Show me your paper wheel setups!

NRA said:
The slowest among us (yep, me) need video instruction.

Are you guys getting it close, like drawing a knife plumb, through a SharpMaker, or is there more science coming to play in this?
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The link I posted earlier: Paper Wheel Sharpening has a picture and description that may help. You're right, it's essentially holding the knife level horizontally, and determining the angle by the position on the wheel.

Richard J uses an entirely different method, so while there is a lot of excellent information in his thread, it may not help in understanding this method.
 
NRA, Maintaining edge placement on the wheel, pressure, and speed of movement across the wheel, are the major challenges. All that sounds difficult, but lots of people master the skill. Some with amazing expertise. The paper wheel for polishing is a feature that doesn't get enough respect. It's excellent. As a side note, I have come up with a hybrid system that uses the Tormek knife jig, universal bar, angle master and the paper wheels overcome my shaky hands. This project is coming along pretty good, I don't have the technique down perfect yet, but, it shows great promise. I have also adopted the same tools to work with my belt grinder. Another side note, My recently finished version of the "Frankensharp" has been sucking up my time lately, I have a little different spin on the clutch. And, last but certainly not least, thanks for the help with the pictures. I'll get some pictures up in pretty short order.. Thanks again.... Jeff
 
Good info cbw.
303, well said but difficult to visualize for a lot of us.
NRA, please sharpen with wheels turning away from you. I know you are probably cautious but wanted to state the obvious.
Loving the modified sharpeners you guys are posting!
 
cbwx34 said:
The link I posted earlier: Paper Wheel Sharpening has a picture and description that may help. You're right, it's essentially holding the knife level horizontally, and determining the angle by the position on the wheel.

Richard J uses an entirely different method, so while there is a lot of excellent information in his thread, it may not help in understanding this method.
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@NRA. I took this pic myself (left hand - no helper) so its not exact but Illustrates what CBWX34 said. The knife is at the 45 degree mark so the bevel will be 45 degrees. So if you split the distance towards the top and held the knife at that point of the wheel, the bevel would be 22 1/2 degrees.
@CBWX34. Of all your sharpeners, which one would you pick if you could only have one besides manual hand honing?
paperwheel_zps992bab33.jpg
 
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Nope. In order to be accurate, as shown, the blade needs to be held horizontally,
not tangentially. The angle of the blade edge/wheel intersection shown in
the photograph is zero degrees. Can't be done unless the blade is infinitely
thin. Really sharp, but impossibly thin.
 
Quote "so its not exact but Illustrates what CBWX34 said". I should have looked for this pic instead of trying to be a solo photo taking magician

paperwheel_zpsabe7c61f.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
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When you say horizontally, do you mean the flat of the blade horizontally, or the main bevel horizontally (assuming it's not a ffg)?
 
The flat of the blade. Actually, it would be the center of the blade
longitudinally from the center line of the spine to the center line of
the edge, but just hold the blade roughly horizontal if you use the
method shown above. Make sure the wheel is running away from you.
Richard J and I disagree on this but he sharpens with the blade vertically
in front of himself so his wheels turn towards him. Same result, though,
a really sharp edge.
 
Add a bright light, a little height and just one wheel at a time made a big difference for me.



§ David §
 
sampson2269 said:
Why did running one wheel make such a big difference? Was it just because of working space?
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Alot of times I'd get too close to the other wheel and hit my arm on it. I was trying to be careful but it made my concentration to the edge move to arm.
Talking with richardj, he said use one wheel that's what I do. So now it works for me too.
I usually use the belt sander to create a bur then buff the burr off with the slotted wheel.

§ David §
 
How do people flatten their wheels when they want to recondition them? Been having trouble getting a good flat face.
 
I staple a strip of 60 grit sandpaper on a 1X4 and run the wheel while holding the board under the spinning wheel braced on a level surface. Take your time and hold the board level. Suggest it be done outside if possible as it will create a lot of dust when you get down to the bare paper. It will return to like new condition. I have re-surfaced mine a couple of times.
 
Cool, yeah I've been neglecting to find a level surface and have been attempting to use the 60 grit freehand. Also, stapling it down seems like a crucial step for keeping it flat. Appreciate the response Ohallum.
 
I bought a cheap diamond grinding wheel dresser, I couldn't find anything else that would actually strip the carbide wheel fully.
 
60 grit sandpaper will strip it clean, but will take some time. Takes me about 15 - 20 minutes to get down to clear paper wheel. Some times it takes the second strip of sandpaper though, so I start out with some stapled to both sides of a 3 foot or so 1X4 to ensure a clean wheel. Cheap and effective.

Blessings, :encouragement:

Omar
 
I think I must have had some sub standard sandpaper because in the fight of gritted wheel vs my 60 grit, the wheel was most certainly winning! After an hour I had to give up.

I got my diamond stone dresser for about £3 and it does the job of stripping the gritted wheel in a less than a minute, I highly recommend getting one.
 
I've been using paper wheels for 30 years.Hold your knife the same way every time. And put it back on the wheel in the same location everytime.After some practice you'll catch on.Watch the bevel on the knife it should be close to the same.Keep your movement on the wheels steady and the same on both sides.After you get a burr up I come down on the middle of the wheel so i can look down and watch how i work the burr off.The safty of coming down to mid wheel is if for some reason the wheel grabs a knife it will throw it down rather than at you.Buffing compound I use is from K&g white 1000 grt.If you need help send me an msg
 
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