This isn’t directed at thefitter, but I’ve noticed that a lot of new users seem to not know that virtually all factory edges are done by hand on belt sanders. While they may have a fixture that puts them on the right angle to start with, as they sweep into the belly of the blade, they are doing it strictly by eyeball. And every one of those guys has a different sweeping motion they’ve developed.
This is the point that Geocyclist is referring to. The factory angle is approximate and seldom, if ever, held with any accuracy. Although the factory might say their recommended angle is 20 dps, don’t be surprised to find that one side is 18 degrees while the other is 22. You can adjust to match those bevel angles, but you’ll find that the belly and point angles are probably different anyway. Or you can set your rig to 20 dps and watch as your Wicked Edge system creates the correct (factory recommended) bevels.
Oh, and I often use my Sharpie several times as I’m reworking that forward bevel. I’m looking to see how close I am to approaching the apex. I want to know exactly when to switch from a coarse profiling grit to the next dressing grit: usually going from 200 to 400 grit. I try to keep the coarse grits away from the apex, which might easily be chipped. For me, the 400 grit stones get at least twice as much use as any other stone. Create a 200-grit chip and you double or triple the work you’ll need to do with the 400’s.
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