with better designs. I applaud Ionut and Herman for their contributions in this matter. The ultimate answer to a better system may well evolve around their ideas.
BTW...Herman, I'm a buyer for your jig if you take it to a marketable state.
Tom
Quote from: jeffs55 on April 14, 2013, 09:11:01 AM
I do not see any reason to buy this jig if you have to "rig" it to work with knives that it is supposed to be designed to sharpen. It has the same drawbacks as the other knife jigs regarding centering of the blade and its related grinding pattern on the edge."
Actually, the SVM-45 does not have the same drawback as the SVM-00. In the case of the SVM-00 it's much worse.
That's my point Ken.....this group is entirely capable of compensating for the drawbacks in the factory jig by making accurate shims and knowing how to use them. Ill bet half the Tormek owners don't know what the word "shim" means!
Even if they do, they resent having to go to the trouble of making one when they want to sharpen and get back to work. They don't want to explore their inner machinist, they want to finish building the project their blunt tool thwarted them from in the first place.
It isn't a "macho" inner machinist (I should be ashamed of myself for not doing this issue), its about paying hard earned cash for a product that should be fit for purpose. Because the buyers purpose is to finish his project. If he wanted to be a machinist, he would apply for a job with Tormek R&D, then he could focus on that. Now don't get me wrong, I hear you, I'm sure this whole special interest group does.....it's just that, your average punter doesn't have this much expertise. Their "inner machinist" is an as yet unborn embryo who has just forked out thirty bucks on a piece of metal.....and it had better work :-)
Your perspective is of a man with literally decades of experience in solving problems of this nature, who is doubtless superb at it. Johnny punter, is a baby, he needs help, he can't spell shim....what does he do....
Quote from: Rob on April 14, 2013, 10:33:04 PM
Ill bet half the Tormek owners don't know what the word "shim" means!
I would think that someone so keen to sharpen his tools that he shells out the rather large amount of cash for the Tormek would have had to shim lots of things in his experience. I picture the Tormek as something only a craftsman would be using. I could be wrong.
You're probably right Herman, I'm sure quite a few Tormek users understand the word shim. The thing is I was exaggerating to illustrate the point which is that I think users will be frustrated with a jig that denies the necessary adjustment to accurately sharpen an offset knife.
I think I've accidentally hit upon a bug bear of mine with this. My frustration at the idea of a factory made jig that isn't entirely fit for purpose needs to be explained....here goes.
Most machine tools need "fettling" when new to set them up properly before accurate use is possible. All woodworkers generally want this to be as little as possible so they can get on with their project. The rule of thumb seems to be the more expensive the tool, the more likely you can use it "out the box". Good example, Lie Nielsen planes.
Tormek is definitely in the premium price group of tools (like LN) and as such I have high expectations for their jigs. And most of the time I have to say they don't disappoint. But the short knife jig......
In the final analysis, I'm always trying to get back to the project and get away from tool setup. I seem to spend half my time in the shop fettling something instead of getting on with the job, this is all about that balance. If I spend a lot of hard earned, I'm hoping the balance is in favour of project time. If I spend a little, I expect to invest in more fettling time.
How many woodworking knives are going to have an offset? Seems to me that the Tormek is set forth to be a tool for woodworkers, primarily. Yes it does knives and does them well with a learning curve. No, the knife jigs aren't perfect, but it is readily shown that superb edges have been achieved by the use of the Tormek.
The SVM-00 literature does not state that it can do all knives, there is no reference to the pocket knives that some of us carry. It may be that multiple bladed knives are not a common product there. The jig would handle a lot of 2 bladed pocket knives as the blades are located at opposite ends of the frame. Yes, some are located side by side and require tweaking.
Look at it this way. How many of us waited to buy a computer until we could get one with 8GB of memory and a 2TB hard drive? But you say this is different, you are talking electronics now. Is it really?
Most everyone reading this already has a Tormek. The SVM-00 costs approximately $35. Not bad. I don't imagine anyone here is still using that old Commodore 64 computer. How many computers have we had since then? Have we complained to the companies that made them that they weren't perfect? Care to figure up all your money spent on computer related products?
I would not be surprised that if we could know, Tormek is probably working on it.
Until then, we can still freehand sharpen. If we don't feel comfortable doing that, make and use our own version of the Ionut-Herman jig. Mark's tin can holder is a great idea as well. :)
Ok, off my soap box. :D
Has anyone presented the Ionut-Herman jig to Tormek or we assuming that they are going to find out here?
Better yet, someone put on your thinking cap and come up with a different jig that solves all knife sharpening problems!
If you don't want to shim, you can just do each side individually, resetting the Universal Support for the second side. Either solution makes this attachment useful for very small knives, whether fixed or folding, single blade or multi-blade. If you're successful with the SVM-45 for medium to large knives, you'll be successful with the SVM-00 for small knives, using exactly the same technique. Seems a clever solution to me.
Look guys don't get me wrong, I'm not having a pop at Tormek, don't forget that personally I freehand my small knives because I don't care about the aesthetics of slightly imperfect bevels as long as its sharp. I'm Tormeks greatest fan and have spent considerable amounts of money on their kit
I'm also objective. It simply occurs to me that there is a very large volume of pen knives out there of the Swiss army style design ie with offset blades. Surely, its in the commercial interest of a manufacturer of water cooled grinding and sharpening equipment to crack the sharpening conundrum of those blade geometries in perhaps the same elegant way they devised the articulated bowl gouge jig, an absolutely masterful piece of engineering.
Maybe I'm just barking up the wrong tree and I'm over estimating the market, or people in it aren't interested in sharpening their pen knives.....like me ie they freehand them.