The attachment threads on counterclockwise not because it’s Japanese but because the machine rotates clockwise so that the knob never comes loose under operation and even is self tightening Badass vid btw

thanks for saying "vanadium steel" rather than just saying "hard steel" and confusing folks who don't know the difference. the accuracy is appreciated. you always do the best you can and constantly try to learn more and it's appreciated.

I have 5 of this style machine. Three set up with auto water feed, 180, 1000, and 6000 with buffing wheel on the end. Unless you have sharpened the knives previously, always start with the low grit because you need to set the bevel from the start as your grind angle will not be what the knives arrives with. You will not damage the knife or remove too much metal from setting the bevel on the 180 stone.

The idea behind machines like this are good. Something faster than wet stones but less heat than a belt grinder. Honestly, if a company like Tormek would make a high quality machine like this with adjustable speed forward/reverse and a bigger platform it would be a real winner. Thinning knives professionally needs good quality machines like this.

Good to see your video this early morning!

Thank you for this Video. It is a cool machine and u showed the pros and cons really clearly. 🍀🔪👊

Looks like there’s a bit of a learning curve to using that. A person could carve a small cork stopper to fit into the drip spout to shut off the water supply when not needed. There’s a Swedish upright water grinder called “Tormek” that could be an option as no additional power supply is needed. It’s expensive, but the price may be comparable 🤷‍♂️. They do drive on the left side of the road in Japan, but the left hand thread is a result of the direction the wheel is turning to keep from loosening.

Hi Greg, thank you for test. An interesting option for those who are looking for sharpness, like toys for men or for those who want to sharpen knives professionally. As a former cook and now a home cook for 2 people (me and wife) I stay with the stones. I think that stones and manual sharpening have a better feeling and control over the sharpening process.

Looks like a nice Tormek alternative. I'd probably try prepping edges on a 1x30 and finishing them on this if I had one. Thanks for the vid!

Very interesting. I love seeing the learning process and real time troubleshooting. I always try to do the same and let it all hang out, so to speak. I'm wondering if this would be easier to do with a longer knife if you either moved the water dispenser to a different corner or switched hands like you do in normal sharpening. Also, l would love to see a video where you put that 100 grit stone on there and fix the kireha on a badly worn old single bevel. Or even a newer one that has a lumpy grind and is difficult to polish as a result. I would certainly use this type machine for that kind of operation much more than l ever would for edge sharpening. But awesome video, and good job outlining the various real world challenges here and giving your detailed impressions. Keep up the good work!

I loved this video!!!! I really want 1 just for family's knives knock off alot at once!

I always have the stone cutting toward the sharp edge not away, I also noticed no fixtuing to hold the multiple angles needed (thinning or hollow grind) so thinning, then secondary and primary angles, all count. I understand this is experimental. Keep going an experienced honer can feel the right angles you'll pick it up no doubt. Looks like a nice machine

I think you finally saved me some money. I don’t think I’ll be investing in one of those .

The Makita 9820 stone has a disc on the bottom that registers into one of two holes in the arbor, so no slipping. For a lot of sharpening, I use a 10 liter square plastic jug with a spigot and a length of tubing into the reservoir -- some make an adjustable spout as well to negate the reservoir altogether and direct the dribble where most needed. Another length of tubing, about ⅜ OD, jams into the side and drains into a bucket. The the bucket is also handy for pre-soaking stones. The Makita for the US market is single phase 115 V 60 Hz; just plug it in. No reverse, but I've yet to need that feature. These machines are now right pricy. I got a deal years ago. Don't know if I'd make the investment on a new one these days unless I had to use it commercially. But very useful and safe for any steel.

Japanese Knife Imports has a big one of these that I believe he uses for material removal. From what I saw, it has a big, low grit wheel but it rotates slowly compared to this machine. I've been looking to get something like this after doing a chip repair/thinning for a customer by hand. It took far too long, and it just wasn't economical for myself or the customer. Seeing this video and recalling what I saw at the knife shop is making me want to search for a variable speed, or a low speed, low grit wheel, but definitely horizontal.

