Tilting Workrest?

[gatorforge]

I’m considering getting a tilting work rest to help with consistency and crispness of plunges. I freehand now and my grinds are pretty clean, but I want to take it to the next level. I have some larger orders coming up too, and it would be nice to everything exactly the same. Especially I’d like to be able to do this with 10” contact wheel.

I’m looking at the Housemade and OBM and was wondering if anyone had any experience with these or in general how well they worked?

 

[Crag the Brewer]

I was/am in the exact same position as you.....

I freehand grind. I'm getting happy with what I'm making. But still just wanting to make things a little better.

I got one, had it for idk 6-8 months? Tried using it for a bit.
I ended up shelving it again, and went back to holding my knives.
It's easy to use......but.
Nothing came out right.


Everyone who uses them on youtube seems to like them.
They never really showed HOW to set them up.
I feel they show the Easy to do features, but setting them up isn't just "plug and play".

After thinking about it, and trying to rebend some of my brackets, that's when I sort of gave up for awhile.
Last week I decided to fix it. I wanted (and still want to make) something that will micro adjust, and true it. I ended up using micarta shims. Which seems to be working, but I'd like something more professional/cooler as an option.

It's not the obvious angle the table is set up to make what you need to be worried about..... The one in the videos don't seem to address is the one where you are facing the grinder. On the youtube videos, it just magically works, and is True.

Once you pull your blade across your belt, from each direction, you realize it's Not set up correctly

 

[Michael Black]

I don't have either of those brands, but I do have a DD work rest which is the same basic concept. I like mine, and the quality of workmanship is unparalleled, but I have noticed that it's ridiculously finicky to setup, so I find I mostly just use it for 45 degree angles on Wa handles because I've got it set up and can just leave it at the same configuration.

I don't really ever do plunge lines though, so I can't really help you there.

 

[REK Knives]

If I were to get a workrest it would hands down be the contender work rest... Super nice, tilts and swings out of the way when you don't need it and it can be used with an electromagnet so you can swap work rest plates (larger or smaller, or the sharpening jig they make). I use it every day and it's stainless components (so has worked great with my wet grinder set up)