Ken Onion Worksharp Results

Well, I found it a real time saver and did an excellent job, the lady at work gave me a few bucks more because they couldn't believe how sharp they were, they don't ever remember them being that sharp ;)

Again I did to some fine stropping on an 8k stone and a leather strop when done but then I didn't use all the grits of belts either.

G2
 
While catching up on some last year leather work, well one, it was an axe head cover. Since I took so long to get this finished up AND since I now have a WSKO ;) I decided to pop the guide off, tilt the belt head mech and sharpen his axe for him, which it was in need of. It did a really nice job, only took it to three belts, but enough that it now cleanly slices typing paper, he will be afraid, very afraid :)

Hanging up my shingle at work now to sharpen kitchen knives, as most people have a block as dull as the wood they are resting in.
G2
 
You guys remember the lady I said I sharpened her whole knife block? She came in to work today with 7 stitches on her foot where she had dropped one of the knives. She had grabbed some off the counter, several at one time, and one in the middle fished jumped it's way out of the group and down to her foot!!! ouch! The doc told her it was too long and deep a cut and needed stitches, and said it was a very clean cut, must have been a sharp knife ;)

Now, I did feel bad, but I did warn her, in fact she said after she did it she saw that label I made for her "Block of Death" and nodded yep!

Oh well, ya gotta be careful with these things!
G2
 
Wow, great story! I always tell my customers that the blades are VERY sharp and to be careful with them. But I guess we can't change habits learned over years of handling totally dull, nearly useless blades. Perhaps I should try to instill a little more fear in the average person that I do sharpening for.

Coincidentally, today at work I talked to a coworker who I had sharpened half a dozen fishing knives for. He said he put one of them in a knife holder slot on the boat he was on, located very low on the boat and started doing his thing. A hour or so later, he sliced his toe open because the blade was hanging down past the edge of the "holder". I guess he too isn't used to having truly sharp blades, even though he's fileted tons and tons of fish. I hope he doesn't cut himself when he starts cleaning the fish he caught!

BTW, I sharpened every one of his blades on the WSKO. :)

Brian.
 
Yah she was a good sport about it, after she went to the emergency care, she realized she should have gone to Urgent Care which is far less expensive, but she only thought about stopping all that blood!

I dropped off the axe today also to one of our Engineers, I made a sheath cover for it and sharpened it up, I told him we are starting a Pool for when he gets cut/hurt by it. He said NO WAY he was just going to hang it on the wall now ! Probably a smart move on his part, but makes me wonder why he had me make the axe covering for it...

Anyways, I have 15 days in the pool ;)
G2
 
You guys that are using the KOWS a lot might want to consider adding the "blade grinding attachment"

That uses even wider belts & eliminates any scratching concerns on high end blades.

~John
 
^ About the scratching, do you mean because of the grit and debris that can build up between the side of the blade and the guide? I've never used the guide; I always use the WSKO freehand. I'd like to have the BGA, but I can't mentally justify the added expense. I figure I'm already half way to the price of a 1x42 grinder, which I'll probably eventually buy. If I had more budget, I'd probably have both. :)

Brian.
 
I need this KOW system. Gary or others, does it work for 220-240V power supply here in Singapore? I need something to put a nice mirror convex edge on my parangs - I'm doing my convexing freehand on a stone and strop right now and it's not pretty, though it's sharp. Plus I want to try and freehand a chisel zero mini yanagiba on that KOW, haha.
 
Sorry sir, just 110v 60hz is all I can tell right now, maybe they will market one for overseas soon ?
G2
 
spyken said:
I need this KOW system. Gary or others, does it work for 220-240V power supply here in Singapore? I need something to put a nice mirror convex edge on my parangs - I'm doing my convexing freehand on a stone and strop right now and it's not pretty, though it's sharp. Plus I want to try and freehand a chisel zero mini yanagiba on that KOW, haha.
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Yes, I think so. The sel them in the Netherlands and we 220V as well. Check for a local supplier.
 
AFAustin said:
3v gives me a harder time than just about anything. I can get a "working" edge on it with the KO, but never anything that I'm really happy with.

Andrew
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That's good to know Andrew; I feel a bit better now knowing I'm not alone... :thumbup: Maybe I'll try it again with really light passes on the belt.
 
Czechmate said:
That's good to know Andrew; I feel a bit better now knowing I'm not alone... :thumbup: Maybe I'll try it again with really light passes on the belt.
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The lighter the passes, the better the results, in my experience. Lighter passes also allow you better control over the blade, in terms of how you move over the belt to keep the grind even. As an added benefit, this gives you better tip control, lessening the chance of a rounded tip.

Speaking of, light passes, and stopping with the tip halfway through the belt has resulted in sharper tips for me, instead of the dreaded rounded tip.

Great machine.
 
me2 said:
Why would one choose the KOWS over a 1x30 or 1x42 belt sander?
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I have a WSKTS Ken Onion but have not (yet) owned a full size belt sander, though the Kalamazoo 1SM is on my "want to try" list. So I can't give a good hands on comparison, but since this is a subject I'm interested in, let me throw out a few things to start the conversation.

1) The WSKTS KO has variable speed.

2) I like being able to view the angle between the belt and the blade straight on, rather than having the blade obscure the angle as is typically the case with a full size grinder.

3) The WSKTS KO has an angle guide. I usually freehand but some guys really like the guide. I also use it at times, especially with long kitchen knives.

4) The WSKTS KO is portable. I like being able to take it outside when doing a messier job like a machete, shovel, lawn mower blades, etc. And it's great for "road trips", as in taking it to a family member's house to do up their knives.

5) The WSKTS costs less than a high quality full size grinder, although not by a whole lot.

I know I've left some things out. I also know that the full size grinders have their advantages as well, and I hope others will chip in, especially those who own both.

Andrew
 
I will speak from the perspective of a Harbor Freight 1x30 user. They are single speed. Point well made. Equal points for the angle guide, though they are not tough to make. My HF was cheaper than the lowest price I've seen for a KOWS, though I think the regular models are less than the HF. My HF is quite portable. I carry it to polish weld coupons.

My main point is the 1x30 is much more versatile. I will admit to modifying mine quite a bit though.
 
MOCraig said:
The lighter the passes, the better the results, in my experience. Lighter passes also allow you better control over the blade, in terms of how you move over the belt to keep the grind even. As an added benefit, this gives you better tip control, lessening the chance of a rounded tip.

Speaking of, light passes, and stopping with the tip halfway through the belt has resulted in sharper tips for me, instead of the dreaded rounded tip.

Great machine.
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Yup, I tried again on the TUFF last night with light passes on the 120 grit belt to form a quick burr, then went straight to polish it off on my paper wheels (just the slotted wheel) with great results so my faith in this system is restored LOL!

Way sharper than my previous attempt and I did this freehand too! :thumbup:
 
Czechmate said:
Yup, I tried again on the TUFF last night with light passes on the 120 grit belt to form a quick burr, then went straight to polish it off on my paper wheels (just the slotted wheel) with great results so my faith in this system is restored LOL!

Way sharper than my previous attempt and I did this freehand too! :thumbup:
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Nice! I've only free handed a couple blades, but think I may freehand more often as I learn the machine.
 
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