Hello everyone . I am new to this site , so excuse me if this question is in the wrong place. I have just purchased a Tormek T 8 a big jump from a Lansky, so I have just started sharpening knives with the T8 and read about the Kenjig to set the support bar accurately for a 30* bevel . does anyone know what length one would have to be for a 20* bevel . that is with a 250 sanding wheel and also for a new leather polishing wheel . May i just say what a great site the Tormek community is especially for an old technology Dinasaur such as me . I hope someone can help with my question thank you ine anticipation. PAUL.
Quote from: Widu on November 19, 2022, 11:55:05 AM
Hello everyone . I am new to this site , so excuse me if this question is in the wrong place. I have just purchased a Tormek T 8 a big jump from a Lansky, so I have just started sharpening knives with the T8 and read about the Kenjig to set the support bar accurately for a 30* bevel . does anyone know what length one would have to be for a 20* bevel . that is with a 250 sanding wheel and also for a new leather polishing wheel . May i just say what a great site the Tormek community is especially for an old technology Dinasaur such as me . I hope someone can help with my question thank you ine anticipation. PAUL.
First, I think some clarification might be needed. Do you want 20° per side or 20° total? The Kenjig instructions (https://www.sharpeninghandbook.info/Images/Tool-Jig-KenJig.pdf) are the total bevel (30° total 15°/side)... I ask because 20° total would be 10° per side... most don't sharpen that low.
My answer... use the "2in1" calculator in this calculator.... Calcapp (https://bit.ly/2ADYosg). It works on almost any platform, and will give you the answer you can use to setup a Kenjig for both the grinding and honing wheels. I've attached a couple of screenshots, the first for the original Kenjig setup (30° or 15° per side), and the second for 40° or 20° per side. It gives both the grinding and honing wheel answers. The calculator uses the degrees per side (dps).
(If you do want 20° total, just change the Angle (dps) to 10° in the calculator.)
There are other options available, for example an Excel spreadsheet you can print out... check out Dutchman's original thread (https://forum.tormek.com/index.php/topic,1849.0.html) for more info.
Welcome to the forum, Paul.
CB, thanks for replying. My ipad has been acting up and thwarted my efforts to reply earlier. I second CB's suggestions. I have generally used Dutchman's original tables. Dutchman is the acknowledged father of all of the forum setting apps. The various apps all have slightly different emphases. I consider CB's Calcapp the leader for simple but accurate calculation.
I designed the kenjig for simplicity. 15° per side was chosen as an almost universal setting for kitchen knives. There is nothing sacred about it. Anyone wanting to use a different setting need only calculate and make up a separate kenjig. For one time or very occasional set ups, I make up a separate jig using cardboard or heavy (4 ply) photo mat board.Your local frame shop will probably give you a scrap piece from the window cutout. This will keep you in kenjigs for quite a while.
Label your kenjigs with wheel diameter, angle, Projection, and Distance. I recommend starting with cardboard or matboard jigs. (That is what I did.) Once you standardize on one or two "workhorse" settings, I prefer to use small pieces of 12mm baltic birch plywood.
I disagree with Dutchman on only one issue. He stated that the new KJ-45 jig has made his tables obsolete. I believe his tables are still useful, if one modifies the technique only slightly. That is another post topic.
Ken
PS I originally named the jig "KS-150, knife setting tool 150mm. As it has never been a Tormek product, Tormek nicely asked me to rename it.
Hello , and thank you . for the most helpful answers to my question. I have only had the T8 a month and what an eye opener also not great with all the modern computer stuff good job the other half is.
what a great site this is so much info , and knowledgeable , helpful members. I thank you once again PAUL.
Paul,
Make sure to check outTormek's youtube channel, especially the first one on knife sharpening.
Ken