Thank you Paul. Dry informative

@ALXSHARPEN

24 күн бұрын

Very welcome

Thanks for the video. Great information!

@ALXSHARPEN

11 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

Great video!

@ALXSHARPEN

8 ай бұрын

Thanks!

On the CBN wheel, you sharpen away or edge leading?

How do you address the Tomek jig not grinding centered on thicker knives? Do you use shims, have you modified your jig? Or do you account for the difference with the wheel guide? Enjoy your channel, thanks for the content! 1/7/23 Any thoughts?

Nice job! I've only attempted a handful of recurves on the Tormek. A little surprised you're using the angle master to set your USB height. I find the software solutions to be much more precise.

@ALXSHARPEN

11 ай бұрын

I have a few ways of doing it but keep in mind 95% of the time or more I am matching the existing angle. The software sounds great but seem really time consuming and you need measurement stuff I can set a 1x30 to the angle I want and make a few passes then use the sharpie method and go back to the Tormek....I didnt want to do that for this since it was brand new and a gift

@BladeLabMiami

11 ай бұрын

I hear you. Not necessary for matching an existing angle, but you'd be surprised how quick the calculator method is once you get the hang of it. All you really need is a 300mm vernier caliper (non-digital), which cost around $50. I think it's actually quicker than using the angle master, and way more accurate.@@ALXSHARPEN

Enjoyed watching this video and learned some good tips. A recurve is a challenge. Can you help me understand why you chose the Tormek over the Wicked Edge. As I watch both methods it seems to me the WE is more precise and would be less likely to get an uneven bevel with the WE. On the other hand it also seems to me it would be a slower process on the WE. Your videos are very well done and informative. Thanks for sharing your expertise with us.

@ALXSHARPEN

7 ай бұрын

WE is to slow great for collectors who want to sharpen their own stuff

I’m surprised you went with the Tormek for a recurve. I’d be using the belt machine with an angle guide.

@Musicpins

11 ай бұрын

you can do it just make the slightest bit of tilt. I prefer the SG stone with a tiny radiused "corner".

You recommend that extended support bar? For tormek. Should fit on the wen?

@ALXSHARPEN

10 ай бұрын

No that’s one of the problems different angles guid sizes you can’t put it on the WEN it won’t fit in the holes they don’t match up

@robertmunguia250

10 ай бұрын

@@ALXSHARPEN ok thanks for info.

Quick question, if I may. Am ready to purchase a Tormek and am planning to buy the base t-8 and add the accessories I want including CBN wheels from Woodturners Wonders. My question is which wheels should I purchase? I’m leaning toward a 400 & a 1000. Are those good choices to start and if so should I also consider a 600 while I’m at it or is that overkill at this point in my new sharpening service?

@ALXSHARPEN

10 ай бұрын

I would say 200- 1000 no need for 400 or 600 those are good if only getting one wheel. I use 200- 1000 all day long not need for the 400 or 600 if using on knives 400 is the lowest in my opinion that you can sharpen with just one wheel if you like a more toothy edge 600 is great for those only buying one wheels

@formerjw3874

10 ай бұрын

@@ALXSHARPENThanks! I tend to get ahead of myself when buying new sharpening gizmos. I suppose it’s a combination of curiosity, impatience and well…. because I can. Not sure that’s the best combination of factors! On a side note, I purchased a Toolcker and installed the same angle guide that you use. I find it a bit difficult to set the angle at times primarily due to the small knurled nuts on the clamp. I ordered a set of adjustable lever nuts just like the the ones found on the Toolcker only they are of course nuts rather that screws. Seems to work much better when fiddling around setting the angle and no need to use pliers to torque them down. You may have already tried this but if not, and you’re interested , I’d be happy to send you a couple to try. I appreciate your advice above and besides, they are inexpensive. Let me know. Thanks again.

@ALXSHARPEN

10 ай бұрын

@@formerjw3874 sounds great I love making small improvements to all sharpening gear

CBN wheel Can it be used with water?

@ALXSHARPEN

9 ай бұрын

yes

why don't you show us how to sharpen serrated blades?

@ALXSHARPEN

11 ай бұрын

Do you mean in general or on the Tormek I did a video for the Guild of Professional sharpeners on how to do it on the Tormek but it’s not my favorite way to do them. Or do you want to see how I do them on the 1x30

@YiHogyun

11 ай бұрын

@@ALXSHARPEN I just saw your most recent serrated knives vid - that's what I was looking for. Is there a link to a vid you did for Guild using tormek?Thanks again.

@ALXSHARPEN

11 ай бұрын

@@YiHogyun I just have to change that one to public I’ll try and try to it later today its my last day of vacation before returning to my knife sharpening business tomorrow.

