As I delve into the massive swimming pool of YouTube videos, I feel I am not getting the structured information I need to develop my knowledge in using my new Tormek T8 so I was wondering if anyone can recommend any books I can buy so I can pull up a chair, make a nice cup of tea and get down to the nitty gritty of learning sharpening. My experience is over 30+ years of sharpening on multiple stones but this was from a working chefs point of view so my need of sharpening understanding was very basic. As I get ready to do a "very" soft launch of my new business, I want to learn what and why I do something wrong (and right) and how to fix it. Honing is still a challenge for me so I ordered the MB-102 jig so I can replicate the same angle that I sharpened on. Nothing to scientific, just a really good understanding of the process from beginning to end.
I do want to take this opportunity to that everyone who have replied to my previous post and I hope to gain the knowledge so I can eventually contribute to posts instead of just asking questions.
David,
You ask an excellent question. Over the years, I have acquired a formidable book library of sharpening and woodworking books. In the past few years, my studying has become almost exclusively online videos. For years, I complained to Tormek about the lack of good instructional videos which went beyond short, marketing videos. The answer was always the same, "We would like to; however, our staff just doesn't have the time".
Covid changed that. Travel bans made the old demo at trade fairs strategy non working (one of the very few benefits of Covid). We finally have a series of well done online videos which go beyond easy marketing.
My advice is to limit your precious study time to really studying the Tormek online youtubes. Do this until you acquire a very solid foundation in the Tormek technique. Please note that I am not saying that the Tormek method is the only good method or that it is the only method. By mastering it, you build a solid comparison base to evaluate other ideas. It can help you avoid two pitfalls:
The first pitfall is inexperience with the Tormek. This includes things like using whatever honing compound one happens to already have. I don't know if Tormek PA-70 compound is really better than other brands or not. I do know that Tormek has standardized on it for many years.
Related is non wetgrinding thinking. Like you, I have decades of bench stone sharpening experience. It is valuable related experience. It is not the same as Tormek sharpening.
The second pitfall is, for lack of a better term, "marketing propaganda". While often not incorrect, this often ignores the entire picture. Is water "messy", or is grinding dust unhealthy? Is the useof an anticorrosion solution "expensive" or do thebenefits outweigh the cost? And, what isthe real cost?
I expect any vendor toadvocate his own product.Ihave noproblem with that; however, all vendor information, including that of Tormek, should beable to withstand reasonable criticism.
In conclusion, Irecommend study of the handbook andTormek's online classes.
Ken
PS I apologize for the typos. I recently had cataract surgery on both eyes and am awaiting new lenses for closevision.