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Recent posts
#1
Knife Sharpening / Re: Rock Hard Felt Wheels
Last post by RickKrung - Today at 02:14:52 AMQuote from: BPalv on Yesterday at 05:22:44 PM...snip...
it appears there is more than one way to achieve his results. Technique is the key.
I have to agree, just last week I got a 67 BESS result using the composite honing wheel followed by stropping on a hanging leather strop. The latter step contributes significantly to the final sharpness. Got some others that hovered around 100. All were polished on the SJ wheel prior to deburring.
#2
General Tormek Questions / Re: Should I Persist?
Last post by John Hancock Sr - Today at 01:39:06 AMMost processes that requires a human to perform a particular action requires skill which takes time to acquire. That someone can perform a skilled task, even one that takes away a lot of the variability after one or two perfunctory attempts is misguided at least. Even with a freshly trued stone I find that some square adjustment can be required.
If you want a sharpening process that requires no skill whatsoever then you are looking at many tens of thousands of $$ per tool type. Much more outlay than a Tormek.
The Tormek is a very well constructed machine that is good value for money considering the construction quality and after sales service. However it still requires practice and acquired skill to use properly.
I suspect that this is a case of expectation vs reality.
If you want a sharpening process that requires no skill whatsoever then you are looking at many tens of thousands of $$ per tool type. Much more outlay than a Tormek.
The Tormek is a very well constructed machine that is good value for money considering the construction quality and after sales service. However it still requires practice and acquired skill to use properly.
I suspect that this is a case of expectation vs reality.
#3
Knife Sharpening / Re: Knife Jig Prototype
Last post by John_B - Yesterday at 11:35:52 PMI need to check out the local college and see what tools they have available.
Anyone else have any ideas on where4 do it yourself machine shop equipment might be had?
Anyone else have any ideas on where4 do it yourself machine shop equipment might be had?
#4
Knife Sharpening / Re: Knife Jig Prototype
Last post by Alston - Yesterday at 08:06:52 PMUpdated photo with another part.
#5
General Tormek Questions / Re: Capacitor Impedance for To...
Last post by HaioPaio - Yesterday at 05:36:37 PMI was only able to find a capacitor for the T4 and T8 at that website https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/collections/tormek-replacement-parts.
The capacitance of those capacitors is specified in microfarads, while there is no mention of impedance.
For the T1200, I would ask support.
The capacitance of those capacitors is specified in microfarads, while there is no mention of impedance.
For the T1200, I would ask support.
#6
Knife Sharpening / Re: Rock Hard Felt Wheels
Last post by BPalv - Yesterday at 05:22:44 PMQuote from: BPalv on June 16, 2025, 05:35:30 PMAfter reading everyone's replies I don't think I see any benefit from a rock hard felt wheel at this point.
As of late I have tweaked my stropping process with very good results. After grinding and measuring with painful accuracy I hone on the Tormek wheel at +.4 with PA-70.(accuracy in measuring is critical) After 3 light passes I switch to a Tormek honing wheel with 1um diamond paste (Tech Diamond Tools). A couple EXTREMELY light passes should net some great Bess numbers.
This is in reference to good steels. Sub 100 scores should be fairly consistent with this process. (At 15 degrees).
Edit:
I've been using this process for a while now and am extremely satisfied with the results. Quality knives leave been finishing at 45 to 60 on the Bess.
Vadim worked long and hard on his research and I probably wouldn't have went down the ultra sharp path if I hadn't read his book. I appreciate everything he did. However, I have to say, it appears there is more than one way to achieve his results. Technique is the key.
#7
General Tormek Questions / Re: Should I Persist?
Last post by BPalv - Yesterday at 05:14:52 PMQuote from: PeteH on July 03, 2025, 03:33:30 AMFurther, if it is necessary it true the wheel before any use, then the TT-50 should be included with any starter kit and should be included in the instructions.
Pete,
I felt the Tormek T8 was too pricey... it's not though, it's all the accessories!
However....
Have you compared Tormek to any other brand? If you would like to see poor craftsmanship try one of the knock-off's. Other than the accessories pricing and the " oh, you're going to need one of these" system they use, they are a top shelf piece of equipment. The more I use it, the more I love it.
