I need to sharpen my kitchen, hunting, fishing knives. My Axe, hatchet, scissors, wood chisels. I'm from a farming family and would like to be able to take care of all the families sharpening. Everyone will kick in some money if I buy the right set-up. I can sharpen with stones, but I need to be quicker. I use a smooth steel and also a canvas and leather strop with white or yellow paste to touch-up on a daily basis. We do a lot of our own butchering also. I've used the paper wheel, but last year it blew apart while I was sharpening and nearly cut off my index finger...extensive, permanent nerve damage to two fingers. I was looking at the Tormek 2006 with a few specialized jigs. This is my first thread...I hope I can figure out how to read any replies.
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Will a Tormek work?
- Thread starter kkeller
- Start date
It boils down to quantity and time spent. Depends on much time you've got to do X number of knives, scisssors, axes, etc.
The Tormek will do a middling job on most things. It is versitile and will do a lot of tools, but the finish isn't the greatest in the world. I for one have never been able to get the leather wheel on the Tormek to do what it should. This is a technique problem I know, I've never been able to correct it and I am not in a location that I can go and watch it being used or receive training in it.
The Tormek is pricey but for me I can sharpen, rebevel on the Tormek and finish on an Edge Pro in short order. That's for knives, scissors, chisels and planer blades. Even not being able to hone successfully on the leather wheel I wouldn't do without my Tormek. I've never regretted the purchase.
The Edge Pro alone if you're matching existing bevels, not resetting the bevels to lower angles, will do 4 knives an hour, 6-8 (depending on size) when you get really proficent with it. Scissors it's hard to beat the Edge Pro - Professional version is the one that takes the scissors attachment only available direct from Edge Pro. It will do chisels and planer blades as well. The Professional isn't cheap and the scissors attachement is an extra 95$ Plus kit# 1 at 300$ or Kit# 2 at 350$ or you buy the complete set Kit # 3 with everything at 485$. See http://www.edgeproinc.com/pro_model_series.htm As far as I'm concerned the Edge Pro - Professional is the best there is. If I couldn only have one piece of equipment I'd have the Edge Pro-Professional.
For high volume nothing bets a set of belt sanders coarse belts, medium belt, and leather strop belts. That's for knives and axes. You won't be doing a scissors, chisels, etc on a belt sander.
It really does depend on the volume and how much you value your time. I don't think there is a single answer. I have and use everything from scary sharp, Tormek, standard stones, Japanese water stones, Edge Pro, Belt Sanders/grinders, mouse pads with sandpaper, and leather hones both hanging and block hones. I don't use paper wheels any longer. I did but I don't at all now. Your incident isn't the only one I've heard of or varying scary incidents I've seen or had happen.
I do have a lot invested in my equipment that really goes without saying.
The Tormek will do a middling job on most things. It is versitile and will do a lot of tools, but the finish isn't the greatest in the world. I for one have never been able to get the leather wheel on the Tormek to do what it should. This is a technique problem I know, I've never been able to correct it and I am not in a location that I can go and watch it being used or receive training in it.
The Tormek is pricey but for me I can sharpen, rebevel on the Tormek and finish on an Edge Pro in short order. That's for knives, scissors, chisels and planer blades. Even not being able to hone successfully on the leather wheel I wouldn't do without my Tormek. I've never regretted the purchase.
The Edge Pro alone if you're matching existing bevels, not resetting the bevels to lower angles, will do 4 knives an hour, 6-8 (depending on size) when you get really proficent with it. Scissors it's hard to beat the Edge Pro - Professional version is the one that takes the scissors attachment only available direct from Edge Pro. It will do chisels and planer blades as well. The Professional isn't cheap and the scissors attachement is an extra 95$ Plus kit# 1 at 300$ or Kit# 2 at 350$ or you buy the complete set Kit # 3 with everything at 485$. See http://www.edgeproinc.com/pro_model_series.htm As far as I'm concerned the Edge Pro - Professional is the best there is. If I couldn only have one piece of equipment I'd have the Edge Pro-Professional.
For high volume nothing bets a set of belt sanders coarse belts, medium belt, and leather strop belts. That's for knives and axes. You won't be doing a scissors, chisels, etc on a belt sander.
