Prototype VBlock Calibration Gauge

I wanted to write today about a new VBlock Calibration Gauge that I recently recieved from SIP Grinders. I think one of the main things I want to do today is thank Mark Pilger.

I called Mark after I made my video on Bedknife Grinding to talk about the calibration method and try to figure out a faster way to get that accomplished because I see it as critical to the process to maximize bedknife life and make sure that the top and front face of the bedknife are exactly straight. Mark thought enough of it to try and figure out a way to accomplish it. A few weeks later I received the new tool as seen in the photos below. What the tool does is lets us know that our vblock is perfectly straight both horizontal and vertical. The issue was that when tightening down the pallet once it is set it could be slightly off and it was hard to tell if the reason it was off was because of the bedknife or the pallet was a little offset. So this process now allows you to tune everything to perfect 0.

I want to thank Mark because many times we try to help the Manufacturers improve their product. Some of them listen, some decide the issues we see are not a big deal, and others feed you the “well we will take a look at it”. Mark went out of his way to develop an additional tool to help us improve the process and speed the time it takes to set-up which is already minimal. Very few people care that much to make things happen. Some of the bigger guys could learn a thing or two from some of the smaller guys. I think this goes above and beyond simple customer service and adds CARE to it.

I will publish a video soon on how it works.