Recent posts

#1

General Tormek Questions / Tormek T2

Last post by bobl - Today at 06:42:47 PM

Hi Ken, I just recentley got the Tormek 2. When I was taking it out of the box and doing the set up, the angle direction needle fell out of its origional set up. I dont know if I put it back incorrectly ( or even if that is possible) as the 15 degree angle should be the same either way>
I am struggling to get the knives sharp. Is it a problem because I might have re-inserted the angle pointer wrongly?
As you know I have had the T7 for a while with all the jigs, but I feel let down as the T2 is not working for me.
Obviously I can not return it as it has been used.  I have the origional fine diamond wheel and the course diamond wheel for the T2.
Please help>

#2

Knife Sharpening / Re: Choosing a default angle

Last post by tgbto - Today at 11:03:49 AM

Ken, you're right, I'll give it a shot.

TL/DR : 15 dps.

For a more detailed summary : most members recommend something in the 15-20dps range, with a majority grinding closer to 15dps. Setting this angle using the KS-123 is practical for low-volume sharpeners.

#3

Knife Sharpening / Re: Choosing a default angle

Last post by Ken S - Yesterday at 10:04:04 PM

I am always concerned with what new readers who have not yet acquired much background in Tormek sharpening will absorb from our posts. I would use the research our late member Wootz (Vadim of Knifegrinders Australia) did with the meat packing factories in Sydney. I admire Wootz and his work. However, like many other experienced forum members, Wootz' industrial sharpening schedule was far more intense than mine. I suspect the meat packing knives that Wootz sharpened were probably sharpened more often in a week than most of us do in a year. I expect our regular members to be aware of this. I am not certain that many of our new members and guests are aware of this.

Ken

#4

Knife Sharpening / Re: Choosing a default angle

Last post by John_B - Yesterday at 06:00:26 PM

I find that ensuring that all three pins are firmly on the wheel and the bar is held as indicated in the Tormek videos I can get the angle spot on.

John, do you measure the sharpening angle you achieve to compare it to the KS-123 setting?

#5

Knife Sharpening / Re: Choosing a default angle

Last post by John Hancock Sr - Yesterday at 03:54:21 AM

I find that ensuring that all three pins are firmly on the wheel and the bar is held as indicated in the Tormek videos I can get the angle spot on.

[follow the instructions]

#6

Knife Sharpening / Re: Choosing a default angle

Last post by tgbto - June 15, 2026, 09:55:00 AM

As long as I follow the instructions and always start from a smaller angle when using the KS123 to approach the desired angle, I have no problem with precision.

Unfortunately that's not how friction works: once the static friction coefficient is no longer sufficient to keep the needle in place, it will switch to kinetic friction, and the needle will move as much as necessary to get back into the friction cone. Then stay in place, and here we go again. So while the error may always be on the same side, we have little control on where the needle stops.

As for a 160 grit stone raising a burr quickly, I have no doubt.

[follow the instructions]

#7

Knife Sharpening / Re: Choosing a default angle

Last post by Drilon - June 13, 2026, 08:57:01 PM

As long as I follow the instructions and always start from a smaller angle when using the KS123 to approach the desired angle, I have no problem with precision. And that means that when I'm re-sharpening, I can usually feel the burr after just two passes with the CBN160! A great accessory!

#8

Knife Sharpening / Re: Choosing a default angle

Last post by Sir Amwell - June 13, 2026, 01:22:33 AM

And you see: "does it really matter"?
Well I think it does because as you are going through your protocols you have to TRUST in what you are doing, for consistency and peace of mind. And if you trust in the ks123 and there are variances with it then that's no trust at all.
May as well have a reference plate on a belt sander and trust to luck every time.
In the real world it may not matter, but if one is trying to achieve a particular result and testing protocols it does.
I ditched the ks123 a while back because I couldn't trust it. There or there abouts with the slop in it or whatever you call it is no good for me so went back to angle calc.
Funny old world.

[measure]

#9

Knife Sharpening / Re: Choosing a default angle

Last post by tgbto - June 12, 2026, 11:05:14 AM

When I hear concerns about using the KS-123 due to it being less than needed accuracy, I wonder why the angle on the blade must be accurate to 0.1°.  In the sharpening I do for most things, if the angle is good to +/- 1 degree I am good.  What am I missing?

Nothing.

I think this is an example of going to the extreme without any clear delineation of the benifit. When Wootz proposed some new idea he backed it up with extensive testing and real world usage in meat packing plants. I believe only a miniscule number of users have the ability to measure the angle to this accuracy.

If I may introduce a modicum of nuance and open-mindedness to "Nothing" :
- I agree being able to measure the edge angle with 0.1° precision has no benefit in terms of sharpness or edge retention
- However, being able to reproduce a given angle quickly with the smallest deviation possible results in raising a burr much faster, with less metal removal.

As we are talking small angles, the amount of metal being removed is proportional to the ratio of angles : you remove 5 times more metal if you're 1° off compared with .2° off. It is to me a clear delineation of the benefit. [EDIT] Actually, much more than this if you take into account cases where you will be thinning the blade [/EDIT]

#10

Drill Bit Sharpening / Re: New DBS-22 Setting Templat...

Last post by John Hancock Sr - June 07, 2026, 05:49:07 AM

Looks fantastic. Putting in an order with my local printer -- AKA my son!