It really does depend on the volume and how much you value your time. I don't think there is a single answer. I have and use everything from scary sharp, Tormek, standard stones, Japanese water stones, Edge Pro, Belt Sanders/grinders, mouse pads with sandpaper, and leather hones both hanging and block hones. I don't use paper wheels any longer. I did but I don't at all now. Your incident isn't the only one I've heard of or varying scary incidents I've seen or had happen.
I do have a lot invested in my equipment that really goes without saying.
Did you say you can get a leather belt for a belt sander? I have an old 23" hanging strop, should I get something on a wood block also. Sometimes I dull my edge with the strop. I try to pull up when I reach the end of my stroke and not roll the edge into the leather. Is this correct?
Can I finish an axe with the EdgePro? Surely I don't need a Tormek and an EdgePro do I? I really thought that leather wheel on the Tormek would do the trick for a polished edge and all the jigs would keep my angles correct. I need to sharpen/hone 10 knives a day and a couple cleavers/hatchets. After that we do a few wood chisels weekly. I'll buy whatever I need, I just need to sharpen faster. My wife wants me to start a sideline sharpening business if I could get a little faster/better.
Can I finish an axe with the EdgePro? Surely I don't need a Tormek and an EdgePro do I? I really thought that leather wheel on the Tormek would do the trick for a polished edge and all the jigs would keep my angles correct. I need to sharpen/hone 10 knives a day and a couple cleavers/hatchets. After that we do a few wood chisels weekly. I'll buy whatever I need, I just need to sharpen faster. My wife wants me to start a sideline sharpening business if I could get a little faster/better.
I have an edge pro, a sharpmaker, a set of spyderco stones, alabama white stones, oil stones from the 60s, diamond rods and now I'm going to get a set of diamond stones as well. Honestly you could do everything you've talked about, including the axes, on the Edge pro. I used a set of old oil stones and some alabama stones for a very long time to get a nice edge for many years.
If you loaded your strop with some 0.8-0.5 micron media and placed it on a hard surface you'd probably have more luck with it. You want to drag the edge across the strop. At the end stop and lift the knife straight off.
If you loaded your strop with some 0.8-0.5 micron media and placed it on a hard surface you'd probably have more luck with it. You want to drag the edge across the strop. At the end stop and lift the knife straight off.
Belts check out Hand American http:www.handamerican.com/belt they are getting high praise for their belts.
Axe sharpening on the Tormek or Edge Pro will work and will get tremendously sharp but isn't really the way to do it. Check out
http://www.sctrails.net/Trails/LIBRARY/FSPubs/ax/ax7.pdf I've sharpened a lot of fire axes and polaskis in the last few years. over 1000 using the Tormek and the only complaint I got was that I was getting them too sharp.
D&R Sharpening has a great tutorial on honing with block hones I can't find the link to it at this time but you can check out HA's here The secret of Leather Honing Hanging strops are more difficult to use on knives, I don't use them except on Razors which I very rarely sharpen anymore. There's not enough money in it for the time invested. The single biggest tip I can give on honing is when you pull back the hone, STOP, at the end of the stroke and then lift off. Don't lift as you stroke. Come to a complete STOP then lift straight up. This will avoid raising the edge and subsequently rolling it.
The volume you are talking about isn't small but it isn't great either. With the Edge Pro you are looking at a couple hours to start. This will totally depend on how massively you are reprofiling, if you are totally changing the angles you can spend an hour or more doing one knife. Of course this only has to be done once, then every so often you'll need to knock the shoulder back a bit but will never be that drastic again. If you are matching existing angles then you're normally looking at 10-15 minutes per edge using the Edge Pro if you aren't going for insane sharp and polished. The more steps you put in the longer it will take. But sharpening to 320 and finishing at 600 with a few strokes is more than enough for most chores and too much for many. (In my opinion)
My opinion would be to get an Edge Pro - Professional Kit # 3.(required if you want to do scissors) Check out Edge Pro at Edge Pro - ProfessionalTo do the real dirty work get a couple of coarse and medium belts for your belt sander (and a leather belt if you want to try honing on it) and a couple pieces of leather from HA and make yourself a couple hones or buy a hone and several pads from HA.
Best person to discuss the Tormek with and purchase from is likely Jeff at Sharp Tools USA Sharp Tools USA Jeff is the most knowledgeable person I know and I have never heard of a complaint in his service. No I've never purchased from him as he only deals in the USA and I'm in Canada. and no I don't get any benefit from or have any connections with any company I recommend.
