Recent posts

#11

General Tormek Questions / Re: I have an old SVD180 Gouge...

Last post by John Hancock Sr - July 17, 2025, 04:08:47 AM

Also note that Tormek support will be able to advise you. From what others have said that have contacted them they are super helpful.

#12

Knife Sharpening / Re: pricing advice

Last post by Sir Amwell - July 17, 2025, 12:31:41 AM

I have a chef local to me who has 9 or ten top quality knives. He comes to me twice a year. He doesn't beat his knives up and looks after them. With my protocols it's always a relatively quick job to get them razor sharp. I know the knives, angles, honing procedures. Child's play. I don't over charge him but I make a decent hourly rate. He's so happy with the results and never balks at the cost.
Sooooo, it's all about getting the right customers and repeat business from people who appreciate what you are doing. Quality over volume every time!
And it makes the work better. Relaxed quality work rather than the ' quick, quick, gotta go faster to make the money' for non appreciative punters.
Now then, if only I could get a hundred customers like him life would be sweet!

#13

Knife Sharpening / Re: pricing advice

Last post by Royale - July 16, 2025, 11:49:37 PM

Interestingly I find most folks seem to care less about their knives.  I charge about double what most knife sharpeners in my area charge.  My grinding isn't perfect, but I try to make them perfect every time.  That's why I charge more, I sharpen every knife like they are mine.  It takes time.
(And only you and I know they're not perfect)

I recently reviewed my pricing, and I created a framework where I would try to find a balance of two main factors.

The first factor was basing the average time spent per knife on an hourly rate, and how many knives I can sharpen within the work day.

The second factor was my pricing compared as a percentage of the cost of knives purchased by my target market. (People who buy German & Japanese knives, middle to upper range)

So now, whenever I get a customer who's holding their dull Japanese knife they had dropped $300-$400 on and complaining that my services are expensive, I ask them "Expensive as compared to?... It's either $40 to restore your knife, including polishing the blade and oiling the handle, or dropping a few hundred dollars for a new one"

The lights usually come on in their minds and they see the comparative difference.

My philosophy is that I wasn't involved in trashing the knife, so I'm not going to share in the cost of fixing it.

#14

Knife Sharpening / Re: pricing advice

Last post by BPalv - July 16, 2025, 11:05:16 PM

Interestingly I find most folks seem to care less about their knives.  I charge about double what most knife sharpeners in my area charge.  My grinding isn't perfect, but I try to make them perfect every time.  That's why I charge more, I sharpen every knife like they are mine.  It takes time.
(And only you and I know they're not perfect)

#15

Knife Sharpening / Re: Rock Hard Felt Wheels

Last post by BPalv - July 16, 2025, 10:47:56 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. 

I test everything with the BESS tester.  I have tested knives before and after stropping on plain leather.  Some supersteels don't improve much on leather (VG-Max) most steels do improve with plain leather strops though, some quite a bit.  I have had leather improve BESS scores up to 80 grams after stropping on a plain leather strop. 
Also, after I sharpen a knife and strop with an emulsion, stropping on plain leather usually further refines the edge improving the BESS scores another 5 points....

#16

General Tormek Questions / Re: I have an old SVD180 Gouge...

Last post by RichColvin - July 16, 2025, 04:49:46 PM

JB,

Ken's linked forum post is good to read.  I will add a few more thoughts for you to consider.

Before you go and buy the parts to repair your SVD-180, you should seriously look into getting the SVD-186-R.  The newer gouge jig has spring detents used for the jig settings (JS), making the process of setting the jig to your desired configuration: 

• Much faster, and 
• Far more repeatable.

Upgrading to the SVD-186 is definitely worth it.  I upgraded from the SVD-185 and never looked back.

Keep the SVD-180 though, as it can be used for sharpening flat cutter blades (like those used in hollowing rigs).  You can see what I'm discussing on pg 5 of the SVD-186-R manual.  

