Recent posts

#11

General Tormek Questions / Re: moving to the stone grader

Last post by tgbto - March 13, 2026, 10:30:49 AM

As mentioned in the TT-50 topic, I believe the stone grader actually brings the stone out-of-true faster (which then requires truing). So it seems to me its effect is somehow contrary to the truing tool (except in its ability to coarsen the grit, albeit very temporarily).

I highly recommend using the truing tool with care, and diamond plates to adjust the grit of the SG stone, as mentioned in numerous topics on this forum and as demonstrated by the late Wootz on YouTube here and here.

#12

General Tormek Questions / Re: expanded TT-50 thoughts

Last post by tgbto - March 13, 2026, 10:23:36 AM

I'm not sure the truing tool restores the "cutting efficiency" of the stone. It's not as if the SG won't sharpen anymore if not trued for a long time. It will probably not sharpen squarely, and might create low spots on knives or planer blades and such.

The stone is more aggressive after the truing tool is used because of the temporary low grit, but that will quickly settle back to the standard average SG-250 grit. The truing tool ensures the surface of the wheel is parallel to the usb, with a constant diameter.

Sharpening technique, as well as the kind of tool getting sharpened, will have an impact on how the stone wears down, and how its geometry is impacted in the process. It will therefore require more or less frequent truing, but not because the abrasives cut less efficiently.

So I don't think it's a matter of what the average cutting efficiency is, but rather how close the wheel is to its optimal shape. Too high a pressure will exacerbate high spots and low spots, narrow tools will quickly create ridges on the stone. The sharpeners' skill (in keeping pressure optimal, using the full width of the stone, keeping tools square with the wheel, etc.) will increase the time in between two truing sessions.

Also, careful use of a diamond plate in the SE jig will keep the stone parallel to the USB for longer periods, and skill or the use of two USBs will reduce the risk of low spots.
In my experience, the use of the grading tool degrades the shape of the wheel quickly, requiring much more frequent truing. This is because it is very hard to keep it parallel to the USB (after all, why would your hands be parallel to the USB ?), and it is used roughly at constant pressure, which will tend to dig into the already low spots.

When I sharpen knives only and use diamond plates once in a while to temporarily change the grit of the SG, I barely feel the need to true at all. This increases the lifetime of the SG in the long run.

#13

General Tormek Questions / moving to the stone grader

Last post by Ken S - March 12, 2026, 05:18:50 PM

This topic is an expansion of my TT-50 topic. The same concept of average cutting efficiency can be applied to the stonegrader. It works in both keeping the stone coarse and fine. Again, I recommend watching the Pressure online class linked here:

https://www.youtube.com/live/7laP_ysnMwo?si=FzjiYp79vs5zLKfS

Ken

#14

General Tormek Questions / expanded TT-50 thoughts

Last post by Ken S - March 12, 2026, 05:10:58 PM

I have posted before about my preferred TT-50 technique. I learned this by "resharpening" a turning skew. I set the jig according to the booklet recommendations and soon realized that the skew did not fit the standard specs. Instead of just resetting the skew to match the existing specs, I decided to regrind it to the Tormek jig specs. Bad move. It created a lot of time consuming work. The one bright spot was that I became fluent with my TT-50. I should have just shifted the skew gradually, correcting it over several sharpenings.

This experience helped me develop my mental bar graph of using the TT-50. Imagine a bar graph where the horizontal axis represents use time of the tool. The vertical axis represents the cutting efficiency (sharpness) of the tool. The tool begins with 0 time and 100% cutting efficiency. As the tool is used,  the cutting efficiency gradually decreases. Eventually, the TT-50 is used to restore the stone to 100% efficiency. Combining all the points lets us arrive at an average cutting efficiency.

If the TT-50 is used more often, the average cutting efficiency is improved. This principle is shown in the online class on Pressure. Done frequently, only a very light cut is needed, perhaps only half a number on the micro adjust. Wear on the grinding wheel in minisculs. For heavier or prolonged use, efficiency can be improved by leaving the TT-50 preset in a second support bar.

Here is a link to the Pressure online class. There is much good information in it.

https://www.youtube.com/live/7laP_ysnMwo?si=FzjiYp79vs5zLKfS

Ken

#15

General Tormek Questions / Re: test

Last post by MikeK - March 09, 2026, 01:07:06 AM

Forum is still a bit wonky. Fails to load or sometimes I get a page with text links.

I see the same page text links from time to time.  Refreshing the browser loads correctly.

#16

General Tormek Questions / Re: test

Last post by John_B - March 08, 2026, 09:02:27 PM

Forum is still a bit wonky. Fails to load or sometimes I get a page with text links.

#17

Knife Sharpening / Re: DIY Sharpness Tester

Last post by John Hancock Sr - March 08, 2026, 06:34:30 AM

It is nice to have if you are making YouTube videos.

Ha ha - too true.

Another use is if you are going after ultimate sharpness for some reason it gives you an idea of how various techniques work.

Absolutely agree. And well done.

#18

Tormek T4 and T4 Bushcraft / Re: "Including, but not limite...

Last post by Ken S - March 08, 2026, 01:17:40 AM

When I purchased my first Tormek in 2009, in the US, "the Tormek" was the T7. In hindsight, like Integrale, if the T4 was available, it would have been quite adequate for my needs, either blue or Bushcraft version. No complaints with my faithful T7.

John, one of my pet ideas over the years has been using a single ball bowling bag to carry my T4. (It also works with a T2 or T1.) I think it makes an ideal way to carry a mobile Tormek. My Brunswick bag cost around thirty dollars US. I wish it had been available in blue with gold trim, the colors of Sweden and King Magnus III. In my humble opinion, that would have been really classy. However, my black bag is perfectly functional.

I removed the grinding wheel. I placed the wheel in its cardboard box. The box fits in the bottom of the bag. The T4 sits on the wheel box. A plastic food container would provide more water protection, but a sealable baggie would also work with the box. i lent my T4 to a friend for an extended trial run. I was surprised by how much my humble bowling bag held. Several jigs, truing tool, stone grader, etc., protective plastic cloth, extension cord, more etc.

The neckstrap makes carrying very convenient. I can even imagine using public transportation for mobile urban sharpening.

Ken

#19

Tormek T4 and T4 Bushcraft / Re: "Including, but not limite...

Last post by John_B - March 07, 2026, 11:02:19 PM

I would like to have one for mobile sharpening when I visit family or friends. Quite often I am asked to cook and carve and I travel with a knife roll and a second set of knives. More than not I am asked to sharpen my host's knives. Rather than carting them home it would be more convenient to set up shop and sharpen there. For my daughter I will exchange a couple from the roll and bring hers home for a fresh edge.

#20

Knife Sharpening / Re: DIY Sharpness Tester

Last post by John_B - March 07, 2026, 06:45:18 PM

It is nice to have if you are making YouTube videos. Another use is if you are going after ultimate sharpness for some reason it gives you an idea of how various techniques work. Our library has a nice 3D printer and the clips for testing are only $21 a bag.