Recent posts

#1

Knife Sharpening / Re: JigSteps - Android App

Last post by cbwx34 - Yesterday at 10:27:48 PM

Looks good!

I always suggest providing/including the "USB to Wheel" result, as an alternative to setting the height. Some users prefer this method of setting the USB height.

I am curious... it looks like you're setting the height by measuring to the top of the adjusting nut (if so, good idea), but I noted in the one example on your website the result matches measuring to the top of the machine.  (Maybe the idea changed after you posted the image, or I misunderstood?)

Hopefully, you're not including the "blade thickness" to calculate the result.... 

But overall, looking good!

p.s.  The "setup calculator" may be a little "off putting" for some... you may consider providing some of the common (or ones you've already calculated) horizontal and vertical measurements, so everyone doesn't have to do them.

#2

Knife Sharpening / JigSteps - Android App

Last post by andrevde - Yesterday at 02:13:44 AM

Hi all

I wanted to open with a bit of history, since I know Vadim (and his apps/book/knowledge) meant a great deal to people here. I was one of his customers myself — I'd bought and relied on his grinding-angle calculators for Tormek, and his FVB that I bought. After he passed in 2022 and the tools stopped being maintained, one of the apps stopped working properly, and I ended up building my own replacement just to keep going. That grew into something considerably bigger than I'd originally set out to make (I had a few eureka moments along the way!), and it's become an Android app I'm calling JigSteps.

Where Vadim's tools handled one grind step at a time, and one app per equipment type/position, JigSteps walks through a full multi-stage sharpening sequence (steps) as the user chooses — coarse through to polishing/honing — recalculating exact support heights and angles at every stage, on any valid machine/equipment setup. The blade/jig is kept unchanged throughout. It's based on the Tormek T-8 and is compatible with any wheel-type grinder, plus flat/belt setups (I even built-in the Tormek SE-77 jig). It relies on the user creating a library of all equipment they use for jig sharpening, so the geometry lends itself to any similar machine. Once this is done, it is very easy to create the steps intended for the item being sharpened. Lots of clear diagrams are included to explain what is measured, and where the calculated output is measured (it is not the same as Vadim and others have used - I think it's better!).

The app is heading into closed testing on Google Play before public launch (this is a fairly recent requirement as  I understand it), and I'm looking for around 15 people to try it out on the and give honest feedback. It's a real install through the actual Play Store (nothing sideloaded or emailed), and the only ask is a 14-day window of actually using it (Google Play monitors this).

For those that are selected for beta testing, as a thank you for helping me get this into production you'll get a free copy of the full release version.

The app will have free support for life (other than major upgrades), is a pay-once app that you actually own (no subscription), and has no link to any server other than the Play store. I'm finalising price but I'm likely to be around the $14.95 (USD) mark.

The app has a companion website with a full guide and equipment setup info, at https://jigsteps.app — that's also where anyone interested in testing can get in touch directly.

If this proves useful, I'll look at creating an IOS version for the Apple fans.


Thanks for your interest!
Andre

#3

Scissors Sharpening / Re: Deburring?

Last post by Herman Trivilino - Yesterday at 01:52:53 AM

Where does the procedure/process of deburring by "opening" the blades against each other - after having held them apart so they do not touch when closing them - fit in the scheme of scissors deburring.

As I understand it, scissors are not to be deburred. After sharpening open and close them a few times. To me, this is just breaking in a newly-sharpened pair of scissors. It's all I ever do.

#4

General Tormek Questions / Re: New SVD-186R jig

Last post by RickKrung - September 28, 2026, 03:59:34 PM

I wanted a second SVD-186R and remembered that there had been a discussion of this when the R was released with its locking knob. I had a 186 on hand so for the conversion to a 186R I implemented Rick's idea of a collar around the jig to reinforce the tapped hole.

As can be seen in the pictures, the body of the 186 is about 2.5mm thick and the collar doubled that. There is now plenty of thread to hold the knob. (If I were Rick I would have machined a steel collar, but the 20mm ID brass bushing was so cheap ($6) and easy that I couldn't resist; I am confident that it will do the job.)

The brass bushing was a decent interference fit over the jig: I warmed the bushing, froze the jig, slid on the bushing and it tightened up nicely. If the fit hadn't been so nice, I would have put a dab of JB Weld in to keep things orderly.

Though it looks a bit bulkier in the middle, I am finding the homemade 186R to be functionally the same as my "real" 186R, so this was a successful modification for me.

Gord

Nicely done.  I think brass is a good choice here.  If I were doing it, rather than ordinary, rustable steel, I would use stainless, but I love working in brass as well and it will serve quite well and I would be happy with it this way. 

Rick

#5

General Tormek Questions / Re: New SVD-186R jig

Last post by GKC - September 28, 2026, 05:35:57 AM

I wanted a second SVD-186R and remembered that there had been a discussion of this when the R was released with its locking knob. I had a 186 on hand so for the conversion to a 186R I implemented Rick's idea of a collar around the jig to reinforce the tapped hole.

As can be seen in the pictures, the body of the 186 is about 2.5mm thick and the collar doubled that. There is now plenty of thread to hold the knob. (If I were Rick I would have machined a steel collar, but the 20mm ID brass bushing was so cheap ($6) and easy that I couldn't resist; I am confident that it will do the job.)

The brass bushing was a decent interference fit over the jig: I warmed the bushing, froze the jig, slid on the bushing and it tightened up nicely. If the fit hadn't been so nice, I would have put a dab of JB Weld in to keep things orderly.

Though it looks a bit bulkier in the middle, I am finding the homemade 186R to be functionally the same as my "real" 186R, so this was a successful modification for me.

Gord

#6

General Tormek Questions / Re: Removing the Grinding Whee...

Last post by John Hancock Sr - September 28, 2026, 02:50:43 AM

T8 was not yet available 15 years ago

Sorry, it was a T7 dated 2011. My son now has it. I bought the T8 Anniversary but with my repairs and paint job the T7 is as good as new.

#7

General Tormek Questions / Re: Removing the Grinding Whee...

Last post by RichColvin - September 26, 2026, 09:26:11 PM

Yes, time has a tendency of passing quickly. It's quite easy for me to walk away from a sharpening session and leave the machine unattended for weeks or even months. I've learned my lesson. Remove the water trough, empty and thoroughly rinse, and remove the grindstone immediately after every session.

I do the same as Heman.

#8

General Tormek Questions / Re: Removing the Grinding Whee...

Last post by Dan - September 26, 2026, 08:30:37 PM

The Tormek T8 had been introduced 10 years ago in 2016.

Yes, I also thoought the T8 was not yet available 15 years ago. Perhaps it wasn't as old as John thought

#9

General Tormek Questions / Re: Removing the Grinding Whee...

Last post by Herman Trivilino - September 26, 2026, 07:36:27 PM

Yes, time has a tendency of passing quickly. It's quite easy for me to walk away from a sharpening session and leave the machine unattended for weeks or even months. I've learned my lesson. Remove the water trough, empty and thoroughly rinse, and remove the grindstone immediately after every session.

#10

General Tormek Questions / Re: Removing the Grinding Whee...

Last post by Drilon - September 26, 2026, 06:27:28 PM

The Tormek T8 had been introduced 10 years ago in 2016.