The Best Carving Tool and Skiving Knife Sharpening System Ever! (not clickbait)

This video is about the best carving tool and small blade sharpening system in existence! I was introduced to this system by the late Dutch master carver Nora Hall during a workshop I took years ago. The Koch Sharpening enables you to sharpen carving tools, woodworking chisels and leather skiving knives to a razor edge in seconds. This is not an exaggeration.
In my opinion the Koch Sharpening System has not been sufficiently publicized. A sharpening system this amazing should be as widely recognized and available as Tormek sharpeners, and yet this one remains obscure*. I made this video as a public service for everyone who prefers to work more and sharpen less. Far, far less.
*Well, obscure in the United States at least. I have no knowledge of the system’s availability in the rest of the world.
Other Videos About The Koch System:
• HT 3000 Demo englich 2...
• Complete knife sharpen...
• How to sharpen 32mm be...
• How to sharpen V carvi...
• Carving chisel sharpen...
• Sharpen carving chisel...
www.dailymotion.com/video/x7u...
You can also search KZbin for ‘Koch Sharpening System’
Links:
norahall.com
koch.de
Equipment and tools shown in the video or used in the production of the video.
Hand Tools:
Hirsh Carving Tools
www.highlandwoodworking.com/s...
Flexcut Carving Tools - Highland Woodworking
www.highlandwoodworking.com/s...
Flexcut Carving Tools - Rockler
www.rockler.com/shop?w=flexcut
pfeil Swiss made Carving Tools
www.woodcraft.com/search?q=pf...
Lisa Sorrell 1” Skiving Knife
sorrellnotionsandfindings.com...
Power Tools:
Koch Sharpening System
www.norahall.com/tools_koch.s...
www.woodcraft.com - Search for ‘Koch’, hopefully they’ll have something.
Beall Collet Chuck
www.packardwoodworks.com/lath...
Metric Collets for the Beall Collet Chuck
www.mscdirect.com
Oneway Live Center (Oneway Tail Center)
Highland Woodworking
www.highlandwoodworking.com/o...
Rockler
www.rockler.com/oneway-live-c...
Jet Mini Lathe
Rockler
www.rockler.com/jet-jwl-1015-...
Coleman Cable Co. Polar/Solar Made in USA Extension cord
Polar/Solar extension cords are terrific. They are lightweight, durable and flexible even in cold weather. They are the only cords I have which don’t become impossible to coil in the winter!
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
Safety Equipment:
3M 7500 respirator
www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/...
3M/Peltor H10A ear muffs
www.amazon.com/3M-Earmuff-Con...
Sound and Photography Tools:
Rode smartLav+ lavalier condenser microphone for smartphones
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
RetiCAM smartphone tripod mount with XL conversion kit - This is a terrific, well priced smartphone tripod mount. Amazingly, almost the entire mount is made from METAL! The size range and quality of this mount mean you won’t be replacing it every time you get a new smart phone. Comes with a decent zipper case too.
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
Clothing:
LL Bean Fleece Lined Flannel Shirt - Warm, soft and with four pockets for storing stuff or keeping your hands warm.
www.llbean.com/llb/shop/90568...
LL Bean Men’s Original Field Coat with PrimaLoft liner
www.llbean.com/llb/shop/19191...

[@leonardedgarsr2014]

I have have been sharpening on leather, muslin or felt wheels for 50yrs...Longer that there ever was a "system"...it works...

[@CroakyOak]

Fair enough. I’m not claiming other methods don’t work. However, I will stick to the assertion that the Koch system and now the Nora Hall Sharpening System are *faster* than any other method of sharpening carving tools. They are much easier to learn as well. Either system can take a tool from uselessly dull to razor sharp with a single step that takes only seconds and leaves no burr that needs to be removed. Thank you for watching the video and leaving a comment!

[@Brit01425]

I'm in England and like you I searched high and low for good info in English on the Koch system and all I found was the videos you linked to above. The Koch videos are of such poor quality that it is almost like they don't want you to buy the system. The website could also do with updating. However, I can see past that and will definitely be getting one for my carving tools and other edge tools. Thank you for taking the trouble to make this video.

[@CroakyOak]

@Brit01425, you most sincerely welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@dldenison]

Thanks for this video. Really informative on the subject of a very obscure system.

[@CroakyOak]

Glad it was helpful! I actually made this video because I wanted this system and this type of sharpening to be more widely known and available. As far as I know, the Koch system is no longer available in the U.S. If you’re in the U.S. the Nora Hall Sharpening System is very similar. I have multiple videos on the Nora Hall system but the best one to start with can be found here: Nora Hall Carving Tool Sharpening System - First Look kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZK5ap2LYrl6htU Thanks for commenting.

