Micro Bevel vs Straight Bevel
I am having an issue with the initial sharpening of Lee Valley plane blades on a Tormek sharpening system. Tormek advocates a straight bevel. They state that the only reason for a micro bevel is to reduce the time needed to sharpen hard to sharpen devices like plane blades. The LV plane blades all seem to come with a micro bevel.
I am having a problem reestablishing a straight bevel on the LV plane blades. Even after carefully measuring the grinding angle, making sure the blade is 90 degrees to its support devise etc., I get a new top bevel line that is not perpendicular to the two sides of the plane blade. Regrinding a whole new plane edge at the normal angle is proving to be a very time consuming undertaking even on a Tormek.
It is possible that imperfect pressure across the surface that is in contact with the stone would cause this. However, I do not seem to have this problem with the older plane blades that I have hand sharpened without micro bevels. I also do not seem to be able to reverse this bevel problem by altering the pressure. The only thing I can come up with is the small micro bevels are off a small amount that gets magnified when that small edge is ground off in the very early stages of sharpening.
I have talked to both companies. Lee Valley sent me a new plane blade, the first ones leading edge was not perpendicular to the sides. Tormek has tried to help with general information about using their equipment which has not helped much with this specific problem.
I wonder if others have experienced this problem? I am also wondering how those here feel about micro bevels vs straight bevels?
So whats the fastest way to grind a new blade?
I believe I am hearing here that some feel the Tormek is not the fastest system and from others that they have the Tormek but use other methods too. I would like to hear about the other methods that might be complimentary to what I have been doing (trying to grind a single flush bevel).
What method would you guys use to surface a new blade or resurface an old one? It is taking me a very long time to grind my blades to the point that the entire surface of the blade is new and polished. Maybe others do not do that? I think I have to on the two LV's because there are two different bevel lines at this point.