Axe sharpening on the Tormek or Edge Pro will work and will get tremendously sharp but isn't really the way to do it. Check out
http://www.sctrails.net/Trails/LIBRARY/FSPubs/ax/ax7.pdf I've sharpened a lot of fire axes and polaskis in the last few years. over 1000 using the Tormek and the only complaint I got was that I was getting them too sharp.
D&R Sharpening has a great tutorial on honing with block hones I can't find the link to it at this time but you can check out HA's here The secret of Leather Honing Hanging strops are more difficult to use on knives, I don't use them except on Razors which I very rarely sharpen anymore. There's not enough money in it for the time invested. The single biggest tip I can give on honing is when you pull back the hone, STOP, at the end of the stroke and then lift off. Don't lift as you stroke. Come to a complete STOP then lift straight up. This will avoid raising the edge and subsequently rolling it.
The volume you are talking about isn't small but it isn't great either. With the Edge Pro you are looking at a couple hours to start. This will totally depend on how massively you are reprofiling, if you are totally changing the angles you can spend an hour or more doing one knife. Of course this only has to be done once, then every so often you'll need to knock the shoulder back a bit but will never be that drastic again. If you are matching existing angles then you're normally looking at 10-15 minutes per edge using the Edge Pro if you aren't going for insane sharp and polished. The more steps you put in the longer it will take. But sharpening to 320 and finishing at 600 with a few strokes is more than enough for most chores and too much for many. (In my opinion)
My opinion would be to get an Edge Pro - Professional Kit # 3.(required if you want to do scissors) Check out Edge Pro at Edge Pro - ProfessionalTo do the real dirty work get a couple of coarse and medium belts for your belt sander (and a leather belt if you want to try honing on it) and a couple pieces of leather from HA and make yourself a couple hones or buy a hone and several pads from HA.
Best person to discuss the Tormek with and purchase from is likely Jeff at Sharp Tools USA Sharp Tools USA Jeff is the most knowledgeable person I know and I have never heard of a complaint in his service. No I've never purchased from him as he only deals in the USA and I'm in Canada. and no I don't get any benefit from or have any connections with any company I recommend.
Here'sDave's Stropping Tutorial I refound the link to it.
This is the best I've found on honing with flat bed hones.
This is the best I've found on honing with flat bed hones.
I do appreciate the advice and direction you guys have pointed me in. I will research the links you sent and come to some conclusion on purchasing equipment.
When sharpening on a belt sander, do you do it free-hand or do you tilt the table to try and get the angle? I have read where you guys mention marking the blade with a magic marker to determine if you are grinding at the right angle.
When you say leather belt, are you referring to a continuous one to put on an electric sander? Is the round disc sander on the belt sander ever any benefit in sharpening?
80% of the knives I'll start sharpening basically have their original factory angle...I have never really changed that angle. Just tried to maintain the same thing. I can get them very sharp, I'm just not fast enough to suit dad.
I will invest in a solid block leather strop, this could be part of my reason for dulling the blade.
It sounds like you are telling me the Tormek is not an absolute must to get perfect angles and polished/honed edges quickly. If I spend more than 15 minutes on a dull knife or cleaver, my dad comes down on me. I can live with being a little slow on axes and woodworking tools. I just need the perfect sharpener for butcher, kitchen, hunting fishing type knives. What do recommend for serrated blades?
When sharpening on a belt sander, do you do it free-hand or do you tilt the table to try and get the angle? I have read where you guys mention marking the blade with a magic marker to determine if you are grinding at the right angle.
When you say leather belt, are you referring to a continuous one to put on an electric sander? Is the round disc sander on the belt sander ever any benefit in sharpening?
80% of the knives I'll start sharpening basically have their original factory angle...I have never really changed that angle. Just tried to maintain the same thing. I can get them very sharp, I'm just not fast enough to suit dad.
I will invest in a solid block leather strop, this could be part of my reason for dulling the blade.
It sounds like you are telling me the Tormek is not an absolute must to get perfect angles and polished/honed edges quickly. If I spend more than 15 minutes on a dull knife or cleaver, my dad comes down on me. I can live with being a little slow on axes and woodworking tools. I just need the perfect sharpener for butcher, kitchen, hunting fishing type knives. What do recommend for serrated blades?