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Tormek makes a very nice small square. You get one "for free" if you purchare the Anniversary Black T8. Unfortunately, this small square is not yet available as a stand alone accessory. HOWEVER, there is a relatively inexpensive "plan B". Although the TTS-100 is primarily designed for setting woodturning tools, it can also work very well with vhisels and plane irons. It makes a very fast, accurate setting tool and a useful small. Wolfgang demonstrates this at 1:07:20 in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/live/7aHmc43RUY4?si=av0B0hGR-tWmKWQy

Wolfgang demonstrates this with a skew chisel; however, many things in sharpening cross function.

Ken

PS The first time I sharpened a turning skew, I did not know the TTS-100/ small square trick. I assumed my skew angle matched the Tormek diagram. This "sharpening" turned into a lengthy reshaping project. A wiser plan would have been to draw the square line and set the skew angle to just a little closer to the recommended angle. After several sharpenings, I would have gradually matched the angle. A markedcollar with the third setting left blank initally would have tipped me off.

I believe our thoughts on any Tormek model except the T8 are often clouded by considerations which may not be relevant to sharpeners of typical kitchen knives.

The home cook, the target market for the T1, probably has more than the recommendd three "must have" knives. A dozen is probably more accurate, especially if the cook is somewhat of a knife aficionado. These knives generally fit into the categories served by the T1. With reasonable care, the 600 grit diamond wheel will keep all of them sharp.

If the home cook wantsto sharpen woodworking tools, he or she may already have a T4 or T8. (In Rob's case, he is a longtime T7 user.) Or, probably more typically, the home cook may have no interest in woodworking.

For the T2, a commercial kitchen probably has many more knives. Again, these would fall into categories within the scope of the T2. Very fewcommercial kitchens have a need to sharpen anything except kitchen cutlery.

Pocket knives were mentioned. I will have to double check that later this week. I rarely sharpen my pocket knives. My gut feeling is that readjusting the knife jig side to side will easily take care of any pocket knife issues.

Tormek has done xtensive field testing with its products. I suspect these issues will disappear aftertwenty or thirty knives are sharpened.

Ken

I think it is fair to say that an experienced sharpener would be getting excellent results sharpening typical kitchen knives with any of the Tormek models.

Ken

In this online class, starting around 23:00, Wolfgang explains Tormek's position on this.

https://www.youtube.com/live/zPfckZXyW6Y?si=9wEE7eUQp2p97FZF

Ken

John,

As you (and I) are the ones who enjoy sharpening knives, would that be such a bad thing?

Ken

John,
A suggestion- my wife is an excellent cook. I am not. She does the cooking; I maintain the knives and do the chopping. This efficient division of labor provides us with tasty meals. It also gives me hands on feedback about our knives.
Ken

Herman,

Thanks for posting. I have always appreciated your mixture of an experienced college physics teacher and practical home shop workshopper.

John,

In the absence of a T1, the T2 makes a good stand in. It costs more; however, it has interchangeable diamond wheels.

I have wondered if the composite honing wheel could be used as a "stone grader" by using it first dry and then moistened.

Ken

Rich,
I remember the link you posted. My favorite was the photo of the Tormek with a digital control panel posted on the forum years ago by Grepper.

John,

As a fellow leftie, I feel your pain. I reground a santoku knife to left handed by making it single bevel ground on the right side.

Ken

Hi, Herman. I am glad you posted. I assume your "homemade jig" is the famous "Herman's Homemade Small Platform" so familiar to the oldtime members of this forum. Sadly, your homemade jig may not be familiar to many of our newer members.

The Tormek SVD-110 is very useful for supporting larger tools. Its Achilles Heel is its width. It is too wide to allow grinding the full length of both bevels of a knife. You corrected this problem by making a narrow platform no wider than the grinding wheel. Your homemade jig is accurate, repeatable, and fast. It is even better because it utilizes A Tormek made platform with the Tormek patented Torlock.
I have made several, which do not work as well as yours. I also have two (one sized for the T4 and a larger one sized for the T7/8) made and given to me by a friend, which work very well. I believe any well equipped knife sharpener who does not have a Herman's Homemade Small Platform has handicapped himself.

