The game changer
Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)
A 180 grit CBN wheel plus Tormek BGM-100 blade holder is a game changer. No not equate this system with freehand grinding on a different set up.
The difference between a Tormek grinder and a half-speed (even full speed) bench grinder plus BGM-100 is speed, with the bench grinder just so much faster, and for very little heat increase.
The Tormek (standard wheel) grinds at 220 grit, while a 180 grit CBN will equal the grind result owing to the extra speed.
Off the CBN ...
I am able to grind to the edge with this system because there is very little heat AND the BGM-100 will ensure that the grind result is perfectly straight.
A few strokes on a Spyderco Medium stone removes the coarse wire edge and replaces it with this ...
The Ultra Fine Spyderco, again after just a few strokes ...
Three points need to be made:
1. The edge is strong. I have been using this same method for a dozen years or more (starting with the Tormek 2000), and never chipped an edge when chopping into hard Jarrah.
2. The amount of steel loss is negligible. I stop when a wire can be felt, which is no different from grinding to a few millimetres from the edge and then working with a 1000 (or lower) grit stone to refine a coarser edge.
3. As there is less steel to hone, there are less demands placed on the sharpening media (even more abrasion-resistant steels become easier to work), and the process of sharpening speeds up significantly.
Link: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/WoodworkTechniques/UltimateGrindingSharpeningSetUp.html
Regards from Perth
Derek
