is the "smart jig" from KnifeJigs.com any good?

SmartJig said:
I am not trying to sell the product through this forum.
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That might be true is your name was different but when you use the product name as your forum name and you have your website linked in your post then you are trying to sell here and that means you should have a dealer membership.
 
P.Brewster said:
Imagine you are grinding this hideous knife http://imgur.com/a/oTXDN

We start at the green section, connect our jig, set the angle, and proceed.

Next we move onto the blue section. I like to grind with the edge perpendicular to the belt, so now the jig is rotated is 45° from its initial position (along the 'roll' axis).

Next we move onto the red section. Now the jig is rotated 90° from its initial position (along the 'roll' axis).

If the jig measures the angle between level and current position (like the Bubble Jig), then the reading is incorrect - this is NOT equal to the angle between the platen and the steel when we are grinding the blue and red sections.

Does your jig measure the angle between level and current position, or does it take into account rotation of the jig along the 'roll' axis?
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The jig doesn't care about the roll and maintains the bevel angle with respect to the platen. So, it works on both the flat and curved areas.
 
Spalted said:
That might be true is your name was different but when you use the product name as your forum name and you have your website linked in your post then you are trying to sell here and that means you should have a dealer membership.
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I was instructed by the Admin to have this account. Thank you Britt!
 
SmartJig said:
The jig doesn't care about the roll and maintains the bevel angle with respect to the platen. So, it works on both the flat and curved areas.
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So if I connect the Smart Jig to a circular disk at the 12:00 position, it will indicate the correct angle as I rotate that disk - with the jig to the 3:00 position, then 6:00, then 9:00, and back to 12:00 ?

Sorry if I'm asking the same question twice - to make your jig read the correct angle, regardless of roll, would require significant additional sensors and calculations. Also, it would set your product apart from the Bubble Jig. It seems like your marketing would make mention.
 
P.Brewster said:
So if I connect the Smart Jig to a circular disk at the 12:00 position, it will indicate the correct angle as I rotate that disk - with the jig to the 3:00 position, then 6:00, then 9:00, and back to 12:00 ?

Sorry if I'm asking the same question twice - to make your jig read the correct angle, regardless of roll, would require significant additional sensors and calculations. Also, it would set your product apart from the Bubble Jig. It seems like your marketing would make mention.
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The jig maintains the bevel angle with respect to the platen while rolling from 12:00 position (normal position) to 3:00 and down to about 5:00. On the other side, from 12:00 to 9:00 and down to about 7:00. It won't detect the angle between 5:00 and 7:00 since the jig would be almost upside down. The jig is also used in sharpening in which case you would roll the blade for the curved area. I have had no issues.

Thank you for bringing this up. I will definitely add it to my site.
 
Knife freaky said:
To Mr smart jig.

First off the op wanted people's opinion on your smart jig, it was given, and now your whining about it and insulting your customer base! I will be buying a jig soon and I can tell you right now I will not be buying your jig simply because of the way you have handled yourself on this forum! Now for my opinion of the jig based on what I can see. I'm not big on the electronic aspect between all the dust that is raised while grinding and it not being water proof seems like it would be a big safety concern to me. Simply put I would prefer to buy a bubble jig that's built like a tank for cheap then buying a electronic jig that I don't think would last a few months in a real shop for $200!

Daniel.


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I did not start this thread to ask for opinions. This thread had started couple of months ago and I just stumbled on it yesterday. Is responding to remarks called whining? Would you not respond if you were in my place? Have you read their remarks? I think I handled myself professionally here. If you prefer to buy the Bubble Jig, that's your preference. I wasn't soliciting anyone here to buy my product and I have not said anything bad about Fred's product.
 
SmartJig said:
I did not start this thread to ask for opinions. This thread had started couple of months ago and I just stumbled on it yesterday. Is responding to remarks called whining? Would you not respond if you were in my place? Have you read their remarks? I think I handled myself professionally here. If you prefer to buy the Bubble Jig, that's your preference. I wasn't soliciting anyone here to buy my product and I have not said anything bad about Fred's product.
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A few comments from someone who started as a knife maker and moved on to being a dealer.

First, use your name. Along with helping make many of my clients my friends, It shows a level of dedication to your product. I have complete and utter faith in the wood I sell, so much so that i am happy to put my name on it so that if anyone has a problem with it, it is my personal reputation on the line. Not just my business.

Second, be a part of the community. Fred Rowe, the maker of the excellent bubble jig which personally taught me how to grind the tricky bevels on thin kitchen knives, doesnt just sell his product. He gives advise on damascus, on knife making and tooling. If im not mistaken he is pretty much the king of feather damascus and helps many smiths attempting the difficult pattern. Personally, I try to give advise on stabilizing, drying, identifying and photographing wood along with general advise for how to make sure you cna get the most out of any wood, if it came from me or my nominal compeition like Mark at burl Source who has always been nothing but kind and helpful to me. There are knife maker, Suppliers and tool makers who are known to be jerks, or blow hard or what ever you want to call them. And they will very quickly find themselves surrounded by kinder, more pleasant competitors and they will be left behind.