Ken

Rob,

Yes, Bob really is your uncle. . . .

As much as I like and respect the very skilled Tormek staff, it is reallythe Robs and Kens (and their wallets) which keep the whole ball of wax going. I do find the T1 easy to use. Yes, the target market is home cooks who are untrained in sharpening. In my opinion, they have fulfilled that goal very well. I also feel that they have done a good job a good job of catering to a different market, The Samuels, Robs and Kens who have years of experience and a T7/8 in the workshop. The T1, like the T2, offers quick and accurate setup. No water or honing paste is needed and he knife holding ig couldn't be easier to set. Yes, we might occasionally want to do major repair work on a damaged knife That's the domain of the Big T we have in the shop. With the T1, we can have the knife sharpened and/or honed bofore the Big T is set up.

The T1's diamond wheel isjust the ticket or Global knives.

The composite wheel is nothing new.I think Tormek actually had them briefly years ago. I have had a et of three "rust erasers" for decades which have served me very well.

As with any tool,a little practice helps.

Ken

John,
Is the T2 available in Australia?
Ken

Hi, Rob.

Welcome back. It is good to hear from you; you have been missed. While you were missing, your Uncle Bob has been busy. In fact, he was mentioned in the Agatha Christie Death on the Nile episode my wife and I watched this morning.

I happen to have a T1. I like it; I think you would, too. It is a specialty machine designed for the serious home cook. Instead of just my occasional user thoughts, I think Samuel Stenhem does a much better job of describing it in this Tormek online class. I met Samuel during my week long visit to Tormek last August. We had several opportunities for in depth one on one conversations. In addition to being a good guy, Samuel is the CEO of Tormek and uses his T1 daily in his home kitchen. Here is a link to the video:

https://www.youtube.com/live/nqD0cefN0yU?si=pA1zYPBFWIeORWAA

Don't be a stranger, Rob. You are a friend and part of this family.

Ken

THe felt wheel Vadim (RIP) used was produced by the chinese company Ningbo Purui Polishing Company.

https://www.puruipolishing.com/product/10-inch-rock-hard-felt-wheel/

Regards,
Drilon

The second dimension listed (45mm) is correct forthe felt wheel Vadim sold. The original felt wheels he ordered were 50mm thick. This did not allow for the inset in the outside of the wheel. I ordered on of the first felt wheels he sold. To Vadim's credit, once he realized the mistake in size, he reordered the correct size.

Ken

First: what are CBN grinding wheels?

Second: I read that diamond grinding wheels can also be used dry, but how long do they last? With water, approximately, how many sharpenings can they withstand?

Third: is there a coarser grinding wheel (stone or diamond) that allows you to make the first roughing (especially when the blade is very damaged) and allow the finer ones to last longer?

CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride) wheels are made of CBN, the second hardest material.Only diamond is harder. Both diamond and CBN wheels are considered superabrasives and generally. ut faster and harder steel than conventionalgrinding wheels. While not identical, they can usually be used interchangeably. Tormek recommends startng with the SG grinding wheel.


In imy,opinion, neither diamond or CBN wheels should be used dry. In addition to keeping the toolsrust free, ACC solution prevents grinding dust, runs cooler, and keeps the grinding wheel much cleaner. How long weither diamond or CBN wheels last is largely determined by careful use (light pressure whn grinding).

The coarsest diamnd wheel is the DC-250. the coarsest regular wheel is the SB-250 blackstone. Neither of these wheels is designed for a fine, smooth cut. The finst cut diamond wheel is the DE-250. The finst cut regular wheel is the SJ-4000 Japanese wheel, followed by the SG-250 graded fine.

I suggest you check on the Tormek website (tormek.com). The xcellnt handbok is available ias a free download in sixteen different languages when you register your Tormek.

Keep us posted.

Ken

Thank you and have a good continuation of the evening.

This video shows an interesting combination grind for scandigrind carving knives:

https://youtu.be/2awkDNBT584?si=HV0H3RqOuEKk5pI8

Ken