Interesting post, Mark, on many levels.
Yes, unclear communication happens occasionally. Sometimes we realize what the person meant to say. Sometimes we don't. One of the many things I like about this kind of group is not being embarrassed when I do not understand something. Going back to explain something clarifies the subject for both the listener and the speaker.
Your comments about the sharpness of the abrasive particle being more important than its size ring true for me. I have long known that a Tormek grinding wheel cuts most agressively right after being trued with the truing tool. The abrasive particles are not larger. They do not grow. The diamond truing tool just removes worn grains and exposes fresh (sharp) grains. Supposedly the stone grader strips away some of the binding, making the stone more agressive. It does that, however, not as much as the truing tool by exposing new sharp particles.
I do not mean to imply that my thoughts pertain only to the Tormek. They do not. Since 2009, my sharpening has been mostly with the Tormek. That has become my frequent point of reference.
IMHO, one of the difficulties with pressure with grinding is that the subject is dynamic, not static. Traditional Tormek technique encouraged heavy grinding pressure. That works well with the SG-250, the traditional SuperGrind 250mm grinding wheel. That wheel is designed primarily for carbon steel. It cross functions with high speed steel, however, it is really designed for carbon steel. Tormek's "blackstone", the SB-250, is a harder stone, designed for harder steel. If you use it as the same higher pressure, it will quickly glaze and stop cutting. It works best with light pressure.
Pressure is one of those grinding issues which makes me realize that the more I learn, the wider my unlearned gap becomes. I am not complaining; that is one of the many things which makes sharpening so fascinating.
Good post, Mark.
Ken
Yes, unclear communication happens occasionally. Sometimes we realize what the person meant to say. Sometimes we don't. One of the many things I like about this kind of group is not being embarrassed when I do not understand something. Going back to explain something clarifies the subject for both the listener and the speaker.
Your comments about the sharpness of the abrasive particle being more important than its size ring true for me. I have long known that a Tormek grinding wheel cuts most agressively right after being trued with the truing tool. The abrasive particles are not larger. They do not grow. The diamond truing tool just removes worn grains and exposes fresh (sharp) grains. Supposedly the stone grader strips away some of the binding, making the stone more agressive. It does that, however, not as much as the truing tool by exposing new sharp particles.
I do not mean to imply that my thoughts pertain only to the Tormek. They do not. Since 2009, my sharpening has been mostly with the Tormek. That has become my frequent point of reference.
IMHO, one of the difficulties with pressure with grinding is that the subject is dynamic, not static. Traditional Tormek technique encouraged heavy grinding pressure. That works well with the SG-250, the traditional SuperGrind 250mm grinding wheel. That wheel is designed primarily for carbon steel. It cross functions with high speed steel, however, it is really designed for carbon steel. Tormek's "blackstone", the SB-250, is a harder stone, designed for harder steel. If you use it as the same higher pressure, it will quickly glaze and stop cutting. It works best with light pressure.
Pressure is one of those grinding issues which makes me realize that the more I learn, the wider my unlearned gap becomes. I am not complaining; that is one of the many things which makes sharpening so fascinating.
Good post, Mark.
Ken