01-11-2020, 12:05 AM
Personally, I never sharpen knives against the platen. Instead, I sharpen 1” above the platen on the open belt. Sharpening against the platen seems to be far more aggressive. It may just be my lack of skill, but I get a much more even and smooth bevel with the tiny amount of give or cushion in the belt that happens just off the platen. At only 1” off platen the belt is still very stiff, but the feel when sharpening and the bevel produced is surprisingly different than on platen sharpening. I save the platen for things like grinding the head off bolts and other tasks where far more pressure is required.
I call the new adjustable knife rest the Kallyrest. Except for the platen, it is made entirely from 6061 aluminum. The platen is stainless steel, 2.5” tall and 1” wide with square sides. The Kallyrest can be configured to sharpen 1” above the platen on the open belt (recommended), or against the platen. The entire rest assembly can be quickly removed with one thumbscrew to provide open access to the platen. The Kallyrest can be positioned anywhere on the mast, high or low, to accommodate your sharpening style. Additionally, it is 7 way adjustable for perfect belt/platen alignment even on machines with bent masts.
Here are two images. The first with the Kallyrest configured for above platen sharpening (recommend), the second for on platen.
Hopefully it will be fully available in the next several months. I can make them now, but lacking proper packaging, laminated gauge graduation stickers (I use a paper one), and other such details. If you have questions about how it works, feel free to post them here. If you have questions about purchasing or are anxious to get your hands on one, please PM me.
I call the new adjustable knife rest the Kallyrest. Except for the platen, it is made entirely from 6061 aluminum. The platen is stainless steel, 2.5” tall and 1” wide with square sides. The Kallyrest can be configured to sharpen 1” above the platen on the open belt (recommended), or against the platen. The entire rest assembly can be quickly removed with one thumbscrew to provide open access to the platen. The Kallyrest can be positioned anywhere on the mast, high or low, to accommodate your sharpening style. Additionally, it is 7 way adjustable for perfect belt/platen alignment even on machines with bent masts.
Here are two images. The first with the Kallyrest configured for above platen sharpening (recommend), the second for on platen.
Hopefully it will be fully available in the next several months. I can make them now, but lacking proper packaging, laminated gauge graduation stickers (I use a paper one), and other such details. If you have questions about how it works, feel free to post them here. If you have questions about purchasing or are anxious to get your hands on one, please PM me.