Sharpening Angle Calculator

Pick your machine, set your angle, and get the exact support bar setting for your knife jig. Works with Tormek, KFMK, VEVOR and BuckTool sharpeners, bench grinders and belt grinders.

Set the support bar

–mm

Measured from the wheel surface to the top of the bar.

Bar above housing–
Angle per side–
Inclusive angle–

Your setup

Machine
Model
Support bar
Tap − or + for 0.1° steps (hold to keep going), drag the slider, or type an angle.
mm
Measure it. Wheels shrink as they wear.
What's this?
mm
Knife edge to the jig's stop collar. Our default is 140 mm.
Machine details and what to measure
Side view of the wheel and support stand. A is the sideways distance from the shaft center to the bar center. B is the height of the stand or housing top above the shaft center. The result is the height of the bar top above that surface. shaft center result housing top A B C
Knife clamped in the jig, riding on the support bar. The jig's stop collar rests against the bar. P runs from the knife edge to the stop collar. C is the bar diameter. D is the jig thickness, with the blade in the middle. edge jig bar stop collar P D C
P knife edge to the jig's stop collar, the distance a projection tool sets. The collar rests against the support bar. C support bar diameter. D jig thickness where it rides on the bar; the blade sits in the middle of it.
mm
Tormek support bars are 12 mm.
mm
Where the jig rides on the bar, top to bottom. Leave at 12 mm for Tormek-style jigs.

Angle chart

Per sideIncl.Surface to bar top mmAbove housing mm

Check my angle

Already set up? Measure from the wheel surface to the top of your bar to see the angle you're grinding.

mm

–

Saved setups

Saved in this browser only.

Gear for a repeatable setup

CutterMasters Tradesman Self-Centering Knife Jig CutterMasters Tradesman Self-Centering Knife JigSelf-centering knife jig for the support bar.$99.00 Precision Knife Jig Length Projector Precision Knife Jig Length ProjectorSets the same projection on every knife, so the chart stays true.$24.98 Serration Support Bar Serration Support BarEntry level support bar base for your bench grinder.$39.99 Macro view of the high-density polymer contact point between the knife jig and the support bar, reducing stick-slip during sharpening. Get Slick - Knife Jig BushingA smooth, low-friction sweep along the bar.$4.98 Cuttermaster Jig Wide-Collar Upgrade | Enhanced Stability Stop Cuttermaster Jig Wide-Collar Upgrade | Enhanced Stability StopA steadier stop on the CutterMasters jig.$24.99

How to use it

  1. Pick your machine: a Tormek, another wet grinder like a KFMK or VEVOR, a bench grinder, or a belt grinder such as the BuckTool BS242V. On a Tormek, choose your model and where the support bar is mounted.
  2. Measure your wheel's diameter and enter it. A worn 250 mm Tormek stone can be well under 240 mm, and that changes the setting.
  3. Set the knife in the jig at your projection, measured from the edge to the stop collar. A projection tool keeps this identical from knife to knife.
  4. Enter the angle per side you want, down to a tenth of a degree.
  5. Set the bar so the distance from the wheel or belt to the top of the bar matches the big number, then lock it. Keep the jig's stop collar against the bar as you grind.
  6. Color the bevel with a marker and make one light pass to confirm you're hitting the whole bevel.

The calculator assumes a round wheel or a flat platen, a jig resting directly on a round support bar, and the blade's centerline running through the middle of the jig. Tormek settings use Tormek's published machine dimensions. Bench grinder mounts vary, so measure A and B for your own setup if you want the bar height above your stand. Treat every result as a starting point and confirm it with the marker test.

Works with these sharpeners

One calculator for the machines knife sharpeners actually use:

  • Tormek T-8, T-7, T-4 and T-3: built-in machine dimensions for the support bar on top or on the side.
  • KFMK, VEVOR and other Tormek-style wet grinders: 8″ and 10″ machines with a round support bar and a knife jig.
  • BuckTool BS242V: use Bench grinder for the 6″ wheel, or Belt grinder for the 2×42 belt with a support bar.
  • Bench grinders and buffers: 6″, 8″ and 10″ wheels, including paper wheels on a support stand.
  • Belt grinders with a flat platen: 1×30, 2×42 and 2×72 machines with a knife jig and support bar.

Brand names belong to their owners and are used here only to describe compatibility.

Sharpening angle FAQ

What angle should I sharpen my knife at?

There's no single right angle, and every sharpener should find their own. For reference, Cory and Tanya at Get Sharp go as low as 12° per side on super steel blades and use 17.2° per side for their commercial cutlery work. Personal preference plays a big part, so experiment, and use the marker test to see exactly where you're grinding.

Does this work with KFMK, VEVOR and other Tormek-style wet grinders?

Yes. Pick Other wet grinder, choose 8″ or 10″, and enter your stone's measured diameter. The wheel-to-bar setting depends only on wheel size, support bar diameter, jig and projection, so it works on any brand with a round support bar.

Can I use it with the BuckTool BS242V, Vevor or KFMK 1x30?

Yes. For the 6″ grinding wheel, pick Bench grinder and enter your wheel's diameter. For the 2×42 belt, pick Belt grinder and measure square from the belt to the top of your support bar.

Why does my wheel diameter matter?

As a stone wears, the same bar setting grinds a shallower angle. On a Tormek T-8, a stone worn from 250 mm to 235 mm turns a 15° setting into about 13.6°. Measure your wheel now and then and update the calculator.

What is projection, and why 140 mm?

Projection is the distance from the knife's edge (the apex) to the jig's stop collar. We default to 140 mm because, in my experience, it accommodates the widest range of knife heights, from apex to spine. Together we may uncover a better projection distance, so let us know what works for you. Whatever you use, keep it the same for every knife so the chart stays accurate. A projection tool makes that quick.

How accurate is the calculator?

The math has been checked against two independent open-source calculators and agrees within 0.1 mm. Real-world results depend on how carefully you measure, so confirm your first pass with the marker test or gionometer if you have one.

Special thanks to Daniel Bottner and Greg Landry for their contributions to this calculator.