08-09-2017, 12:30 PM
Grepper, thanks for the feedback, I'm sure once I have some experience testing I'll feel more confident. One reason I had some doubts was due to my initial testing of the PT50 - on the day I got it I tested several blades, including a newly opened razor blade, which measured 30. That seemed a bit low, so I put some test weights on the PT, and it measured them all correctly, so the machine is fine. I'm a software guy, so I always suspect user error (including my own) when things don't work as expected, so the doubt lingers...
Glad to know what your target is for knives, I was wondering what I should shoot for, and that will do fine for a goal. (Though I'm with Ken on this one, when freehanding I spend most of my time either off the edge or dubbing it.)
For woodworking tools, I've found that the higher the polish (which I'm assuming will mean the lower the BESS score), the longer the edge lasts. Not sure if this is due to the steel, the nature of cutting wood, or just my imagination, but once an edge is dull (or if it starts dull), it seems to dull at an accelerating rate. IOW, I think there's some value in very low numbers for planes and chisels, and since they're so easy to sharpen, no reason not to go that distance. But, since you brought up the trade-off, I'll keep an eye on it to see if my opinion changes.
Ken,
Happy grandfathering (have two of grandsons of my own)!
I like your idea of a testing jig, though I'm not sure how necessary it would be for someone experienced. When testing the inserts, I just put them in forceps or a hand vise, and pivoted them into the thread.
Got a laugh out of your "separate Tormeks for each plane." I have only one - use it mostly for grinding, not sharpening. That, too, is probably a whole 'nother discussion. FWIW, the thick blades on the LV or L-N planes make it easy to freehand sharpen once hollow-ground, so even I can get good results.
Steve
Glad to know what your target is for knives, I was wondering what I should shoot for, and that will do fine for a goal. (Though I'm with Ken on this one, when freehanding I spend most of my time either off the edge or dubbing it.)
For woodworking tools, I've found that the higher the polish (which I'm assuming will mean the lower the BESS score), the longer the edge lasts. Not sure if this is due to the steel, the nature of cutting wood, or just my imagination, but once an edge is dull (or if it starts dull), it seems to dull at an accelerating rate. IOW, I think there's some value in very low numbers for planes and chisels, and since they're so easy to sharpen, no reason not to go that distance. But, since you brought up the trade-off, I'll keep an eye on it to see if my opinion changes.
Ken,
Happy grandfathering (have two of grandsons of my own)!
I like your idea of a testing jig, though I'm not sure how necessary it would be for someone experienced. When testing the inserts, I just put them in forceps or a hand vise, and pivoted them into the thread.
Got a laugh out of your "separate Tormeks for each plane." I have only one - use it mostly for grinding, not sharpening. That, too, is probably a whole 'nother discussion. FWIW, the thick blades on the LV or L-N planes make it easy to freehand sharpen once hollow-ground, so even I can get good results.
Steve