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Topics - Ken S

#61
General Tormek Questions / A topic for Aquataur
September 12, 2023, 01:08:05 AM
Aquataur,

I was reading your posts unsuccessfully looking for a reference to glazing and grinding material being stuck in the grinding wheel. I was reading the wrong member's posts.

Anyway:  You posted about the width of felt wheels with your T3. I learned some interesting things while measuring my T4, which is identical with wheel related measurements with the T4.

1) With the water trough removed, a 250mm wheel fits on the main shaft.

2) even though the 200mm wheels are 40 mm wide and the 250mm wheels are 50mm wide, the ten mm difference is at the edge. The 250mm wheels have a deeper center indent. The width of both sizes at the bore is essentially identical.

I would mention one caution: the all plastic housing of the T3 does not have the heat dispersing characteristics of the T4's zinc top. As long as you are careful, this should not be a problem, especially with a felt wheel.

I leave it to your creative imagination to explore all of this!

Ken
#62
Knife Sharpening / Upcoming online class on MB-102
September 08, 2023, 04:17:13 PM
https://www.youtube.com/live/uNupoAP5gAU?si=6P6YbZ8nz1Hvz23m

September 12at 9:30 eastern time. New online class about the new MB-102 Multi Base.

Ken
#63
My first hardbound copy of the handbook, which came with my T7 in 2009, is well worn and full of underlining, hi-lighting, and margin notes. I have learned a lot from it. Since the advent of the online classes, I confess to spending a lot more time with the youtube classes than with the handbook.

My nine hour flight from Stockholm to Newark made me rethink my priorities. I can't sleep on airplanes. While United offered free excellent personal movie selection, I wanted to review what I had learned at Tormek. I pulled up the handbook loaded in the books program of my mini iPad. I was able to re read through most of the handbook. I discovered that more had changed over the editions than I had known. Many points of interest also demonstrated in the online classes were reinforced in the online version of the handbook. My iPad screen is backlit, which made reading easy when the cabin was darkened.

In good light, the printed version of the handbook is still the easiest to use. Flipping back and forth between pages is tedious with the online handbook.

My future study plan is to triple team. I will still study the online classes, including being part of the classes during presentation whenever possible. My mini iPad and copy of the handbook take up little space in my satchel. Neither requires Wi-Fi. Even after much study, the learning possibilities are still very fertile.

Ken
#64
General Tormek Questions / An ACC tip from Tormek
September 05, 2023, 12:05:38 AM
Part of our program at Tormek was an afternoon of our sharpening questions. The instructors divided the subjects so that everyone's questions were discussed. The program took place in the sharpening studio. (The line classes are also made there.)

Before traveling, I had emailed Wolfgang some specific questions. Wolfgang wisely realized that these questions might not interest most of our group. He suggested that the two of us find a quiet area to discuss my questions. It doesn't get any better than private tutoring with the Sharpening Doctor! I will gradually share the conversation with the forum.

I asked Wolfgang to elaborate more about a comment he made about the Anti Corrosion Concentrate. He emailed me an answer. Here it is:

"That was me, that mentioned it, it will give a coating when the liquid dries up, especially the wheel. A certain protection for the tools too as long as it not interfere with the material you work on.
 I had a Tormek user that complained that the wheel developed stain, even he was using the ACC. He was painstakingly drying the wheel after he used it, thinking to prevent the wheel to rust.
The ACC leaves a thin "protection layer" on the wheel."

Eventually HÃ¥kan and Mats joined us. I was having a discussion with the Holy Trinity of Tormek experts!

Ken
#65
General Tormek Questions / New MB-102 Multibase
September 04, 2023, 12:17:35 PM
One of the exciting things I saw last week during my visit to Tormek in Sweden was the new MB-102 Multibase. The official launch date is this morning, September fourth. This new Multibase combines the full adjustability of theMB-100 with being able to work vertically using the horizontal (grinding away) sleeves. One amazing feature of this new Multibase is that it combines these two features for around the same cost as just the original Multibase.

Here is the information sheet from Tormek as well as a link to the instruction sheet:

https://tormek.com/en/products/accessories/mb-102-multi-base

https://tormek.com/download/18.462ab74e188bd9ef5f07d4f5/1692630821038/Instruction%20MB-102.pdf

Ken
#66
Some of us use the BGM-100 to combine the accuracy of Tormek jigs with the speed of a high speed grinder. I found a good video with some ideas on how to use a dry grinder more efficiently. Using a BGM-100 really requires high speed dry grinding thinking. Here is a link to the video:

https://youtu.be/GB-Pa73Snp4

The magic in this technique comes from using the right (friable) grinding wheel and from grinding a crown into the grinding surface instead of having it straight across. The crown limits the contact surface, causing it to grind cooler. A side effect with the limited contact surface of the crown it higher grinding pressure. Wolfgang explains this early in the Grinding Pressure online class.