I would not buy a Tormek unless I am sharpening knives for a living and getting income from it. I watch your channel because I am interested in sharpening my kitchen knives and other garden tools. I think some videos should be dedicated to professional knife sharpeners and others to basic diy people whom I believe they are the majority.

@ALXSHARPEN

11 ай бұрын

amzn.to/3E1MBRr I would consider the Ken onion its great for home use

@farisal-salihi3780

11 ай бұрын

@@ALXSHARPEN Thanks for the reply. Indeed, I have the worksharp ken onion and the elite tool sharpener attachment. It is much better than the chef's choice sharpener and the TSPROF which didn't come up to my expectation. I enjoy watching your informative videos always.

@ALXSHARPEN

11 ай бұрын

Yes it's great the one thing you could do would be to get better belts like 3m Trizac and Cubitron check out the belts from shop.currycustomcutlery.com/collections/belts

@MrSoarman

11 ай бұрын

I just sharpen my home knives, and very happy with my Tormek, I enjoy using the best I can afford.

@ALXSHARPEN

11 ай бұрын

@@MrSoarman as time has gone on and I can now afford them I have learned the value of getting the best tools ,not that there isn’t a place for a Harbor Freight now and then there totally is, but the important things you know you will use it’s been my experience get the best you can afford 😁🪓🔪

So many guys seem to be getting into sharpening as a business these days. I just can't see how you guys can buy a house, keep it up, and support a wife and family just sharpening knives. In the pool industry, yeah you got to work hard sometimes, and need to have some plumbing and electrical skills, but the average solo pool guy with 70 pool route, who can do repairs and installs of equipment (heaters, filters, pumps, and controls systems), can easily net $160,000+ a year. I really could not live on less than that, supporting my family and paying for my home. I tried doing the math on what I see the average sharpeners charging and can't see a sharpener like yourself making $160,000 after expenses. I had a year pre pandemic I netted just over 200k. Tell me how you can support your family and a house just sharpening knives out of your house? I have to think you are retired from a government job, house is paid for, and your wife still works LOL, and this is really more of a retirement gig.

@ALXSHARPEN

11 ай бұрын

Sharpening does attract a huge portion of people from a wide range of financial goals there are plenty who make what you do most are in the industrial sharpening industry. The higher paying jobs tend to be in sharpening more industrial items like carbide saw blades for carpentry pays very well but as you said many guys who start sharpening businesses are just looking for retirement jobs or second incomes they can do from home. Many have other jobs and do this as a side gig but depending on where you’re located and competition that can easily become a well paying job. I have told my story many time and mentioned it in videos. I’m a retired police officer. I left the job in 2015 so for me this is just additional income now I also happen to be in an area that’s great for sharpening my area is the Northern Virginia Area around DC its full of People and restaurants and I actually have more work than I can handle, at times. I have many opportunities to make more but I Keep my business at a very stable level for what I like I chose not to have employees or expand into many other things buy choice. I easily make around 65k a year sharpening but if I wanted I definitely could make more I chose not to as this for me is a retirement job but I also like to keep it fun and don’t want it to take all my free time. I also own rental properties so I do more than just sharpening. This is one of the things I love about it is that if a person wants to make just a little or a lot the opportunities are their. Now given your circumstances maybe it’s not for you as a full time career but one day when you retire from the pool industry you may like a job like this to help pay for vacations or things for you kids or just to be home more or even get fun stuff for yourself. I just added a laser to my business and I am now offering knife and tool engraving so it’s and industry that even though it may not be a fit for you it does meet the goals of many. That’s also what’s great about the Guild of Professional Sharpeners that I belong to I have also helped teach some topics for them. We try to help our members see all the amazing possibilities there are in the sharpening industry. We have many mobile sharpeners some who do shears and some who go to locations and many make excellent money. So how you go after your portion of the sharpening business can vary very much from business to business and location to location but lack of customers isn’t a problem you’re customer base is just about ever household in America we all have things in our homes that need sharpening.

@RK-kn1ud

7 ай бұрын

​@@ALXSHARPENIf you don't mind, approximately how many hours a week do you put into this business?

@ALXSHARPEN

7 ай бұрын

48 or more@@RK-kn1ud

@RK-kn1ud

7 ай бұрын

​@@ALXSHARPEN That is far more hours than I was expecting for ~$65k. You must really enjoy doing it, because I imagine that somebody who is former LEO has lots of other opportunities available to them.

@ALXSHARPEN

7 ай бұрын

@@RK-kn1ud yes I do enjoy it I also enjoy teaching and have recently gotten into laser engraving and my sharpening paid for all the laser gear so it’s not just a job for me but a hobby and I also have the benefit of having a pension from my first career. I was done working for other people once I left law enforcement. I like being my own boss.