As it regards this functionality, the sleeves for the SVD-180, SVD-185, SVD-186, and SVD-186-R are all interchangeable.  The parts needed to sharpen the cutters come with the SVD-186-R, and will work in the sleeve for the SVD-180.

In the past, you had to purchase the SVD-005 kit to add this capability to the SVD-180 jig.  When the SVD-180 was replaced with the SVD-185, the SVD-005 parts came with jig.  The SVD-186 and SVD-186-R also have those parts.

Using this approach, you will

• Have a better jig for sharpening your gouges, and
• Have a dedicated jig for sharpening your cutter blades.

Good luck, and please keep us posted.

Kind regards,
Rich

#17

General Tormek Questions / Re: I have an old SVD180 Gouge...

Last post by Ken S - July 16, 2025, 11:49:04 AM

Welcome to the forum, JB. Please read the "New SVD-186" topic in woodturning.

Ken

#18

General Tormek Questions / Re: Stone!

Last post by LarsHansen - July 16, 2025, 11:41:20 AM

@ Ken,John

Thanks, I've emailed Support and will get back here when I get an answer.
Lars

#19

Wood Turning / Re: New SVD-186 Gouge Jig revi...

Last post by Ken S - July 16, 2025, 11:39:50 AM

Welcome to the forum, John. Normally I am all for restoring older gear.  however, with the 180 and 185 gouge jigs, the 186 and 186-R jigs which replaced them are so much better. I really recommend replacing it with the latest SVD-186-R. Here is the review I wrote for the forum when the 186 was introdiced:

My new SVD-186 Gouge Jig arrived today. I was immediately impressed. It looked and felt solid. I have long believed the combination of the TTS-100 and the SVD-185 was the most versatile and well designed combination of a Tormek accessory and jig. The new SVD-186 leaves the SVD-185 in the dust.

The new jig is made of zink. It weighs 346 grams (12.2 oz). The older aluinum jig weighs 202 grams (7.2 oz).

I found the swing adjustment clumsy with the older jig. It was adequate, but a bit of a juggling act with an Allen wrench. Mine had also started to strip out somewhat.  It also tended to slip occasionally. The new jig is a real improvement in this area.The old tightening mechanism has been replaced with a larger, plastic knob. Even better, there are ratchet stops for the numbers indicating amount of swing. There is no longer any slippage. This alone would merit replacing the older jig in  my opinion. However, there is more.

The lower sleeve which attaches the jig to the Universal Support has been shortened 12mm (1/2"). This makes the new jig more convenient to use with the T3/4. I had noticed the older jig was a bit constrained at the end of movement range with the T4. The change is welcome.

The tool clamp is much improved. I never cared for the combination brass and plastic arrangement on the SVD-185. The new clamp is all zink, and holds any tools in the range very securely. Rob asked about holding a ¼" detail gouge. I don't have one, but the new clamp held my diminutive 7/16" Thompson detail gouge quite solidly.

The new jig will hold larger tools. I can see that the clamping area for tools is definitely larger (36mm instead of 25mm).  I was concerned that the extra capacity might come at the expense of secure holding of smaller tools. My concerns were unfounded; the SVD-186 holds my smallest gouge quite securely, a real improvement over the older model. I asked Rob, our forum turner, about larger gouges. Neither of us were aware of any bowl gouges too large to fit in the 25mm opening. I searched further and found that Henry Taylor does manufacture Peter Child Superflute bowl gouge in ¾" and 1" flute sizes. If  you happen to use these very large gouges, your prayers have been answered.

In summation, I think the SVD-186 represents a substantial improvement over the SVD-185. For active turners who already have the older jig, I think the new model will prove a good investment. The cost is $97 US. I have seen the older jigs reduced in price by $20 US. Frankly, I do not think that is enough of a discount to pass up the improvements of the new jig. I plan to keep my older jig only because as moderator, I may need to refer to it for future forum topics.

Ken

#20

General Tormek Questions / Re: Tormek 2000

Last post by greggy - July 16, 2025, 11:03:30 AM

That's true.