Messages

glh17,

You need a good spin doctor.  Your good Henckel knife has only one nick, added previously by an inexperienced sharpener, and corrected by you.  Your fine Starrett square is presently being routinely being checked to insure its legendary accuracy.

Ken

Last year I did some "coarse stone grinding" on some areas of my life.  I went essentially plant based (vegan) in my diet.  The occasional beer or wine became very occasional.  (No, I still don't exercise; there is room to grow.)

This new year, I will continue with the fine stone refining the edges.

Last year I added the new water trough and EZY lock shaft to keep current. As January looks both forward and backward, with Ionut's help, I am also purchasing one of the older square edge jigs for large mortise chisels.

I hope this will be a happy, prosperous, and productive new year for the forum members.

Ken

ps  A good New Year addition to your sharpening libraries is Ron Hock's excellent book.

Fine side fine; course side course.

I agree.  I think you could start a sharpening business with your T7.  However, before I might bring my prized Henckel knives to anyone, I would prefer the sharpener have either lots of experience or some good training (preferably both).  I don't mean to discourage you, but rather to spur you on to a higher plain.

Ken

Hi, Grover.

I did a quick run through of the prices.  If you buy the hand tool kit (separately from the T7), you would essentially get the axe jig for free as compared with buying all the jigs separately.  If you order the hand tool kit at the same time as the T7, you can save about $15 more.

IF you use all these jigs, it is a bit of a saving.  If not, you have some very nice collectibles to fill your shelves.

I think the Tormek is a fine sharpening machine. The accessories certainly make it very versatile.  I do not think the package pricing is really such a hot bargain.

I agree with Ionut about being able to do an acceptable job freehand for the very occasional axe.  If, by chance, you had more than occasional axes to sharpen, I would get the jig.  If not, slowly and carefully handheld would get you through adequately.

Ken

Pete, this is from the website:

The two day school (about 10 hours) is $600.  All classes are one-on-one unless you come with someone; see two-fer special below.  On Day One you will learn my method of combining wet grinding with paper wheel honing and stropping, and become able to sharpen most household knives.  On Day Two you will learn how to sharpen scissors and garden tools.  You can try any of the listed equipment and get some practice time sharpening knives and scissors that you brought. Two days is recommended for anyone thinking about starting a sharpening business.
A one day class (about 6 hours) tailored to your interests is available for $400.  All classes include lunch. 
Sometimes I am working at a market the day after class.  Students are invited to work as my apprentice on these dates and  see my business in operation.
A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the course.

Interesting.  I'll try it that way next time I reprofile.

Thanks.

Ken

Jeff,

Would it be correct to assume you mean placing the knife on a flat surface (such as the Torlock) and reshaping at a 90 degree angle?  Would you do this with knife i the front (horizontal) position?

Ken

Pete,

I have been thinking about you and your post.  As I mentioned, I am not a professional sharpener.  However, if I was to to that, the first thing I would want would be good training.

I would recommend good training for you even before purchasing a machine.  I don't know where you live.  I happen to live in Ohio, so I would contact Steve Bottorff (sharpeningmadeeasy.com).  I have never met him, and am going only be what is on his website.  He offers a two day sharpening class.  It is private instruction, only one student at a time.  Depending on when which class one chooses, you get the opportunity to work with him that Saturday as his apprentice.  Two days of private instruction and a day as an apprentice sound like a solid foundation to me.

At that point, you would know which equipment you wish to purchase.  You would learn about the business end of things as well as how to sharpen.

Steve might be able to recommend someone in your area if Cleveland is out of the question for you.

Perhaps other members have taken Steve's class and would chime in.

Ken

Hi, Grover.

I wondered the same thing not too long ago.  I ended up just buying the standard knife jig for a starter.  In my case, the only knife I own which is doubtful with it is the eight inch slicing knife.  All the others, including the eight inch chef's knife, are easily doable with the standard jig.  (My present 1000 grit Norton stone is adequate for the odd time I might need to sharpen the little used long slicer.)

I did later buy the scissors jig.  (I have not had occasion to use it yet.)

I can't imagine (me) using the axe jig. 

At this point, buying the long knife jig would be to add it to "the compleat" collection.

For me, the kit would not have been a good investment.

You know your own needs better than I do.  My thought would be to start out with the T7 and the standard knife jig.

(Be sure to watch Jeff's knife sharpening video.)

Welcome and good luck,

Ken

Good reply, Ern.

Pete,
You deserve some good answers.  Unfortunately, I don't think you will find them here.  Look at the member statistics.  If you filter out the members who have not posted ten times or more, you can count the remainder on your fingers.  If you do not include Jeff, the moderator, who is very knowledgeable, I come in about fourth.  I am not a professional sharpener.  Ionut, who is the most active participant, has stated he is an amateur.  I'm not sure about Herman or Ern.

I would assume there are some professionals in the membership, and probably a larger numbers of sideline sharpeners.  The bulk of the membership, unfortunately, is mute.  That seems regrettable, because I believe we may have much more expertise in the group.

I would suggest you check out sharpeningmadeeasy.com.  Steve Buttorff seems a very experiences sharpener who uses (several) Tormek machines.

I hope the non posting members will prove me wrong and chime in.

Ken

mGuitars,

I knew an old refinisher.  He was a real expert in his craft.  He told me that when he was apprenticing, his mentor gave him a piece of bird's eye maple and tole him to scrape it "until the eyes popped out".  He scraped and scraped, and finally told his mentor it could not be done.  The mentor was undaunted, and told him to keep scraping.  With much cursing, he continued.  To his great surprise, the eyes finally popped.

Scraping is a valuable, underutilized skill.

Ken

Robbo, a good use for the Tormek.  The real strength in the design favors sharpening over shaping.

Ken

I started using Ron Hock's suggestion of testing an edge with a plastic pen.  It works like using your thumb nail.  If the blade catches, it is sharp.  If it slides, it's back to the sharpening equipment.

Young children note my resemblance to Santa Claus.  If my white beard had sharpener's disease blotches, it might frighten the young ones.

Happy holidays to all.

Ken