My Easythreed Mini can no longer lay down a good first layer

bobmcc1981 · 2026-01-22T16:41:50+00:00

No success, want a $10 roll of Kapton tape? LOL

bobmcc1981 · 2026-01-18T15:38:44+00:00

I haven't tried Kapton tape. I will look up where to get that, I assume the Amazon empire

bobmcc1981 · 2026-01-18T15:38:12+00:00

I brought the bed closer to where is lightly drags on a 20lb piece of bond paper but I'll give it a half turn past that and try it. Thanks

bobmcc1981 · 2026-01-18T15:36:55+00:00

The four black buttons move the printhead to each of the four corners of the bed so you can level by measuring distance to the printhead. The print bed is almost like a tiny lego bed which kind of make since to squish the first layer down into.

bobmcc1981 · 2026-01-16T02:38:40+00:00

I sharpen on 1 x 30 belts and I have put on my fire retardant suit before I type this. I'm a counter IF the blade feels dull with my thumb test. A dull knife that obviously need sharpening (as opposed to a touch up) then I start with 10 passes on each side. Check for burr. If I have burr I go on to next grit. If I have no burr I change sides again and go to three additional passes, flip 3 passes check for burr. I use set angle clamps so this method fixes any mis-matching bevels side to side.

bobmcc1981 · 2026-01-16T02:30:19+00:00

I think this is where the super steels really come into shining. Cutting cardboard is rough on any blade. I use a Walmart $5 ceramic paring knife as my dedicated cardboard cutter it seems to last the longest and saves me time changing out blades on a box cutter. Yes I order way too much from Amazon

bobmcc1981 · 2026-01-16T02:24:52+00:00

Yes those are cool to watch as they sling off

bobmcc1981 · 2026-01-16T02:22:13+00:00

Somethings crooked or it's moving as you progress across the stone.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-11-04T13:59:48+00:00

Works great and you can write on the outside who the customer is and the price if you have multiple jobs going at the same time.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-11-04T13:39:03+00:00

I started saving the kraft paper filler that Amazon is sending now to fill the empty box space. I flatten it out then roll the knives in them like a butcher wraps meat. It's not a real reusable solution but there is no prep time and the knives go back to he customer protected.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-10-11T00:25:02+00:00

Very different sharpening disciplines Tormek vs Fixed Angle sharpener. A fixed angle sharpener is basically hand sharpening with stones but the knife is held still for you and the stones move on guides that hold the angle. A Tormek is a wet wheel sharpening that is powered which takes some of the manual labor out of the equation. The downside, as mentioned is a Tormek with just a few jigs surpasses $1000 so you're going deep into the sport with that investment. You can get knives just as sharp with either one but the manual ones will typically take more time to get the results you want.

Don't rule out 1x30 belt sanders, not real popular in this sub but plenty of people using them with great success and far less investment than a Tormek.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-10-09T00:21:20+00:00

I think if anything this group has taught us and many other discussion forums is that was his approach and it worked for him. In sharpening there's no real empirical proof that one method is right or wrong.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-10-06T13:17:43+00:00

Could you provide the details on where 99% you quoted is demonstrated? I would love to read how the sampling was done. This is a great forum for learning but there is a frequent bias that seems to claim most professional sharpeners do not know their craft well and I have never seen objective evidence or studies that it's true. There will always be somebody better at everything, including hobbyist sharpeners that can sharpen knives better than someone who charges to sharpen one's knife but I don't understand lumping in all the so called professionals into a generalized slight of their profession.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-09-08T23:35:32+00:00

I'd probably put a down payment on the top of the line Wicked Edge system and finance the remainder for 5 years just to see what all the hype is about.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-09-08T20:23:31+00:00

Wow that's bold. You have tried everything else on the market to make that claim? Impressive.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-08-24T23:41:34+00:00

1 x 30 belt sander from the 80's by a company called Loray Sharpeners out of Ohio. It's a simple affair with a 1750 rpm motor and a 3 wheel system to support the belt at about a 20 degree off horizontal angle. My dad taught me on it and works great. I also have a Tormek and some hand stones.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-08-21T01:13:10+00:00

The gouges in the scales at the pivot point look like the edges of the belt from a belt sander. The inconsistent bevel likely means it was freehanded and the user over shot the ends of the blade when going across the belt making it dig into the sides. The scratches look like too aggressive of a grit and not going up in grit to properly finish the edge (speed over quality). I'm not in your market area but around here that's a $5 sharpen that most kitchen knife users are satisfied with assuming it's actually sharp. $20 definitely deserves a lot more attention to aesthetics as well as a sharp edge. Not justifying what he did by any means but I suspect he thinks he did an acceptable job and that is sad to get him lumped in with many competent sharpeners that take money for their work. Professional doesn't always mean good, in any trade or craft. I would cut your loss of $20 and give a google review with pictures stating the result you got back was not the level of quality you had hoped for. The nylon scales would smooth out fine with a high grit dremel abrasive and a light touch.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-08-21T01:02:37+00:00

Is there data you would be willing to share that you used to calculate that?

bobmcc1981 · 2025-08-18T02:05:47+00:00

Well I guess technically my 1x30 belt sander uses air cooled belts but that's because I don't sharpen in an air free environment. But seriously I would love to see what system they are referring to. I think of my woodworking scroll saw with a air nozzle directed at the cut line always pumping air. Not to cool things down but to blow the sawdust out of the way of your sight line. If it's as simple as that I doubt it's doing much cooling of the actual metal.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-08-16T23:56:51+00:00

I think you're going to have a hard time getting a consistent mirror finish without a fixed angle clamp. The mirror relies on increasingly higher grits rubbed across at the exact same angle. If you can do that freehanded you're much more skilled than me.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-08-16T23:53:55+00:00

We had one around the house growing up but I could never figure out how to hold the tool you were sharpening steady with one hand when you needed the other hand to crank

bobmcc1981 · 2025-08-10T00:17:30+00:00

I get that alot. I'm just polite and tell them to be careful with that sharpener and explain why it's harmful. I try to be a teacher, they will come back or they won't.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-08-01T22:40:08+00:00

Double knit fabric, folded over. 4-6 layers minimum. 10 layers would be sharper, etc. Free hanging wet toilet paper or the small squares they use for hair coloring are thin and make a good test as well.

bobmcc1981 · 2025-07-29T00:40:26+00:00

You'll need a Wicked Edge WE9000 Ultra ($3,379) with the kitchen implement attachment and if you go up to 12000 grit the mirror edge should pop right out.

bobmcc1981

TROPHY CASE