08-07-2017, 02:48 PM
Ken, thanks for the input, and the guidance on LL's video. I've read his book (some sections several times), as well as Ron Hock's. Both very good, though I'm always full of questions even after reading. Anyhow, I just ordered the DVD from LV, looking forward to that. And, to return the favor, in case you're interested, Richard Maguire (The English Woodworker - theenglishwoodworker.com) has a sharpening "class" online that has some interesting insights - it's a bit long, but he's usually entertaining enough that I found it worthwhile. In any case, I'll test some of the inserts with a factory edge, and sharpen them on some diamond-pasted strops and remeasure, and post that to a new thread as you suggest. Hopefully someone else will use some CBN and give us some comps. That would be very interesting.
EOU - Thanks for the feedback (and for the welcome). I suspect some user error on my part, I was testing a #11 gouge, and there's a good chance I wasn't holding it perfectly perpendicular or still, so I might have sliced the line instead of push-cutting it. The same might also be true for the straight edge I tested (though I have no excuse for that one). Once I get my setup fully situated and get used to the machine, I'll figure out a way to get consistent readings, and then see if they're really as different as my one-off check. And I'll incorporate your suggestion for wiggling the legs. The gouge, FWIW, was very sharp from the factory, and I didn't use it until after the PT arrived, since I wanted a benchmark for my own sharpening efforts. It cuts like a dream, so maybe it really is just that sharp.
EOU - Thanks for the feedback (and for the welcome). I suspect some user error on my part, I was testing a #11 gouge, and there's a good chance I wasn't holding it perfectly perpendicular or still, so I might have sliced the line instead of push-cutting it. The same might also be true for the straight edge I tested (though I have no excuse for that one). Once I get my setup fully situated and get used to the machine, I'll figure out a way to get consistent readings, and then see if they're really as different as my one-off check. And I'll incorporate your suggestion for wiggling the legs. The gouge, FWIW, was very sharp from the factory, and I didn't use it until after the PT arrived, since I wanted a benchmark for my own sharpening efforts. It cuts like a dream, so maybe it really is just that sharp.