[@atonenjr]

Tried my Koch green wheel and green compound today for the first time. I have been testing different felt and muslin wheels with different compounds for a while now, not really happy with any of them. I found a muslin wheel with green chromium oxide to be the best until I tested the Koch system today. The Koch method is superior in my opinion. Got my tools to working sharpness with no burr. My issue with a muslin wheel and chromium oxide was it being a bit too fine, not removing enough metal. The Koch system does a better job. The key for me was to apply a lot more pressure than I was used to. Not enough pressure causes deeper scratches and the burr might not come off in some spots. The Koch original grinder comes with a tool rest for good reason. Also, when honing longer blades (like an axe), apply some more paste when turning the tool to hone the other side. The system does not function properly with not enough paste you will just round over the edge . I might try the blue wheel and compound in the future, I will report my findings here in that case. I also recommend David W channel for general philosophy on buffing your edges. Hope this helps and makes sense.

[@CroakyOak]

Thank you for your extensive comment! Reading about how the other wheels and paste have worked for you would be terrific. Posting that knowledge will certainly help everyone who watches this video and reads the comments. Unfortunately, to the best of my knowledge, the Koch System has ceased to be available in the USA. So for now trying any parts of the system I don’t already own will be quite difficult. However the Nora Hall Sharpening System functions similarly, and I recently did a quick look video on that system. I agree, the amount of pressure needed to make this system work takes some getting used to. And thanks for the tip about the other channel.

[@AllenGoodman]

I'm sure it's a great system. If anyone in the USA is looking for a comparable system, I use a reversible drill, along with a "Dico brand "switch -n-lock" drill holder, a powerstrop leather wheel and flexcut gold compound. Great informative video. 👍

[@CroakyOak]

Thanks for the comment. While what you’re describing is an alternative method of sharpening, it is not really comparable. The only comparable system available (that I know of) in the U.S. right now is the Nora Hall Sharpening System. Both the Koch System (used in this video) and the Nora Hall System use thermo-reactive sharpening. Thermo-reactive sharpening uses compound that melts during sharpening. This kind of sharpening is super fast and leaves no burr behind. With thermo-reactive sharpening you can go from a 100 grit belt straight to the sharpening compound without an intermediate steps. I’ve got several videos on the Nora Hall System here on my channel. Thanks for the tip about the Flexcut compound. I didn’t realize Flexcut had an alternative to the green bar sold everywhere. I may yet change my mind about stropping my skiving knife. 🤔 Thanks again for watching and leaving a comment. Cheers!

[@AllenGoodman]

@@CroakyOak yeah, you should try it. I have been sharpening tools for over 35 years. It works for a fraction of the cost or confusion. 👍

[@CroakyOak]

Thanks for the tip, I’ll have to check it out next time I’m at the store.

[@jessjennings9427]

Got the whole system about 10 years ago and you got it right Croaky its the best but would be better with an angle jig .

[@CroakyOak]

I can’t argue about the usefulness of an angle jig here. Sharpening straight tools wider than the wheel can be challenging to do freehand and some sort of jig would make the task easier. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@martylawrence9320]

How much pressure do you use with the Koch wheel and compound?

[@CroakyOak]

Both the Koch System and the Nora Hall Sharpening System require enough pressure to heat up the sharpening compound enough for the compound to liquify and come back over the edge of the tool being sharpened. The actual amount of pressure will vary with both systems depending on the size of the tool being sharpened. Larger tools spread out any applied force and thereby require more total pressure to generate enough heat to liquify the sharpening compound. Check out my videos on the Nora Hall Sharpening System by searching the channel for “Nora Hall”. If you’re in the USA, the Nora Hall System is currently the only sharpening system of this type available. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@reanamestan2728]

Hi Birch! Awesome video, thank you for putting this together. I am Nora Hall's granddaughter and co-own the business. I would like to speak further if you have an e-mail or another way to contact you?

[@CroakyOak]

Reana, I received your messages and I’ve sent you an email. Thanks for reaching out.

[@tworiverflyfisher]

Could you list your website

[@CroakyOak]

www.norahall.com

[@robertmunguia250]

Is it better to use a hard felt or medium?

[@CroakyOak]

I’ve never had anything but the green wheels and green compound and the system has worked well. There is (was?) a blue compound and the different colored wheels made it easier to tell which wheel had which compound. The harder wheels were intended to be used with flat tools and the less firm wheel were for curved tools. All this said, as far as I know, this system is no longer available in the U.S.A. However, the Nora Hall Sharpening System which is very similar is available. I have a video about that system here: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZK5ap2LYrl6htU Hopefully this answers your questions. Thanks for watching and making multiple comments.

[@robertmunguia250]

@@CroakyOak yes I’m on the Nora hall website and kit is out of stock. Have to purchase paste and wheel separately. Thanks for info! Oh what grinder do you recommend?

[@robertmunguia250]

Haven’t been able to find it! Says out of stock!

[@CroakyOak]

As far as I know, this system is no longer available in the U.S.A. However, the Nora Hall Sharpening System which is very similar is available. I have a video about that system here: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZK5ap2LYrl6htU Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@tworiverflyfisher]

What is the compound?

[@CroakyOak]

The compound is a proprietary compound that is an integral part of this system. To the best of my knowledge, the Koch system is no longer available in the USA. So if you’re stateside, check out the Nora Hall Sharpening System at www.norahall.com. Thanks for watching and commenting.