question on power sharpening (koch)

[jstive]

I am having a terrible time on power carvers. In the past I have bought several power sharpeners that I am not at all completely satisfied with. First sharpener was the ultimite power sharpener (which Iam still using ahead of the other ones that I have purchased) this has about everyting I like in a sharpener: sharpens knives, gouges, and about anything else I need sharpened. Does it quick also. The big problem is that it's so fast that it will blue the steel real quick if you don't watch out. I have done it a few times so this sharpener is on my list. Next I bought the work sharp 3000 great little sharpener but doesn't sharpen carving knives, after that I bought the Jet wet grinder, seems to sharpen my tools real well but it takes way to much time to get the job done and with the stropping wheel on the otherside doesn't do a good job at all at stropping the tools. I think that it is the stropping compound that is doing this, it has the consistency of toothpaste and the directions (which are also lousy) tells you to put some mineral oil on the wheel and then put the compound on it. Well after you do this you have a consistency of grease on a leather wheel that doesn't strop the tool at all. Now I could be missings something here I don't know but I can't get it to strop my tools. Now after buying all these sharpeners and spending around 1200-1400 total (I must be nuts) I overall don't like any of them. So now I find a sharpener called a Koch system. Woodcraft sells them and they are basicly 4special wheels and a motor. This sells for 689.00 dollars. They say the secret is when you put pressure on the tool it causes heat that melts this special compound and keeps the tool cool and sharpens it immediatley with no burr. They say if you use this machine and you thought you knew what sharp is then you didn't know anything untill you see how this Koch sharpener sharpens. MY QUESTION (finally) IS HAS ANYONE EVER USED THIS TYPE OF A SYSTEM AND DOES IT SHARPEN CARVING KNIVES? I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS TOOL WARRANTS A 689.00 DOLLAR PRICE TAG. Any help would be appreciated as I already have been stupid enough buying all of these other sharpeners without researching it better. I live from paycheck to paycheck so I really don't have the money that I have wasted here. Please Help! Thanks, Jim Stiver

[CarverFromNoWhere]

Hello Jim, I use a tormek and the rest is done by hand, the Jet is a knock off of the Tormek and I don't know much about it. As for the Koch never used one I have been fully satisfied with my Tormek and hand skills. The worksharp has some flaws includeing the horizontal wheel, it will be different speeds close to the center and near the edges.
Carl

[RUssL.]

"...I live from paycheck to paycheck so I really don't have the money that I have wasted here...."

No wonder, man!
Ye gods, you have all your money tied up in power sharpeners!! ;-)

In jest,

Russ

[Ron T]

Hi Jim. I am on disability so I am very careful where and when I buy tools. If I were you I would send my tools to Rick at Littleshavers. For the amount you have spent or will spend, you could have Rick sharpening your tools for the rest of your life and still have some money leftover to buy some good knives. And, they would probably be sharper than you could get them on the power sharpeners.

Sharpening is only easy when you know how but I guess that goes with everything.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Good point Ron, Rick is the ultimate sharpener. Talking Just a couple weeks ago I sent Rick 3 Deepwoods knives that I thought were sharp, they came back unbelievable. And you can not beat the price.

Dave

[Old_Gord]

Jim; if you like the Ultimate Sharpener but it runs too fast and burns the metal quickly, off the top I would suggest you make your own 1" belt sharpener. It's not that hard to do. The problem as I see it with the Ultimate sharpener is that the bottom pulley or wheel is far to large a dia., therefore it drives the 1" belt at multiples of the motor RPM. A 1" belt sharpener can be run at lower speeds by having a smaller pulley on the motor shaft.
Because of the frame and design of the Ultimate sharpener you can't just change the lower pulley for a smaller one. On second thought if I had one I think I might try some modifications, like installing a smaller pulley on the motor shaft plus adding an idler pulley located so as to realign the belt to the platen, the reduced speed may make it more useful to you.
Having said that, many people like the Ultimate sharpener and have learned to use it with a light touch along with many dips of the tool in water to take away the heat in the tool.
BTW that's an awfully lot of money tied up in sharpeners that don't sharpen your tools in a manner that suits you.

[jstive]

Thanks for all the advise. I think I even admitted to being stupid for not researching these sharpeners more before I bought them. I did manage to sell the WS3000 of course lost money on it though. Like the one guy who responded I live from ck to ck that's because I got all my money tied up in sharpeners. That's really funny but the sad thing it's true. I STILL WANT TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS USED THE KOCH SHARPENER? Woodcraft sells them and I called my local woodcraft in Grand Rapids Mi. and they have no expierence with the koch sharpener at all. I really want to talk to someone who has used it. Thanks, Jim

[Old_Gord]

Sorry if my response was not of any help, as for the Koch, never owned one have seen it in action some time ago though, it's a wheel system, special wheels, was not really impressed maybe it was the price.
IMHO any system that starts getting up into #300.00-$400.00 and more range is not worthwhile for me to consider, maybe a production house carver would find these machines worthwhile, but I guess it all depends on what you can afford, everyone has their fav's as far as tools , machines, are concerned.
Hope you find someone to advise you further, btw I think there was a write up on the Koch Machine in one of the WCI issues, can't recall off hand which one though.

Cheers

OG

[sstalker]

Jim, Not sure if this is the same, but the price tag is not.

Woodcarving Tools - Nora Hall Carving Designs

Steve - Toledo

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Just noticed in a sale flyer that Harbor Freight has the following on sale for $80.00. I have no experience with it so can't comment on it's quality. Seems like a good deal ??

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

Dave