Interesting machine...single direction is definitely a deal breaker though...then there's the weird voltage thing...like I don't have enough stuff on my workbench...lol

Very Nice Episode, more from the waterwheel

finally fabulous fabulous review

Sigh. It's beautiful and I've spent more on sharpening equipment I used less often than I'm likely to use it. Unfortunately, the niche my business slots into requires that I mostly use manual tools - whetstones and rods. Still, I might consider this for the future. It looks great.

I've been hoping someone would demo one of these! Getting chips out on a whetstone is a pain. If I got one of these I'd set it up in the garage, and leave it there. (To practice, I took in friends' knives, and all of them were more at "repair" than "sharpen". It took five or six times as long to get a clean bevel as it did to sharpen it. This machine would make that repair a whole lot easier. I think Japanese knife makers use them on "raw" blades, to set bevels for the first time right after the heavy grinding that comes after the forging.)

It looks like the Milwaukee plane blade sharpener. I’ve debated on getting one for flattening the primary bevel and setting secondary bevels. Nice thing would be it’s a 110 us plug. They have several grits on their website.

I have an idea. I believe that the addition of a forward/reverse switch would enable you to change the direction of the motor. A good hobbyist could very easily add the switch for you. The type of motor determines how the wiring is set up, the easy part is adding the switch, but for most motors, it would work. thanks again.

Yay new video 🎉

Nice personal knife. I would use that for slicing sushi, sashimi or any kind of fish. I'll keep my sharpening manual since I don't sharpen a lot of knives. You could run a knife sharpening business with that machine. I'm just chillin' here eating a cookie, tryin' to avoid marriage. Lol not fallin' for that trick advice of yours that I should get a wife. lol nice video! Thanks!

I would never spend that much money to get a sharp blade. A little bit of practice, and some half decent either manufactured or natural stones will get you there. I finalize with red rouge on a suede strop, and 0.5 micron compound on a smooth strop. Puts nearly a mirror finish on that final micro bevel. Cuts like A scalpel. My whole setup cost me about $200 total with grits from 240 to 10,000 on my whetstones which are a homogeneous particle size, fire bonded ceramic. I only know the composition because I contacted the company because I was amazed with the stones and was in disbelief at their performance for the price I paid which was $80 for the set. I've been using them for quite some time now they're by a brand called Shāpu and can be found on Amazon. The red compound I cannot direct you to because I got it from an old Kennedy tools antique box that I bought from auction that was loaded with tools for woodworking and had an old timers red rouge bar in there that was quite large and I've been using for many years. There were chisels in there nearly a hundred years old made from the old good steel and this red compound cuts those with ease and I can even see material removal on my harder blades up to 63 Rockwell. Not so sure about modern red rouges as they're made different and are usually meant for softer metals. When I run out of this red rouge I will probably not find an equivalent outside of making my own. The green compound I use is from a company called Taytools and is 0.5 micron. And I have a translucent hard Arkansas Stone that I used before stropping. I've been able to sharpen anything from carbon steel to stainless steel alloys with a Rockwell of 63 with no noticeable degradation of my stones. With enough practice I got good enough to put an edge on my blades by hand that is sharp enough for the weight of the blade alone to cut through the paper by simply pinching the heel and letting it rotate through from the hilt to the tip. All that money you spend on that machine and look it actually came out duller 🤷. There is a reason why the Japanese swords and knives are known to be the sharpest blades in the world. Cuz they do it old school, by hand the way it's intended. Machines are gimmicks in my opinion. Now imagine if I got some quality Shapton Glass stones🤷🤷

Re: wet leather - if it’s a Veg tan, you will end up burnishing the leather if it’s moist with the friction from stropping. This is really the only reason to keep it dry. Could use chrome tanned but it’s usually too soft as a material and doesn’t tend to work nearly as well as Veg tan

I think the left hand threads are so that while the machines running the stone is tightening and not loosening itself

Seems like a funny machine to use, if the actual container holding the water was sucking water from the side instead from above, dripping into a smaller tube, it would have made the whole experience better. It probably would have increased the cost a little bit as well, but I don't see how I could sharpen a 330mm Yanagiba there. Great video as usual.

Yes they drive on the other side!

Walk around to other side of table and it will be edge leading too

I think I read that machine is used only for thinning and sharpening single bevel knives.

