Dutchman's Guide


Calculations Are Used to Set the Distance Between the USB and Grinding Surface

Ton Nillesen (also known as "the Dutchman") put together a guide for setting grinding angles on knives when using the knife jigs. This approach opened up a lot of other work, so it is very critical to understand if you are looking to set angles very accurately. Some are using this approach to set the angle to less than 1° of accuracy.

His method is a very simple way for setting the machine up to grind specific angle you desire. His documents also provide the mathematical background from which the necessary formula is derived. With that formula, tables are generated, to setup the jigs based on the grind wheel size, allowing you adjust at the wheel size diminishes with use.

It is published in these in A-4 & A5-format. Whilst they say they are for the T-7, these equally apply to the T-2000, T-3, T-4, and T-8:

A-4 Format
Best for Printing
A-5 Format
Best for Viewing on a Tablet
Grinding angle adjustment Booklet.pdf Grinding angle adjustment A5 serial.pdf
More math for the Tormek grinder Booklet.pdf More math for the Tormek grinder A5 serial.pdf

Ton also published his spreadsheets, which can be opened in Excel or OpenOffice:


About this site
Remember : The goal of sharpening is to produce sharp tools, and these tools can injure you if mishandled. Safety measures should be followed to protect yourself and those in your shop. Be sure to read and follow all instructions from the manufacturer, and and utilize proper safety equipment. Never consume alcohol or anything that could impair your judgement before sharpening tools, or using sharp tools. Comments can be sent via eMail to me at SharpeningHandbook@Gmail.com.