03-31-2019, 11:48 AM
I agree that when using a powered belt for sharpening a very light touch works best. IMHO, anything other than a light touch is not only not needed but actually inimical, creating more heat, more unnecessary metal removal and superfluously if not detrimentally large and more difficult to remove burrs.
I’ve sharpened edge-leading on the Kally and never had any issues, but it does give me the creeps. Even the “slow” 1sm is motivating the belt at 1800 sfpm which would pitch a blade far more quickly than I could react. I caught a chef’s knife edge leading on the ultra slow Tormek once. It instantly yanked the knife from my hand and the knife bounced off the bench and headed down at my feet. No injury, but I was a bit freaked out for awhile as it happened so unexpectedly and quickly. But I guess unexpectedly and quickly is how accidents happen.
I would think that edge leading can create just as sharp of an edge as edge trailing provided that, as you say, a light touch is used. As far as sharpness goes either will work. Edge leading is more aggressive, and edge trailing is more forgiving.
I’ve sharpened edge-leading on the Kally and never had any issues, but it does give me the creeps. Even the “slow” 1sm is motivating the belt at 1800 sfpm which would pitch a blade far more quickly than I could react. I caught a chef’s knife edge leading on the ultra slow Tormek once. It instantly yanked the knife from my hand and the knife bounced off the bench and headed down at my feet. No injury, but I was a bit freaked out for awhile as it happened so unexpectedly and quickly. But I guess unexpectedly and quickly is how accidents happen.
I would think that edge leading can create just as sharp of an edge as edge trailing provided that, as you say, a light touch is used. As far as sharpness goes either will work. Edge leading is more aggressive, and edge trailing is more forgiving.