As hard as it is, roll with the punches. Jigs are a touchy topic. Some people love them, some hate them. Some think they are cheating. Keep your cool, answer questions people have, and try to point others towards more accurate information. getting upset is only going to trash your reputation.

Ben Greenberg
Greenberg Woods
 
Greenberg Woods said:
A few comments from someone who started as a knife maker and moved on to being a dealer.

First, use your name. Along with helping make many of my clients my friends, It shows a level of dedication to your product. I have complete and utter faith in the wood I sell, so much so that i am happy to put my name on it so that if anyone has a problem with it, it is my personal reputation on the line. Not just my business.

Second, be a part of the community. Fred Rowe, the maker of the excellent bubble jig which personally taught me how to grind the tricky bevels on thin kitchen knives, doesnt just sell his product. He gives advise on damascus, on knife making and tooling. If im not mistaken he is pretty much the king of feather damascus and helps many smiths attempting the difficult pattern. Personally, I try to give advise on stabilizing, drying, identifying and photographing wood along with general advise for how to make sure you cna get the most out of any wood, if it came from me or my nominal compeition like Mark at burl Source who has always been nothing but kind and helpful to me. There are knife maker, Suppliers and tool makers who are known to be jerks, or blow hard or what ever you want to call them. And they will very quickly find themselves surrounded by kinder, more pleasant competitors and they will be left behind.

As hard as it is, roll with the punches. Jigs are a touchy topic. Some people love them, some hate them. Some think they are cheating. Keep your cool, answer questions people have, and try to point others towards more accurate information. getting upset is only going to trash your reputation.

Ben Greenberg
Greenberg Woods
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Will do. Thanks Ben!
 
Welcome Smartjig.

I have read here many times that this place is big enough for all kind of knives. If thats so then it is big enough for all kind of knife related gadgets. If you dont like it then close the thread and dont buy it. Why name calling and insults??
 
I called his product stupid, not him. Perhaps I should have more accurately called it "of questionable value" I don't believe anyone here called anyone names. As far as "insults" the OP asked for opinions. Those opinions were given. Then the maker of said product felt the need to jump in. This forum is an open exchange of ideas. If my, or anyone else's honest opinion ruffles some feathers, I would recommend developing a thicker skin.

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Kevin McGovern said:
I called his product stupid, not him. Perhaps I should have more accurately called it "of questionable value" I don't believe anyone here called anyone names. As far as "insults" the OP asked for opinions. Those opinions were given. Then the maker of said product felt the need to jump in. This forum is an open exchange of ideas. If my, or anyone else's honest opinion ruffles some feathers, I would recommend developing a thicker skin.

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The way I read it you came across as a prick for the most part, especially when you said that "we can smell a rat..." . The guy is making a product that appears to have some benefit to some makers, maybe not you, so your input is irrelevant. You are just trashing on something because it does not work for you. I assume you will have a thick skin and move along.
 
I can see how that could come off as name calling. The intent was to inform him that trust is key. Coming onto a thread as defensive as he was, and claiming a potential customer unable to determine the merits of a product as it is presented is Ill advised. Being defensive and attacking the messenger, is a red flag for credibility. As I've already stated the OP, NOT the seller of this product asked for honest opinions. I gave that opinion. I wasn't " trashing" his product. Had this been the sellers sales thread I wouldn't have said anything. Does that clarify my position?

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NC Biker said:
If you really believe that, you might want to go back and read your posts!
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I had no intention of saying anything other than I thought it was stupid. This was my opinion given to the OP when he asked for it. The seller jumped in an took exception to my word choice. So I gave him some alternative terms. Quite frankly, he chose to insert himself into the question. It's like someone asks you if you like Ford's, you say Ford's suck and Henry Ford shows up all insulted.

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And to clarify, it sucks. Trashing it would be going over to the owners website and posting that it sucks.

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Kevin McGovern said:
I had no intention of saying anything other than I thought it was stupid. This was my opinion given to the OP when he asked for it. The seller jumped in an took exception to my word choice. So I gave him some alternative terms. Quite frankly, he chose to insert himself into the question. It's like someone asks you if you like Ford's, you say Ford's suck and Henry Ford shows up all insulted.

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A better analogy would be if people start a thread talking about the gas pedal sticking in Ford cars sometimes when they don't even own a Ford. I think Henry would show up for that one. Or how about starting a thread about Kevin's knives and how they suck big time. Would Kevin show up for that one?
 
A proper analogy would be if someone asked what the forum thought of Kevin's knives, some people said they sucked, and Kevin showed up to tell them they were wrong because they didn't know any better. Kevin knows they dont know any better, because he says so. Furthermore Kevin has a seller's membership to support the site, and although he has never even attempted to sell any knives ( sucky or otherwise) he wouldn't care what someone who doesn't know any better has to say. But if on the off chance he did care, he would use the opportunity to educate, gather feedback and trust. He also understands that arguing in such a fashion would appear defensive and unprofessional.

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- This message brought to you by the "my bad" department at Faith Forge.

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pleasanthill said:
I'm waiting for someone to come out with this but for knife grinding.

View attachment 696118
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SHHHHHHHHHH I'm working on this to bridge the gap between Freehanders and Jig Grinders

1491396019904.jpg
 
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