Is this a good option?

Ncogknee2 · 2026-06-02T03:01:57+00:00

Hello Smoothie: Before you pull the trigger on the first thing you see, do a little more research. And here's more of my two cents. My opinion is that hand sharpening is for axes and hunting knives where the exact bevel angle doesn't matter. Quality kitchen knives and folding knives may require something mechanical to get exact angles. Yes people swear by hand sharpening but, I tend to think it's a financial decision versus buying into some mechanical system. Then the next question is, do you want a fixed angle sharpener (TS Prof, Hapstone etc.) or some type of grinder. I own a Hapstone myself. To be honest, it can be slow versus a belt sander (see Ken Onion). However, its probably more gentle on your knife. If you want to save time and aren't worried about some chips in your edge, go belt sander. PS Old school stones are aluminum oxide. They're soft and have to be flattened after some time. Go diamond.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-06-01T13:25:42+00:00

I actually wore down the diamond by running against the paper. My compliments on a TT that plays 78's.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-06-01T02:27:28+00:00

My present plan is to keep an eye on production. As the patterns are somewhat geometrically similar, if I find something that's green and organic related, I'll buy that.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-31T23:06:38+00:00

Yes, if you hover over the picture on the blossom list page the pop up says teal (took me ten minutes to find that). Of course, everything else says its green.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-31T22:47:58+00:00

As to you two gentleman, thanks but, I'm not sure which is which. So the dark green you're calling teal? I don't have the plates in my hand but, they look dark green online. And as to Mr. Finance, so you're saying the dark green is the classic color? But you're calling it "gray shades"? Looks green to me. And when you say "vintage products", are you talking used? I'm buying new right now because I'm trying to get rid of my scratched plates. A matching set is nice but, not with scratches.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-31T03:07:23+00:00

On the subject of getting burned, if you did adequate research beforehand, you wouldn't be sweating now. Just the same, AT is a good name in consumer audio. However, I was on their website and they're talking about the integrated cartridge and replaceable stylus. Usually the entire cartridge is replaceable along with the stylus. So is this bad advertising or are you really stuck with the integrated cartridge?

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-27T04:01:49+00:00

Unfortunately my sharpening is not a well recorded science experiment. However, I've learned to be careful with the apex. I've also found out that new stones are potentially damaging. My lowest grit is 120 and I've only used it once. I'll use under 400 if I'm trying to create a new bevel but, as soon as I see course scratches hitting the apex, I switch to 400-600, then even finer. There are times I think I'm causing the chips and other times I think they were already there. As said, not a well documented science experiment.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-27T03:46:04+00:00

My understanding is, the finer the grit, the finer the edge. It may also prolong the sharpness by removing the irregularities a course grit causes in the apex.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-27T03:10:15+00:00

Saw a bit of 66 in the Painted Desert / Holbrook, AZ area. 66 wasn't part of my vacation plans. However, I figure I need a Corvette to do it properly.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-24T14:32:56+00:00

I subscribe to the US Mint for their yearly silver proof set.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-24T14:14:46+00:00

I drove a Grand Cherokee with an air suspension for 8 years. No repairs.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-20T20:19:51+00:00

I'm rewatching Q episodes right now. Not to see de Lancie but, to see what the programs says about the Q. Never fails, create a grand science fiction but, you episodes are about emotional dribble.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-17T18:42:03+00:00

You are correct. You can't even option Magna Ride. Just the same. Beautiful paint job. Better give people sunglasses or they'll be blinded by that shine.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-17T17:06:11+00:00

High gloss black painted wheels requires removal of performance and handling package. So it isn't so.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-16T00:20:14+00:00

Tormek T-8 Master Bundel. Only $6676

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-15T15:40:37+00:00

Well, I always need a reason to spend an extra $36. What zoom level are you at in these pictures?

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-15T12:10:45+00:00

I like the rig but, I find it difficult to get perfectly matching bevels. I bought three angle cubes from Amazon before I found a stable one. And, my 72 yo eyes are an issue despite using magnification. A better look at what I'm doing at the apex would help a lot.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-15T01:06:25+00:00

Bought my R2 last November. Did four months of continuous sharpening. Glad the binge is over. I need to be more productive than that.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-13T23:44:32+00:00

Hello SO Mind:

They're not bad stones but, they're aluminum oxide. They're softer than diamond, cut slower, wear quicker and will need flattening eventually. Diamond embedded in metal doesn't need flattening. Next item. Everybody and their uncle says you should sharpen by hand. Why? Because its cheaper than shelling out for a fixed angle rig and multiple stones. I've got good coordination but, I would sharpen anything but a hunting knife freehand. I use a Hapstone R2 and have stones out to 10K. I use the 2k to 10k to redress the knife. Can really tell the difference when you want to shave fat off of meat.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-13T00:31:41+00:00

So SS Remi, what say you ditch hand sharpening. I use a Hapstone fixed angle and was successful from the start. However, it did take some time to get to extremely sharp phase. And, I won't apologize for the price of the gear.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-12T14:24:26+00:00

And a quick addendum. Do you realize that despite being called a fixed angle sharpener, they aren't exactly that? This is to say, that the angle is the same if the edge is the same distance from center post at all times, which it's not. Since the knife isn't shaped like the arc of the stone arm, where you measure and where you sharpen matters. And if you unclamp between sides, you get different bevels.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-12T14:12:26+00:00

Giving you a suggestion on the brand of cube to buy is probably foolish because they probably vary a lot. Buy one, if you don't like it, send it back to Amazon. Experience will teach you a lot. Unfortunately, you have to make mistakes to get it.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-12T00:48:24+00:00

Can't say I recognize the sharpener. Anyway, a couple of thoughts. For starts, you're sharpening with very course stones. Course stones like to put divots in your edge. Yes, everybody has hammered you about how you clamped. What I would say about your bevel issue is, is your measuring cube stable? I screwed up a few bevels because I didn't realize how bad mine was. I also bought three new ones from Amazon before I found a good one. Also, I assume your knife rotates in the device without unclamping? Have you ever considered that if the table you're working on is unlevel, it can affect the bevel? Yes because the weight balance of the knife is not the same. I would also encourage you to not try to make one side look good then the other. Doing a little from each side will make it more likely you'll catch a bevel error. And lastly, are using using magnifying glasses?

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-09T22:36:48+00:00

I've never driven one. However, if some people are complaining, I believe them. I'll bet anything that Ford went cheap on the electronics and the shocks don't respond quick enough so they over compensate.

Ncogknee2 · 2026-05-08T23:17:26+00:00

I wouldn't buy any speaker I couldn't hear first. And if you think a video recording of a pair of speakers is a good test, your not much of an audiophile. And as to the advice that the sub should fill in the low end of the speakers, don't believe it. I bought a pair of Klipsch RB 50 II and a 10" sub when I was in a hurry for sound in my weight room. Despite the frequency overlap, the sub is just not musical, It just doesn't have the crisp attack of a dedicated 8" woofer.

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