Best Sharpening Gadgets / Machines Available?

[jdm61]

The make an 4000 grit Japanese water stone for the Tormek. Not cheap, mind you. $250!!!!!

Makita makes a makes a horizontal wet wheel grinder, the Makita 9820-2. Works well on jointer and planer knives, chisels, plane irons, and if you take off the tool rest, it works pretty well on knives. Be prepared to have wet swarf slung around the shop and onto your belly.
We have a Tormek in the shop, but I almost never use it to sharpen a knife. In the time it takes to fill the water reservoir and set up the tool rest and knife jig, I can have the blade half done on the diamond stones. I'd have to finish the blade on the stones anyway, the Tormek wheel is fairly coarse IMO. I use a "Razor Edge" guide, but only because 20 years ago when I bought it those plastic and ceramic guides weren't available.

 

[Mahoney]

And Wood Turners Wonders will custom make a CBN wheel for your Tormek in any grit you want for about the same price. But changing out the wheel on the Tormek does take some time, and for 1 knife, unless it's really damaged, it's just faster to sharpen on the diamond bench stones. If I was sharpening batches of 20 knives at a time, that's another matter.

BTW, for those of you now drooling over the CBN wheels for the Tormek, when I bought mine the 4 in 1 pattern was not available, but if I were to buy another I'd spend the extra $50. The thin rim of the regular wheel "rings" loudly in use.

 

[AVigil]

I use Norax U936 engineered ceramic belts. Sure they are $11.75 a piece and worth every penny.

I have used several gadgets and machines but the best is often the easiest, if you know how to do it.

What i do now, is set the edge angle on the platen. I use a angle cube for accuracy.

I then hold the blade at 0 degrees, which is perpendicular to the floor. That is very easy to do, everyone can hold the blade at 0*.

Then at a slow speed follow the edge on the flat platen and let the belt and platen angle to the work.

You will find you will get a accurate angle on both sides and it comes to an apex and forms a burr nicely.

Then it go to the leather belt to knock off the burr, for a razor edge at the exact angle you wanted.

 

[Augus7us]

Thanks for all the replies fellas. Good stuff here and some machines I've never heard of. Willie that edge pro is now on my short list for a manual option. I think the wicked edge edges it out by a hair (har har) but I just can't justify $700+ knowing I'd really like something closer to the Tormek.

Nathan I saw that video when you posted it and I think it does everything I want but I haven't added a mister to my kmg and my shop ceilings are about 18ft high. It's definitely got me thinking about making something for my grinder. Any ideas on how you would do that if you couldn't hook it to your ceiling?

I tried finding that video of the guy using the horizontal looking Tormek but I couldn't find it and ended up watching videos of Stan Wilson's amazing straight razor collection It was similar to the makita deal but bigger and I think it had a tray more like a potters wheel to keep more of the gunk from hitting you.

Keep 'em coming

-Clint

 

[Willie71]

Thanks for all the replies fellas. Good stuff here and some machines I've never heard of. Willie that edge pro is now on my short list for a manual option. I think the wicked edge edges it out by a hair (har har) but I just can't justify $700+ knowing I'd really like something closer to the Tormek.

Nathan I saw that video when you posted it and I think it does everything I want but I haven't added a mister to my kmg and my shop ceilings are about 18ft high. It's definitely got me thinking about making something for my grinder. Any ideas on how you would do that if you couldn't hook it to your ceiling?

I tried finding that video of the guy using the horizontal looking Tormek but I couldn't find it and ended up watching videos of Stan Wilson's amazing straight razor collection It was similar to the makita deal but bigger and I think it had a tray more like a potters wheel to keep more of the gunk from hitting you.

Keep 'em coming

-Clint

I'm using the apex line.