Tormek Community Forum

In the Shop => General Tormek Questions => Topic started by: Antz on May 30, 2019, 07:16:38 AM

Title: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Antz on May 30, 2019, 07:16:38 AM
So I have an idea to assist with freehand sharpening on tormek or paper wheels or bench grinders for that matter. First use a protractor to mark the angles you want to sharpen or shape at. Second mount a laser line market overhead. Then just shoot the laser on your choice of angle and sharpen away. Just keep the edge of your knife on that laser mark to produce consistent bevels. Just thought I'd share my idea. I haven't done it yet but I will soon. The laser is pretty cheap (24$ US). And it's adjustable. Here's a link
https://www.amazon.com/Viper-Laser-Throw-Line-Marker/dp/B00FRMHZJA/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=viper+laser+line&qid=1559192992&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Or this one
https://www.amazon.com/INFINITER-Generator-cutting-Adapter-included/dp/B077JV44LM/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?keywords=laser+line&qid=1559193105&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Antz on May 30, 2019, 07:21:17 AM
Sorry I meant laser line marker not market
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Jan on May 30, 2019, 09:18:38 AM
Antz, good idea, please see the thread:
https://forum.tormek.com/index.php?topic=2562.msg13698#msg13698

Jan
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Antz on May 30, 2019, 09:50:33 AM
Thanks. Sorry I didn't know there was a thread going on this topic.  :-[
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Jan on May 30, 2019, 12:05:38 PM
Antz, you are welcome.  :) They are so many threads and posts here. It is very difficult to get an overview of a subject. The search engine is often not very effective.

Jan

Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Ken S on May 30, 2019, 05:46:00 PM
Jan makes a very important point. I have often been frustrated with our search engine. In my case, much of the problem may be operator inexperience. However, I wonder if we can do anything to improve things.  That is the reason I have started so many topics. I don't know if this helps.

This would be an excellent opportunity for those of us with computer savvy to post.

Ken
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Josu V on May 30, 2019, 07:02:27 PM
I have copied the "Sharpco´s system".
I saw it in one of his videos about sharpening a Tanto blade.

Video: https://youtu.be/cvlWF_3fcTE
(1:32)

I remember that Wootz use it too for sharpening convex blades.
I use this system for Convex and Tanto blades with good results. And the laser is very cheap (9€ in aAmazon)

I hope I have helped.
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Jan on May 30, 2019, 08:44:25 PM
"Sharpco´s system" is really great. Directly sterile cleanliness of his workplace surprised me.  :)

The only thing I wonder about is the angle setting when he changes the SB wheel for the CBN wheel. Generally the wheel diameters are different. The same concerns the honing wheel. Maybe he did it off the record.

Jan
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Josu V on May 30, 2019, 09:02:52 PM
Actually I use Sb-250 and Diamond wheels DF-250 - DE-250.
Every time I change the wheel, I must calculate the new measure for the same grinding angle. Then, I adjust the laser to the new point and continue with grinding.
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Antz on May 31, 2019, 12:25:03 AM
Just wanted to say I wasn't trying to pass someone else's idea off as my own. I really did think of it at home in my garage. But apparently I was far from the first person to think of it. I'm new to tormek's. Great links and thanks for everyone's input.

Thanks
Antz
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Twisted Trees on May 31, 2019, 12:32:15 AM
Quote from: Antz on May 31, 2019, 12:25:03 AM
Just wanted to say I wasn't trying to pass someone else's idea off as my own. I really did think of it at home in my garage. But apparently I was far from the first person to think of it. I'm new to tormek's. Great links and thanks for everyone's input.

Thanks
Antz

Ideas come to many of us, I suspect that 99% of the home made gadgets in my workshop exist in other workshops, I may have a go at the laser I do like lasers  ;)
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: RichColvin on May 31, 2019, 02:46:38 AM
Antz,

CB posted an item in 2018 about a pivot jig based on 4 collars.  Rick Krug took that and came up with the pin pivot jig.  And then Gord Cameron came up with one based on a block of aluminium.  The progression of ideas allows for choices and preferences. 

So, please don't stop.  These ideas are what is advancing the craft.

Kind regards,
Rich
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Jan on May 31, 2019, 09:19:05 AM
Antz, Antoine de Saint-Exupery said: "When by mutation a new rose is born in a garden, all the gardeners rejoice."

Jan
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: John_B on May 31, 2019, 04:22:58 PM
I think the laser guide would also be a useful tool when you are doing kitchen knives as well. s you raise your hand to sharpen the curved part you should stay on the line to keep the  grind even. If you do not pay attention to this it is easy to have a wider grind as you approach the tip. While I doubt that it hurts anything it does not look as professional as a perfectly even grind along the entire edge.
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Josu V on May 31, 2019, 06:55:13 PM
Quote from: Antz on May 31, 2019, 12:25:03 AM
Just wanted to say I wasn't trying to pass someone else's idea off as my own. I really did think of it at home in my garage. But apparently I was far from the first person to think of it. I'm new to tormek's. Great links and thanks for everyone's input.

Thanks
Antz

I understand. My contribution is to provide details that can help develop your idea  :)
I hope your progress attentively.

Regards
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: Antz on May 31, 2019, 09:08:37 PM
Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I'll continue to try and find logical solutions to everyday challenges and share my findings in hopes it can help others.

John, that's exactly the type of situation I think a laser could be useful. It could even be used when doing guided jig sharpening with a pivot collar and not necessarily just for freehand. Or like some YouTube vids I watched last night it can be used with a tool rest for just some added guidance.

Thanks
Antz
Title: Re: Laser line guide for freehand sharpening
Post by: John_B on May 31, 2019, 09:30:21 PM
Quote from: Antz on May 31, 2019, 09:08:37 PM
Thank you all for your words of encouragement. I'll continue to try and find logical solutions to everyday challenges and share my findings in hopes it can help others.

John, that's exactly the type of situation I think a laser could be useful. It could even be used when doing guided jig sharpening with a pivot collar and not necessarily just for freehand. Or like some YouTube vids I watched last night it can be used with a tool rest for just some added guidance.

Thanks
Antz

Once you have been sharpening for a while you will learn to do the same thing with the water going over the edge. I learned by keeping a straight line of water as my hand position changed. A laser guide would be accurate and easy to follow.