#8
Knife Sharpening / Re: Knife Jig Prototype
Last post by Alston - Yesterday at 04:57:01 PMKen,first off I don't yet own a Tormek grinder. I do most of my sharpening on an Axminster Ultimate Edge Belt Grinder, that is able to use most, if not all of the Tormek Jigs. I have a hand knife sharpening jig but wanted something to use on the belt grinder. I wanted to buy the older style Tormek jig but it no longer seems available new. Having the tools I decided to make my own jig. There are literally dozens of hand sharpening jigs that utilise "self Centering" clamps. My jig is just another one of those, but designed to be used on any machine with a 12mm support bar like the Tormek or in my case Axminster Ultimate Edge. The self centering clamp is not perfect but it seems a very common design so I thought it would make a good starting point.
The jig itself is made in several parts. There are two alloy clamp plates attached to which is a 10mm diameter stainless steel bar. Longer or shorter bars could easily be attached if required.
I'm currently in the workshop making another part. I'll post another picture if it works out ok.
I have some other ideas for a truly self Centering jig that could accommodate a wide range of blade thicknesses but I'm not sure if/or how easily it could be made. Something for the future perhaps?
The jig itself is made in several parts. There are two alloy clamp plates attached to which is a 10mm diameter stainless steel bar. Longer or shorter bars could easily be attached if required.
I'm currently in the workshop making another part. I'll post another picture if it works out ok.
I have some other ideas for a truly self Centering jig that could accommodate a wide range of blade thicknesses but I'm not sure if/or how easily it could be made. Something for the future perhaps?
#9
General Tormek Questions / Re: Capacitor Impedance for To...
Last post by tgbto - Yesterday at 04:11:47 PMKen, the idea of the formula was to substantiate a reply to an objection regarding the choice of words of the OP.
I am no Richard Feynman, so I will not be able to be as clear as a professional teacher. Still, to make a long story short :
The concept of impedance is a generalization of the concept of resistance, i.e. the proportional relationship between current and tension. With a resistance, everything is simple : tension U is related to current I by the U=R.I relationship.
For a capacitor, U is related to the integral of the current over a period of time. But using mathematics in the complex world, integrating is "simply" dividing by j.w (assuming a sinusoidal current, and where j²=-1 and w or "omega" is the pulsation of the current). So one can write U=Z.I with Z=1/jCw.
Conversely, for a solenoid, U=Z.I with Z=jLw.
Therefore, in electronics, impedance is a generic term covering at once R,L and C. And asking for the impedance of a capacitor is another way of asking for its capacitance. Pretty much in the same way that asking someone for their address will give you the name of their hometown, and a bit more.
As for E=m.c², if I may, there might be a slight twist in your VHS or your recollection of it. To apply E=mc² to your baseball, you would have to thoroughly disintegrate said baseball, and the energy released (in the form of massless photons) would be m.c², m being the rest mass of said baseball. If you could accelerate the ball to lightspeed, its mass would change and things get pretty messy from here. But e=mc² is always true, even for a baseball at rest. And you cannot accelerate it to c², which is not a speed.
Hope this helps,
Nick.
I am no Richard Feynman, so I will not be able to be as clear as a professional teacher. Still, to make a long story short :
The concept of impedance is a generalization of the concept of resistance, i.e. the proportional relationship between current and tension. With a resistance, everything is simple : tension U is related to current I by the U=R.I relationship.
For a capacitor, U is related to the integral of the current over a period of time. But using mathematics in the complex world, integrating is "simply" dividing by j.w (assuming a sinusoidal current, and where j²=-1 and w or "omega" is the pulsation of the current). So one can write U=Z.I with Z=1/jCw.
Conversely, for a solenoid, U=Z.I with Z=jLw.
Therefore, in electronics, impedance is a generic term covering at once R,L and C. And asking for the impedance of a capacitor is another way of asking for its capacitance. Pretty much in the same way that asking someone for their address will give you the name of their hometown, and a bit more.
As for E=m.c², if I may, there might be a slight twist in your VHS or your recollection of it. To apply E=mc² to your baseball, you would have to thoroughly disintegrate said baseball, and the energy released (in the form of massless photons) would be m.c², m being the rest mass of said baseball. If you could accelerate the ball to lightspeed, its mass would change and things get pretty messy from here. But e=mc² is always true, even for a baseball at rest. And you cannot accelerate it to c², which is not a speed.
Hope this helps,
Nick.
#10
Knife Sharpening / Re: Knife Jig Prototype
Last post by PANIC!!! - Yesterday at 02:02:21 PMI find it amazing that some of you are able to design and build something like this with precision! Very nice 