Is anyone not all that impressed with their LVPSS?

Re: Is anyone not all that impressed with their LV

Judy Gassett

>What are you talking about? What is a LVPSS? LV = Lee Valley.

Veritas® Mk.II Power Sharpening System?

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>

Here is a picture

Tim of Livermore

>and I don't know why the original post reverted to "of Dublin"...but I am now "of Livermore" and have been for several months.

If you aren't busy Saturday

Neal White (San Jose)

>The Bay Area Woodworkers Assoc. will be at the new Woodcraft in San Carlos (behind REI, you can see it from 101 if you know EXACTLY where to look) doing a hands-on plane seminar. The Lap-Sharp maker will be there doing demos if you'd like to "try before you trade"...Hmmm does't rhyme, but you get the idea. Maybe even bring along your LV, and we'll try 'em side-by-side.

I actually like my LVPSS?

Alan Bierbaum

>I actually like mine. I start at 100 micron, 40 micron, 9 micron, 5 micron, and end with 0.5 micron. If serious shaping is needed, I start with the 80 grit.

I do not have a problem with the speed; I only need a few seconds per grit. Straight edges are the default for me; I have trouble trying to get just a touch of curvature. I find it very repeatable and easy to use. I only use it for plane irons and chisels though.

I am sure that LV will allow return if you really don't like it.

Re: Is anyone not all that impressed with their LV

Frank Mutchler in Colorado Springs

>I would echo Alan's comments. It's by far the fastest and easiest sharpening system I've ever used. No mess, quick, accurate, repeatable, quiet.....suits me just fine.

Re: Is anyone not all that impressed with their LV

John Todd

>I like mine too... ALOT. While I am slowly becoming more proficient at waterstones and more traditional methods, I love the repeatability of the MK II. It does a VERY acceptable job, VERY easily, and VERY CONSISTENTLY.

My 4mm platters are ALL not so flat

Tim of Livermore

>LV customer service contacted me.....and suggested one or more of my platters wasn't flat.

I checked and all 4 of the 4mm platters was out of flat by 0.010" or more.....:- (. Based on their own experience with out-of-flat platters, they said they experienced very similar problems as what I had. Gotta love their customer service. I haven't bothered checking the 3mm platter.

LV will be sending me new platters and hopefully they'll be flat. It wouldn't surprise me if they checked mine prior to shipping so this fiasco doesn't repeat. It seems strange that all 4 platters should be that far out. They're only 8 inch diameter so I would have thought they could hold better tolerances.

I'll repost either way when I get the new platters. I had high hopes for this machine since so many had praised this sharpener.

Tim

Re: My 4mm platters are ALL not so flat

Frank Mutchler in Colorado Springs

>Tim, the first thing I did was put an indicator on the platters. I don't remember what I found but I believe they were all (6 of them) running less than .001. I'd have to find the post & I'm too lazy right now. I remember being quite surprised at the tight tolerances I found.

Re:take it outside

Mike McDaniel

>I don't mean to sound so abrupt, but am I the only one that finds it odd, that there is so much tolerance here, for this thread. Ok, have at it!

Mike McDaniel,

WV

Re:take it outside

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>What is precisely your problem with this thread? Seems innocuous to me, Tim has problems with highly touted LV product, others don't, Tim notifies LV for replacement plates. This is good.

Pam

Re:take it outside

Mike McDaniel

>Perhaps it is the fact that I hand sharpen, and this is the hand tool forum, and the thread is all about burning electons. Just seams as though it would be more fitting, over there. I really don't wish to ruffle feathers, but when I lurk, I want to see more muscle related threads.

Re:take it outside

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>I don't see the problem, either, Mike. No one here says anyone has to be a purist. Hand sharpening is good, but not a prerequisite for posting here. Heck if you wanted to, you could even post about hand sharpening power planer and jointer knives. Power sharpening planer and jointer knives might be outside the charter, but I'm sure everyone would politely offer whatever advise they could, based on their experience with power sharpening hand tool blades.

I believe that everyone burns some electrons

Alan Bierbaum

>I believe that everyone burns some electrons. This thread is about sharpening hand tools. Even if you do not have electron powered tools in your shop (and actually use them); you probably burn electrons in your lighting and certainly burn them using your computer. I believe that possible problems experienced by hand tool users are properly placed in the hand tool forum. YMMV,

Re:take it outside

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Well, if it's meat you want, why not bring some to the market. What would you like to discuss?

Pam

Re:take it outside

Frank Mutchler in Colorado Springs

>Mike, are you using a computer or carrier pigeon to access this hand tool forum? ;>)

Re:Uncle

Mike McDaniel

>I guess I'm out of line, and also the only one who thought different. It just does not register, how one can put so much emphasis on sharpening. Call me crazy(I think you probably have), but I enjoy sharpening, and if one stays on top of it, it's just not that hard. It's not so much the burning of electrons, as it is just how much effort people put into their sharpening gizmo's. I burn some electrons, like most people, but it strikes me as odd, how much effort some go to, to save time, or energy, or whatever reason for all the gizmo's. I'm not going to try and make a crusade of it, though it is something that I will never understand.

Re:Uncle

Alan Bierbaum

>I am glad to see a clarification of your intent; it is not what I understood it to be.

I learned to sharpen over 50 years ago using oil stones and a hand powered grinding wheel. Over the years I progressed to sandpaper (to reduce the mess) and a powered grinding wheel. About a year ago, I got the LV powered lap grinder. For me, it was either the powered grinder or a set of stones (my old ones are beyond repair now). I know how to hand sharpen and simply took the easy way out from a time, mess, exertion point of view (I still touch up with sandpaper).

You and I may know how to sharpen and what sharp is (as well as many others); however some of the people that use this forum, have never had the advantage of a teacher (or long time experience) and are looking for a method that works for them. Since sharp is important when hand tools are used; they are simply trying to use the internet to learn about sharpening.

One of the great things about this forum is the mix of experience which varies from outright beginner to long time pro. It makes for interesting discussions; even about topics as mundane as sharpening.

Please start a thread about a subject of your interest and lets see what happens.

Re:Uncle

Mike McDaniel

>I must admit, I was starting to feel like a fly in the ointment. It's heartening to find that someone at least knows where I'm coming from. I don't have near your experience, but I have been at it for a little over 30 years. Sometimes it can be easy to forget that I once struggled the small things(for me), too. A little background information can open a large path of understanding, and you have given me that benefit.

As far as starting a topic goes, as I said in the beginning, I am mostly a lurker. For the most part, I find reading post very interesting, and have responded very seldom. This is because so many knowledgable listers share valuable infomation. The few subjects that I have responded to, are things that are highly subjective, with many opposing views. It is my belief in those cases, that the more ideas that are shared, give a better light to the subject. I tend to be pretty set in my ways, and have very little want, for change. Maybe I should continue to lurk, and let those who seek help, obtain what they wish.

Mike McDaniel