Recent posts

#91

General Tormek Questions / Re: Should I buy the LA-220 ev...

Last post by Ken S - February 12, 2026, 05:54:37 PM

Tragically, Wootz' (Vadim) promising sharpening journey was cut short by his early demise. We can only guess where his journey might have gone. In one of his last videos he was starting to work with a diamond wheel. Who knows?

I believe the scope of sharpening is too broad to crown one honing wheel as "the best", just as it would be difficult to pronounce one grinding wheel as "the best". A sharpener working out of a workshop might feel differently than a mobile sharpener. There are too many variables for simple answers.

Ken

#92

General Tormek Questions / Re: Should I buy the LA-220 ev...

Last post by tgbto - February 12, 2026, 04:34:39 PM

If you're talking about Vadim's (Knife Grinders from Australia), you should take some of his videos with a grain of salt... Although his sharpening skills were unparalleled, replicating his findings has sometimes been difficult for the average Tormek user (e.g. felt wheel with CrO2 compound). And sometimes it even bordered on the esoteric, such as some hidden magic within edge calculation apps...

As a matter of personal preference, I mostly use the leather wheel although I also own the composite one. I get slightly better BESS readings with the leather wheel, but it is much messier. Given that the leather wheel and PA-70 compounds are not that expensive, you may be better off fetching those and comparing your results: Hone with composite wheel, test on paper, then hone with leather wheel, and test again.

#93

General Tormek Questions / Should I buy the LA-220 even t...

Last post by Rossy66 - February 12, 2026, 02:37:21 PM

As I try to refine my process (I'm getting ready to go mobile)I unfortunately came across a couple of videos from Australia about the CW-220 not creating as good of an edge as the LA-220. I bought the CW-220 to save time and not have to mess with compound but now I may have been a bit hasty buying it and not doing more research.

Can I still get a good finish on my customers products (Knives, Chisels, Woodturning, Gardening tools) or should I just buy a LA-220?

Thanks

#94

Knife Sharpening / Re: How to achieve less than 1...

Last post by tgbto - February 12, 2026, 09:08:24 AM

It must have been a good test. But I didn't understand anything. The translation must have been imperfect.

The translation to what language ? @3D Anvil's message makes perfect sense...

#95

Knife Sharpening / Re: How to achieve less than 1...

Last post by Andy - February 11, 2026, 09:01:18 PM

I can usually tell from slicing paper (I use the Uline catalogue) what the BESS score is going to be, give or take 10-15 grams.  Whittling hair is another good analogue for the BESS tester.  If you can't whittle a hair (or cause it to split on contact), you've probably got a BESS reading over 135.  If you can whittle a hair, but you have to mess around with it for a while to get it, you're likely in the 110-135 range.  If you can do it on the first attempt, and pretty much anywhere on the edge, you're below 100.

As far as the BESS tester only reading a tiny fraction of the edge goes, I don't find that to be a problem.  My edges are generally consistent from tip to heel after sharpening.  If I get a reading of 100g in one spot, I'm going to get the same reading +/- 5g anywhere else on the blade.

It must have been a good test. But I didn't understand anything. The translation must have been imperfect.

#96

Knife Sharpening / Re: The pain of choice

Last post by RichColvin - February 11, 2026, 03:35:11 AM

1. FVB vs. MB 102
2. Leather wheel (2 pcs) vs. Felt wheel (2 pcs) (and I have WSKO ELIT )
3. SVM 45 vs. KJ 45 (by SVM 45 I mean custom)
4. KS 123 vs. app

Andy,

1. MB-102
2. Leather honing wheels with PA-70
3. KJ-45
4. KS-123

Rich

#97

General Tormek Questions / Re: Some Questions about my ne...

Last post by carlhanger - February 10, 2026, 10:14:36 PM

New shaft and bearings are installed. It is not that much of an upgrade as my T7 already had the Eazylock shaft. interestingly enough the MSK-250 did not come with a wave spring washer (Nr 31 in this list) I think I will keep using it as I think it makes sense.


The scraping sound was gone for 2–3 minutes but slowly came back and now is almost as loud as before and at exactly the same frequency. There is also still eccentric movement in the drive wheel and the knob. I don't understand this. Maybe the drive wheel is warped or buckled, OK, but how is it possible that the honing wheel knob, which is only connected to the main shaft, is also wobbling around? The fact that the knob is running out of true is what convinced me that the shaft must be the issue. Obviously, it is no runout measuring device, and maybe the thread is not perfectly centered in the knob, but I still think it shouldn't be that wobbly.

 

#98

Knife Sharpening / Re: Noobie Advice About Stones

Last post by Dulcmrman - February 10, 2026, 09:24:51 PM

Thank you, Integrale.  After some further research I found a number of threads that lead me to believe that my stone IS very worn, so I have a new one on order.  I may try the existing stone in the meantime just to see what happens.

#99

Knife Sharpening / Re: Newbie question: chef kniv...

Last post by Rossy66 - February 10, 2026, 07:18:19 PM

I have the same problem and was wondering if rounding the edge of the wheel would help as it stops that aggressive 90 degree angle.

#100

General Tormek Questions / Re: White Fluffy Mold On SG-25...

Last post by BPalv - February 10, 2026, 03:24:06 PM

Maybe, instead of mold, the white fluff is efflorescence?

That is interesting, we have a water softener here and it's possible that it's related. 

This gets my vote.

It might just be salt then. Have you tasted it?

I'm joking but you can smear/crush a bit between your fingers, if it turns into chalky dust it is probably just salt/mineral build up.