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#1
Knife Sharpening / Re: Knife restoration - NYKC H...
Last post by John Hancock Sr - Today at 03:56:57 AMQuote from: kwakster on Yesterday at 11:17:47 AMI'm not a fan of Ballistol ever since i used it on an air rifle and found that it polymerized into a translucent filmNever had that happen. I suspect it reacted to something that was on the rifle.
#2
Knife Sharpening / Re: Choosing a default angle
Last post by BPalv - Yesterday at 02:48:57 PMIn regards to the original post. I have sharpened for customers at 20, 17 and 15 degrees primarily. I now sharpen pretty much any decent kitchen knife to 15 degrees... They always come back to me needing sharpened. That's to say, I can't tell if one angle held up better or not.
All but the cheapest steel should be stable at 15%. Wootz or Larin showed the sharper the knife is, the longer it stays sharp. The geometry allows a sharper edge at 15°.
In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter. 90% of your customers won't know or care what angle they are sharpened to.
All but the cheapest steel should be stable at 15%. Wootz or Larin showed the sharper the knife is, the longer it stays sharp. The geometry allows a sharper edge at 15°.
In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter. 90% of your customers won't know or care what angle they are sharpened to.
#3
Knife Sharpening / Re: Questions about knife tip ...
Last post by BPalv - Yesterday at 02:27:11 PMYep, what he said...
#4
Knife Sharpening / Re: How to achieve less than 1...
Last post by BPalv - Yesterday at 02:26:30 PMAs I re-read through all the comments there are a couple things that jump out.
First, many don't see the need or use for a Bess Tester. I use mine for testing my work but more importantly, I use it to learn new techniques and improve my current techniques. It is especially useful in the learning stages to see the way different steels and tempers react to being honed.
Secondly, I use it to confirm I have fully refined the tip, belly and heel. It will also show you when you've stropped too much.
In regards to the OP, the Bess enables you to learn what works and what doesn't. Under 100 is very realistic with the SG-250, depending on the steel. As some have mentioned, cheap steel sometimes just won't get under 120 for a variety of reasons.
Some folks see it as a way to compare results to someone else... I could care less. Just trying to improve my craft, in my mind.
It is a useful tool for me, and has a premium spot on my bench.
First, many don't see the need or use for a Bess Tester. I use mine for testing my work but more importantly, I use it to learn new techniques and improve my current techniques. It is especially useful in the learning stages to see the way different steels and tempers react to being honed.
Secondly, I use it to confirm I have fully refined the tip, belly and heel. It will also show you when you've stropped too much.
In regards to the OP, the Bess enables you to learn what works and what doesn't. Under 100 is very realistic with the SG-250, depending on the steel. As some have mentioned, cheap steel sometimes just won't get under 120 for a variety of reasons.
Some folks see it as a way to compare results to someone else... I could care less. Just trying to improve my craft, in my mind.
It is a useful tool for me, and has a premium spot on my bench.
#5
Knife Sharpening / Re: Knife restoration - NYKC H...
Last post by kwakster - Yesterday at 11:17:47 AMI'm not a fan of Ballistol ever since i used it on an air rifle and found that it polymerized into a translucent film which i was able to peel of the mechanism almost in one piece.
For most lubrication jobs i have been using various Nano-Oil products, as for me these always work great.
This knife is also lubricated with a few drops of 5 weight Nano-Oil (their thinnest version)
I use WD40 onlt as a sharpening lubricant and as a cleaning agent for certain jobs.
For most lubrication jobs i have been using various Nano-Oil products, as for me these always work great.
This knife is also lubricated with a few drops of 5 weight Nano-Oil (their thinnest version)
I use WD40 onlt as a sharpening lubricant and as a cleaning agent for certain jobs.
#6
Knife Sharpening / Re: Knife restoration - NYKC H...
Last post by John Hancock Sr - Yesterday at 09:20:50 AMVery nice indeed. May I offer a suggestion? I discovered Ballistol a few years ago. This is a (IMHO) much better option than WD40 for rust prevention and lubrication in this application. It was developed in the early 1900s for us on guns (hence its name) for rust removal, cleaning, lubrication on metals, leather and wood. I use it regularly on my tools and would be perfect for your knives. It is more expensive that WD40 but I in my experience I much prefer it to WD40. I do keep WD40 in my toolbox so to speak but tend more towards Ballistol these days.
#7
Knife Sharpening / Re: Questions about knife tip ...
Last post by John Hancock Sr - Yesterday at 09:10:30 AMIt is s good idea to watch the Tormek Innovation videos on their YouTube channel on knife sharpening. You need to keep the knife parallel to the USB and lift the handle when you get to the tip. Rotating the knife is what causes this.
#8
Knife Sharpening / Re: Knife restoration - NYKC H...
Last post by Ken S - July 14, 2026, 10:31:59 PM #9
General Tormek Questions / Re: true stone?
Last post by KaithyHong - July 14, 2026, 11:12:23 AMThat is a great point, Mac! Checking the clamping pressure on both knobs is definitely a game-changer. It's so easy to accidentally tilt the blade if one side is dialed in a bit tighter than the other, even if it looks visually flush against the jig tabs.
For anyone else running into this, another quick thing to check is thumb pressure while grinding - if you find you are leaning naturally to one side of the chisel as you move across the wheel, it can sometimes mimic an out-of-true stone or a skewed jig.
For anyone else running into this, another quick thing to check is thumb pressure while grinding - if you find you are leaning naturally to one side of the chisel as you move across the wheel, it can sometimes mimic an out-of-true stone or a skewed jig.
#10
Knife Sharpening / Questions about knife tip scra...
Last post by Mojoman - July 13, 2026, 03:42:21 PMI have the Tormek T4 and recently bought the KS-123 Knife Angle Setter. I use digital calipers to find out the degree of the knife edge and set the Angle Setter for the appropriate angle. Whenever I sharpen the knife and get to the tip, Seems like the knife is laying too flat and causing a scratch pattern other than on the bevel. Is this just common or am I doing something wrong? Thanks.
