Homemade honing jig & cleaver support

[wootz]

2018 Update: We have started manufacturing a Frontal Vertical Base for honing and grinding away from the wheel - please check our website knifeGrinders.com.au
And below is the story of how it all started in 2016...

Being so grateful to this forum for heaps of helpful hints, I just want to pay back sharing my honing attachment.
I gave up on freehand stropping long ago, because no matter what technique I tried, I dulled the edge. I admit it is entirely operator error, but alas not everyone is born with freehand talent.

Thanks to two M12 x 120mm bolts, a piece of 35mm wood, and parts from the BGM-100 kit, I can now strop under a set angle.
4-6 slow passes across the wheel on alternate sides of the blade with very light pressure delivers hair splitting edge.
Pictures are self-explanatory.









Flipped to the right, accommodates cleavers thanks to farther distance to the stone compared to the standard support.

[stevebot]

Nice.  Thanks for sharing.

[SharpOp]

Yes, thanks for sharing.

The use of the BGM-100 pieces is very interesting and solves one of the problems I've been having with a jig idea.

Good work!

~Doug

[Jan]

Congratulations Vadim! 
Very innovative, simple and effective solution. Definitively inspiring for me. Thanks for sharing. 

I suppose your jig enables to hone/grind keeping the blade flat = horizontal, also.

Jan

[SharpOp]

I suppose your jig enables to hone/grind keeping the blade flat = horizontal, also.

It sure looks like it, doesn't it?  Another simple, elegant solution.

[Jan]

Vadim, I would like to ask you whether the bottom rear corner of the wooden block does rest on the tilted Tormek steel housing?   

Jan

[wootz]

Hi Jan,
Apologies for late reply, I was out bushwalking over weekend.

The M12 bolts allow some degree of horizontal freedom, ie I move the attachment back and forth; while the universal support offers vertical adjustment by design - these together fit cleavers of various shapes.
For honing knives I move it to the case.
For sharpening a wider cleaver I sometimes insert the attachment upside down as to what is in the pictures, to distance it from the stone.

With BGM-100 I could do without those bolts and wood, but was reluctant to drill the front of the Tormek as it is still under warranty.

[Jan]

Thank you for your detailed explanation, Vadim! 

Your solution is really very inspiring for me, I am considering to buy the mounting set BGM-100, also.  It offers an exceptionally wide variety of additional options. 

Jan

[stevebot]

I love this device.  It solves a problem I have with sharpening long knives off the horizontal support.  thanks you sharing.

[Fineline]

Nice! Looks good for cleavers.

[Ken S]

I believe this discussion, as well as several others, demonstrate the versatility of both the BGM-100 and the Universal Support. The BGM-100 seems much more useful than just with a dry grinder. I bought one with plans to mount it on top of either the T4 or T7 to provide a horizontal mount with the wheel turning into the edge.

With the Tormek mounted on a wooden board, the BGM-100 could be used in several locations to provide more control. Earlier I showed some pictures of using the USP and Tormek platform jig with a wooden platform to support drywall knives (and wheel dressers) on the side of the grinding wheel. I think there are many more yet undiscovered uses for these flexible tools.

Ken

[Fineline]

Hi Ken,
If you have found a way to mount the BGM horizontally to provide grinding (cleavers) into the wheel, please share with us. I find grinding into the wheel gives more control.
Thanks,
FL

[Ken S]

I will gladly share that idea. It works with both the T4 and the T7. My schedule is tight right now, so it may take a while.

Ken

[wootz]

Photos show BMG-100 used in place of the Horizontal Base to mount the Universal Support vertically and sharpen away from the edge, or hone, with regular jigs.




And extended for cleavers.

[Jan]

Congratulations Vadim and thanks for sharing your invention!   

You have found very innovative usage of the BGM-100 set. Really simple and effective solution. In my understanding you drilled two new holes into the height adjustable bloc. Definitively inspiring for me.

Jan