First thing I would probably do with this grinder is swap out the water feeder for a container with a tubing like the Naniwa's have, that would be less obstructive, and you'd have a more unobstructive access to the wheel.

I've seen another video where the stone rotation is much slower. There's no speed control?

Why not use the angle guide it comes with?

Это фиаско, братан! Это фиаско!

Any more videos on this?

I have a question what stone would I need to sharpen clipper blades for cutting hair please someone help 🙏🏽

Could you test out the Tormek T4 or the T8 ? :D I know they're expensive :)

what is the advantage over belt sander sharpening ?

If it's 100v 50/60hz can you just lop off the euro plug and install an American one?

I always thought about a machine like this for thinning. But I think I will stay with my Atoma. The Naniwa machine sounds nice, because of the two directions and the quality stones that will come with it. But it has the same pricetag like a water cooled belt sander. When I start putting together my workshop I will have the space. But until then ATOMA!

I use vertical whetstones like Tormek freehand but these are so much faster spinning. Double the speed! This size you have seems the sweet spot between ones that are like toys or high end professional. I'm thinking these will be great for thinning knives, very thin, with out the heat belts create. The questions I have are- 1) how do you flatten the stone if it becomes high in the middle? 2) where did you get yours? Thanks for the video.

If you would of used the 100 grit from the beginning you would of gone through the same amount of steel but with way less time wasted. Unless you can use the exact same angle like a machine your minutely re-profiling every sharpening. So you should always start with a coarse and then go through your chosen progression. But thats just my opinion.

Many thanks for the video, couldn't one just cut a notch in a Makita stone to accommodate the Hikoki's design ? (4:35)

I bought one a few months ago but only just got around to using it. It is definitely a learning curve. Could you make a video on using it to thin knives? I always feel so sketchy putting a knife down while it's already running, but I'm not sure what else to do.

Debió haber probado el filo después de usar la piedra de 1000 y no esperar al final. Un cuchillo debe cortar con la primera piedra que uses para afilar.

Thanks Greg. Love your content and I agree with you, it is invaluable to watch you learn as you go - it’s better for us. To be honest, I think I’ll stick with my sharpening by hand method. It works every time. Can I ask a question though, I have a strop with a smooth side and a ‘furry’ soft side. Never used the furry side. What would that be for? It must have a purpose. Thanks for any advice you can give. Best regards from Northern Ireland. P.S. nothing beats a loving wife. Would love to see her in front of the camera some time, just to say Hi!

They do drive on the other side (left) in Japan. Also only country(s) in Europe that drives on the left is the UK, tho technically the British isles aren’t “Europe”

Keep up the good work Greg! And avoid all the horse sh*t 😆

Switch sides of the stone or switch hands on the same side and you can get edge trailing strokes on both sides right?

Seems like a big hassle too I like to sharpen 1 to get my knife sharp and 2 it’s therapeutic

Can this be used for thinning? Are there any coarse stones available?

What are the intended dimensions of the wedge shaped edge itself? How far from the point of the knife to end of the wedge as measured from the point to the thick edge of the blade? This is important.

Makes me want to stick with simple hand sharpening on whetstones.

It’ll never find its way to my counter, workbench. I like guy toys as much as anyone…but, no…I’ll stay with my current whetstone collection.

Unfortunately, there are no controlling measures on this machine. There are other machine's that are similar to this but have much more variable controlls,,as well as professional quality grind wheels that are specifically made for each size. as a matter of fact, i am surprised that you are or not aware that many knife manufacturers in Japan, use these types of horizontal, rotational, machines, either for partial , or the majority of grinding their knives. Sizes of these types of tools are quite varied. Whetstones are rarely used for the majority of the cutting or grinding operations of cutting tools. Knife manufacturers in Japan, use whetstones, for finishing and final processing In the sharpening of kitchen cutlery. This tool is as equivalent to a rudimentary piece of Neanderthal equipment! Definitely not meant for quality work! If price is an issue , than stick to whetstones.

What's with your tongue when you are dulling the knife? 😂

This is enough of a video to show that this is not the right tool for this job. Way too fast/dangerous...