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See how CNC machining affects grinder precision and repeatability, why Torus uses aluminum and stainless steel, and how I make the parts in my own shop.
48 articles · written in Sterling, Illinois
48 articles
A cleaver is wide, heavy and easy to rock, and a short rest lets the edge wander. Here is how I sharpen large cleavers on the 2×72 with an extended work rest: full support, angle setup, and safe handling.
Steel is stiffer per inch. Aluminum is lighter, corrosion resistant, and in a solid 1.5-inch bar is plenty rigid for any attachment. Here is how the two compare, and why every Torus arm is solid aluminum.
Vertical for bevels, horizontal for handles and flats. A grinder that tilts between the two without tools changes how you work. Here is what each position is for, and how a pin-and-handle tilt makes the switch a ten-second job.
Belt tension is the setting nobody teaches. Too loose and the belt flutters and rounds your bevel; too tight and it eats wheels and bearings. Here is how I set tension on the 2×72, and why a ratchet holds it.
Steel dust and sparks do not belong in your lungs or on your floor. Here is how I built dust collection for my grinder station: hood placement, sizing the collector, a cyclone separator, fine filtration, spark control.
Brass, copper, aluminum and titanium each misbehave on a belt in their own way: loading, smearing, sparking. Here is how I grind non-ferrous metals on the 2×72 safely, from belt choice and speed to dust handling and protection.
Etching reveals a damascus pattern, but a frosting belt is what makes it pop. Here is how I run frosting and surface conditioning belts on the 2×72 after the etch: which belt, how slow, how light, and what to avoid.
A mirror finish shows every scratch you skipped. Here is the belt progression I use on the 2×72 to get there, 120 grit through 1200, when to switch to hand sanding, how to buff, and the shortcuts that leave haze.
A tool rest is the difference between guessing an angle and repeating it. Here is how I design and build a custom rest for the 2×72, from steel thickness and arm mounting to squaring it to the platen.
Profiling is where a chef knife takes its shape, and a 36-grit ceramic belt does it fastest. Here is how I lay out a blank, hog the profile on the 2×72, keep the tip cool and follow the belly.
A hollow grind makes a kitchen knife thin behind the edge and easy to sharpen. Here is how I hollow grind kitchen blades on a 2×72 contact wheel: wheel size, angle, heat control, a straight grind line, and finish.
The pattern is only as good as the polish under it. Here is how I take a damascus blade up the grits on the 2×72 before etching: pressure, speed, keeping it cool, reaching a clean finish, prepping for the etch.
Built in Sterling
I machine the parts, hand-assemble, track and test each grinder before it ships. Most orders leave in seven to ten business days from time of order.
Fiber-laser-cut 6061 aluminum on the 9x12-inch base. Easier to tilt and move, and corrosion resistant.
Nebula 2x72 - Corvus Edition: an exclusive Gunmetal Grey / silver vein powdercoat finish on our precision-engineered steel 2×72.
Reaches the choils, finger grooves and inside curves a flat platen never will. Wheels from 1/2 to 1.5 inches.
Built to order
I answer my own email. Tell me the work you do and which grinder you are considering.
