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#21
Planer Blade Sharpening / Re: T-4 / SVH-320 / DF-200?
Last post by John Hancock Sr - October 30, 2025, 10:10:21 AMQuote from: Bert 22 on October 28, 2025, 09:07:50 PMI am considering a DF-200 for the planer blades.
It has been recommended by Tormek in their Video's for the T-8 - 4 years ago, when there were no diamond wheels for the T-4 - but I would like to learn from community members if that would be the right choice.
The DF is a perfect choice for HSS planer blades. If they are badly chipped then it may take some time to sharpen but for a resharpen only the DF is perfect.
#22
Knife Sharpening / Re: How many verydull/damaged ...
Last post by Royale - October 30, 2025, 09:26:26 AMSo far, since I've started business officially this year (February), I've sharpened about 90 knives (with 3-4 repeat orders)
Only 4 knives did not have any damage
- 1 Katto santoku
- 1 Shun Santoku
- 1 Richardson Sheffield cleaver
- 1 generic cleaver (Hakkoh brand)
Common damage encountered, from most frequent to least:
- Concave blade profile
- Broken knife tips
- Chips extending beyond secondary bevel
- Severe corrosion
- Blade bent away from knife handle (out of alignment)
- Warping of blade above chipped area
- Knife tip bent to one side
- Lateral cracks on blade (parallel to spine)
So as a rough estimate, approx. 80% of knives handed to me have one or more types of damage listed.
I suspect it can be quite the cultural thing as well. Where I'm at (Singapore), disposability is the name of the game, and choosing repair over replacement is still considered a "new fad". Knife sharpening and repair is still considered menial dirty blue collar work, and people still think in 1980s prices.
Only 4 knives did not have any damage
- 1 Katto santoku
- 1 Shun Santoku
- 1 Richardson Sheffield cleaver
- 1 generic cleaver (Hakkoh brand)
Common damage encountered, from most frequent to least:
- Concave blade profile
- Broken knife tips
- Chips extending beyond secondary bevel
- Severe corrosion
- Blade bent away from knife handle (out of alignment)
- Warping of blade above chipped area
- Knife tip bent to one side
- Lateral cracks on blade (parallel to spine)
So as a rough estimate, approx. 80% of knives handed to me have one or more types of damage listed.
I suspect it can be quite the cultural thing as well. Where I'm at (Singapore), disposability is the name of the game, and choosing repair over replacement is still considered a "new fad". Knife sharpening and repair is still considered menial dirty blue collar work, and people still think in 1980s prices.
#23
Knife Sharpening / Re: How many verydull/damaged ...
Last post by Sir Amwell - October 29, 2025, 11:47:54 PMI confer with John B.
I sharpen more knives than him by the sounds of it, maybe 20 regular customers.
From new customers I guarantee that the knives are at best extremely dull by my standards. At worst require chip/tip repair and or complete re grind to get them in order. The worst being those with a smile on bolstered knives which is a ton of work plus bolster reduction.
Repeat customers are usually just in need of a quick touch up. As with John I've given them the low down and they are generally taking care of their sharp knives.
As I've said before : ' quality over quantity' every time. More satisfaction for me, more satisfaction for the customer.
It's essentially less about the knives, more about the customer.
Having said all that I do always inform my customers, new or old , what I'm proposing to do when I've assessed their knives. Potentially bad customers can be weeded out that way!
I sharpen more knives than him by the sounds of it, maybe 20 regular customers.
From new customers I guarantee that the knives are at best extremely dull by my standards. At worst require chip/tip repair and or complete re grind to get them in order. The worst being those with a smile on bolstered knives which is a ton of work plus bolster reduction.
Repeat customers are usually just in need of a quick touch up. As with John I've given them the low down and they are generally taking care of their sharp knives.
As I've said before : ' quality over quantity' every time. More satisfaction for me, more satisfaction for the customer.
It's essentially less about the knives, more about the customer.
Having said all that I do always inform my customers, new or old , what I'm proposing to do when I've assessed their knives. Potentially bad customers can be weeded out that way!
#24
Knife Sharpening / Re: How many verydull/damaged ...
Last post by John_B - October 29, 2025, 06:35:19 PMI limit my customers at around 10 total and they each bring around 6 knives more or less. It would be easy to increase but I don't have the desire. I also try and limit sharpening for this group to the colder months when outdoor activity is limited. I have had a few Shuns that had chips out of them but nothing with larger chips like you see on the internet. I also have had a couple of broken tips that needed reprofiling to fix. By my standards most of the knives they bring are moderately dull but not damaged. Since my group is so small I have worked with them on knife use, care and maintenance so the knives don't return as dull as they were the first time. I am also lucky in that none of my customers have cheap knives and no supersteel ones. For the most part I see Wusthof, Victorinox, Zwilling, Shun and Global. I manage with the SG-250 and guided honing as described in Wootz's book.
#25
Planer Blade Sharpening / Re: T-4 / SVH-320 / DF-200?
Last post by Bert 22 - October 29, 2025, 05:06:34 PMThank you, Ken
How experienced can you become in ~ a year?
I started with buying the T-4 including the TT-50, SE-77, KJ-45, MB-102, RB-180 and ~four months later the SVH-320 and SVD-110.
