Recent posts

#1

General Tormek Questions / Re: Handy and cheap microscope

Last post by John Hancock Sr - Today at 11:40:52 AM

I found mine on AliExpress. I just searched for hand held digital magnifier.

#2

General Tormek Questions / Re: Handy and cheap microscope

Last post by Dutchman - Today at 11:02:11 AM

Where can we buy it?

#3

General Tormek Questions / Re: Blackstone grading

Last post by Ken S - Yesterday at 11:09:10 PM

I epoxied mine to a piece of aluminum 2x8x1/16" to insureflatness.

Ken

#4

General Tormek Questions / Re: Handy and cheap microscope

Last post by Ken S - Yesterday at 11:04:43 PM

Clever find, John.

Ken

#5

Knife Sharpening / Re: iOS app to calculate Torme...

Last post by VijayDoshi - Yesterday at 10:32:19 PM

New version 1.2 will be out shortly with the ability to save configurations for different machines as well as numeric keys for entering values.

#6

General Tormek Questions / Handy and cheap microscope

Last post by John Hancock Sr - Yesterday at 05:30:09 AM

I was watching BigClive's electronics channel on You Tube and in a recent video he was using this electronic microscope. I thought that it might be handy for sharpening so I bought myself one. It cost about $26 Australian including shipping.

Here it is looking at the micro bevel created using a 5000 grit shapton stone on my Narex Richter chisel.

#7

General Tormek Questions / Re: Blackstone grading

Last post by John Hancock Sr - Yesterday at 03:33:52 AM

The reason is because the grader is silicon carbide, the same material as the wheel. I seem to recall that they say that it can be used to grade the wheel but using a material of the same hardness would be problematic. You could also try a diamond dressing tool but not sure of the exact grit they use. They are only a few $$ on AliExpress. It does appear to be quite coarse.

#8

Knife Sharpening / Re: iOS app to calculate Torme...

Last post by Dan - April 26, 2026, 10:43:55 PM

...BTW, Thank you for the "review"... glad you like it.  ...

For me, it is extremely clever and well designed. It is a fantastic tool which just works well. Intuitive to use and free!!!
I have used it for my sharpening for a few years now. I will find a way to support your work...
Thanks, Danny

#9

General Tormek Questions / Re: Blackstone grading

Last post by Dan - April 26, 2026, 10:31:40 PM

...snip...
Ideally, if you could get slightly longer diamond plates (maybe 5cm longer) that could stretch over one vertical and one horizontal USB, they can then be used for truing the wheel extremely accurately.
...snip...

I'd be concerned about concentrating the "wear" of the plate on the little bit it that would be the only part in contact with the grinding wheel.  I think relying on the truing tool for keeping it is square and the diamond plate (used over a large range of its area) would be quite effective.  But...  I use my diamond plate "freehand", not clamped in any jig. 

Yes, good point....

#10

Knife Sharpening / Re: iOS app to calculate Torme...

Last post by cbwx34 - April 26, 2026, 05:38:55 PM

Hello,
Very interesting.
Can I ask how it compares to (or how it differs from) Calcapp which I use?

For info, I do not have an iphone but use Calcapp on android which I find extremely useful and well thought out for knife sharpening and also chisel/plane sharpening.
One more question if you don't mind...
Why do you have a choice of grinding wheel setting as well as the current diameter setting? Not sure I understand??

Danny

The main difference is that Calcapp sets the bar height measuring directly to the wheel, this app sets the bar height measuring to the top of the machine.  But as far as accuracy, the "math behind the scene", etc. there's no difference.

Edit:  I should have added that measuring to the top of the machine requires knowing or obtaining some measurements of the machine setup itself (usually referred to as the horizontal and vertical measurements).  Measuring directly to the wheel doesn't require this.

BTW, Thank you for the "review"... glad you like it. 

OK thanks for the reply.
As I understand it, Calcapp is usable on all platforms as it is web browser based.

https://knifesharpeningcalculators.wordpress.com/

Danny

You are correct!