Ken
#67
Just like many new Tormek owners today, I was in a great hurry to acquire the extra grinding wheels when I began with the Tormek in 2009.  I was convinced that acquiring an SB-250 and an SJ-250 would quickly advance my sharpening.  I soon acquired both. (This was before Tormek introduced diamond wheels and before CBN wheels were used with the Tormek.) In hindsight, I was wrong. I would have been much better off to learn the subtleties of the SG-250.

Today I watched the Grinding Pressure online class linked here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/7laP_ysnMwo?feature=share

I have watched this class before. I believe I was finally able to better absorb it today. I highly recommend this class; it contains a lot of subtle sharpening wisdom.

Ken
#68
I have never had a problem aligning the studs and holes with my honing wheels, until this week. This may be a freak occurrence; however, I devised a work around to use if it should ever occur Alain. Both surfaces are black.Alignment  can be difficult to see. By putting a small drop of white paint on one of the studs, alignment is easy to see with good light or a flashlight.

Ken
#69
Knife Sharpening / The sound of a sharp knife
July 29, 2023, 11:52:30 AM
Knife sharpness is demonstrated from around 1:30 to 2 minutes. I also found the rest of this video interesting.
Bon appetit!

https://youtu.be/x-SJATl3GgY


Ken
#70
New items are gradually being added to parts pages. Recently, I have found the knife jig for the T2, apart for the DBS22, and a tube of oil for the leather honing wheel. The oil is shown in this link:

https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/Leather-Honing-Wheel-Oil-P2070.aspx

(These may also be available through other dealers.) Frankly, I have always used whatever oil is handy (3 in 1, mineral oil from the drug store, the Tormek oil) All have worked fine.

Parts pages are worth checking out.

Ken
#71
My new 50th Anniversary T8 Black Edition arrived yesterday. It's delivery was delayed slightly because the first shipment to the US was already sold out.

I have mixed feelings about the 50th edition. The thrifty, practical New England Yankee part of me is fully aware that it is mechanically identical with the regular T8 and that the DF-250 diamond grinding wheel and composite honing wheel can be purchased separately or as part of the T8 Custom. With my eyes closed, it is indistinguishable from the regular T8. The Tormek fanatic side of me thinks differently.

I have always been partial to the traditional SG grinding wheel and leather honing wheel. I will continue to use them for much of my sharpening. However, I can see diamond wheels and composite honing becoming  increasingly important in the future (already here). The fiftieth anniversary T8  comes out of the box with both.

I have faith that Tormek will honor the fifty year warranty. My T7, my oldest Tormek, has never given me any trouble. I suspect my heirs will still be using both of them when I am long gone.

Ken
 
#72
This is a "must see" for all Tormek buffs:

https://youtu.be/dgSg86S0bUk

Enjoy!

Ken
#73
I found the technique and dedication used in this video outstanding.

https://youtu.be/XA4FR4Fq3K4

Ken
#74
I have read numerous replies recommending that the original poster purchase a set of superabrasive wheels or various honing wheels to solve the problem. While these may well solve the problems, many of these problems can be solved for considerably less cost.

Demonstration videos start with grinding. Once sharpening is complete, PA-70 honing compound is applied to the leather honing wheel, and the honing part of sharpening begins. Wolfgang mentions a simple improvement in the online classes . The honing compound is most effective (aggressive) when the compound is almost dry.  Why not apply the honing compound at the start of the sharpening session and allow it to dry during set up and grinding? This also makes the honing compound more grit versatile at no extra cost. If the almost dry compound seems too aggressive, just add fresh (wet) compound.

All of the knives I sharpen are either stainless or carbon (mostly Victorinox, Henckel, Mora or Buck). I don't know how well this would work with supersteels. It certainly seems worth a try before purchasing several hundred dollars for specialized honing equipment.

There are many gems in the online sharpening classes.

Ken   
#75
General Tormek Questions / Diamond wheel wear
June 22, 2023, 03:28:57 AM

The initial breaking in period of diamond wheels has been well covered. What is less well covered is wear beyond the initial period. Wolfgang mentions this at around 37:45 in the pressure class linked here. Beyond the initial breaking in period, if your diamond wheel grit gets finer, you are using too much pressure.

Ken

https://www.youtube.com/live/7laP_ysnMwo?feature=share
#76
This morning I rewatched the pressure online class. This class is not designed to pertain to any particular tool. It does contain much valuable information. It answers many questions I have had for many years.

Our time watching or rewatching it will be well rewarded.

https://www.youtube.com/live/7laP_ysnMwo?feature=share

Ken