That was when I convinced myself I was able to sharpen almost anything 'satisfying'.
(Chisels, handplane blades and 'everything kitchen'.
But I am very aware of the fact you have to gain experience, you can't learn that.
Bert
How experienced can you become in ~ a year?
I started with buying the T-4 including the TT-50, SE-77, KJ-45, MB-102, RB-180 and ~four months later the SVH-320 and SVD-110.
That was when I convinced myself I was able to sharpen almost anything 'satisfying'.
(Chisels, handplane blades and 'everything kitchen'.
But I am very aware of the fact you have to gain experience, you can't learn that.
Bert
#26
Knife Sharpening / Re: How many verydull/damaged ...
Last post by Ken S - October 29, 2025, 04:43:00 PMIagree; however, I don't want to limit the conversation at first. We can always place limits later if needed, I hope responders will mention theirtypical volume of knives to sharpen.
Ken
Ken
#27
Knife Sharpening / Re: How many verydull/damaged ...
Last post by Royale - October 29, 2025, 12:32:12 PMQuote from: Ken S on October 29, 2025, 12:37:53 AMMy question for those of us with higher sharpening volumes than me is, How many of the knives you sharpen are "very dull or damaged"?
I think a good place to start would be to indicate the volume of knives you sharpen, to get responses from your target demographic.
#28
Planer Blade Sharpening / Re: T-4 / SVH-320 / DF-200?
Last post by Ken S - October 29, 2025, 01:07:49 AMWelcome to the forum, B.A.
Let me start by stating that I have no expertise with the SVH-240. I purchased one several years ago, only to learn that the blades on my Delta "lunch box" thicpkness planer were not designed to be resharpened.
Moving on, how practiced are you with sharpening your other woodworking tools? You can learn a lot about using your new Tormek by sharpening your chisels and bench plane irons. (Start with 19mm chisels; they are the easiest to sharpen.)
You might want to purchase a spare set of planer blades and gradually work up to sharpening your planer blades.
Keep us posted.
Ken
PS Purchase a TT-200 Truing Tool. If you find your sharpening times are excessive, the DF-200 is a good choice.
Let me start by stating that I have no expertise with the SVH-240. I purchased one several years ago, only to learn that the blades on my Delta "lunch box" thicpkness planer were not designed to be resharpened.
Moving on, how practiced are you with sharpening your other woodworking tools? You can learn a lot about using your new Tormek by sharpening your chisels and bench plane irons. (Start with 19mm chisels; they are the easiest to sharpen.)
You might want to purchase a spare set of planer blades and gradually work up to sharpening your planer blades.
Keep us posted.
Ken
PS Purchase a TT-200 Truing Tool. If you find your sharpening times are excessive, the DF-200 is a good choice.
#29
Knife Sharpening / How many verydull/damaged blad...
Last post by Ken S - October 29, 2025, 12:37:53 AMI ask this in the spirit of curiosity, without an agenda or intent tocriticise. I have read numerous posts over the years about frustrations with very dull or damaged blades.
My question for those of us with higher sharpening volumes than me is, How many of the knives you sharpen are "very dull or damaged"?
Please don't be shy and do reply.
Ken
My question for those of us with higher sharpening volumes than me is, How many of the knives you sharpen are "very dull or damaged"?
Please don't be shy and do reply.
Ken
#30
Planer Blade Sharpening / T-4 / SVH-320 / DF-200?
Last post by Bert 22 - October 28, 2025, 09:07:50 PMNewbie (Dutch) Tormek user (2024) and new Forum Community Member as of last Friday.
I bought a T-4 after having seen all the Tormek YouTube video's in the English and German language. Not a professional sharpener and not a woodturner – only regular woodworking - so the T-4 would be the machine to go for. I do however have a planer/thicknesser, - three blades, 310 mm long, 3mm thick - so besides all the usual suspects regarding Tomek jigs, also the SVH-320.
I have read all the posts on this topic and although it has been a fight to figure out how to correctly set up the jig, I am quite pleased with the result and didn't encounter most of the issues mentioned in the earlier posts. The SG-200 will become a problem though, since the blades are HSS steel. I am considering a DF-200 for the planer blades.
It has been recommended by Tormek in their Video's for the T-8 - 4 years ago, when there were no diamond wheels for the T-4 - but I would like to learn from community members if that would be the right choice.
I bought a T-4 after having seen all the Tormek YouTube video's in the English and German language. Not a professional sharpener and not a woodturner – only regular woodworking - so the T-4 would be the machine to go for. I do however have a planer/thicknesser, - three blades, 310 mm long, 3mm thick - so besides all the usual suspects regarding Tomek jigs, also the SVH-320.
I have read all the posts on this topic and although it has been a fight to figure out how to correctly set up the jig, I am quite pleased with the result and didn't encounter most of the issues mentioned in the earlier posts. The SG-200 will become a problem though, since the blades are HSS steel. I am considering a DF-200 for the planer blades.
It has been recommended by Tormek in their Video's for the T-8 - 4 years ago, when there were no diamond wheels for the T-4 - but I would like to learn from community members if that would be the right choice.