Sharpening - which method?

[Froggy]

Hi Chaps, I'm going round in circles trying to decide which is the best and most economical way of sharpening my blades. I've recently learnt the 'scary sharp' method and I'm delighted with the results, but I have nothing to compare with. So I decided to buy some water stones, but when I saw the prices it made me think that it might be cheaper in the long run to buy a Tormek? I suppose it depends on how many stones I have to buy and how often they need replacing?
If I decided to buy a system (e.g. Tormek) is there a massive difference (besides the price) between the T3 and the T7? And what about alternative systems like Scheppachs? How do they compare?
It's all very confusing for a beginner, especially as I don't just want the cheapest, we all want sharp tools, but what is the best value for money?
I'm sure you guys have covered all this before but I can't find a thread...if there is one already just point me in the right direction please.

Cheers Froggy.

 

[chill]

oh my god what have you done, sit down put your head between your knees, close your eyes and cover your ears your in for a bumpy ride :lol: :lol:

 

[would not]

I bought the Scheppach system but it took a while to get the thing to grind correctly. Out of the box the wheel ran like the wheel on a clowns car - up/down & left/right. So I had to buy a diamond dresser etc to give me half a chance at getting a good grind. I've altered a few things on it by getting various parts from better systems that are inter changeable.
If I were to do it all again I'd buy a better system if I had the money or could not correct the cheaper ones.
This is just my experience I'd never ground chisels etc before properly but now my chisels are scary sharp.

 

[Henning]

Being the lucky sod that i am, i took delivery of my Tormek T-7 today (Early birthday gift from the mrs. :-D)

I researched quite extensively and in the end i decided to not go down my usual route of buying everything available and then end up with a lot of things which will not be used :roll: and decided to invest in something which will sharpen pretty much everything and can be expanded. (Not that there's much left to expand on for me, i have to wonder if this "must have all accessories"- disease has a name? )

Not having used it much yet, i really can't comment on that, but my realization went along the lines of: What do you really want to do? Sharpen or use sharp tools? If the latter, buy the Tormek and be happy.

As already said, though, i haven't used it much yet, so i really cannot comment on if i was right in my thoughts or not, but from everything i've read it seems to be right if you want to use sharp tools, not spend a lot of time sharpening.

 

[Mike Wingate]

The large tormek and Diamond stones. EZE Lap, Trend, DMT and Aldi.

 

[Froggy]

Being the lucky sod that i am, i took delivery of my Tormek T-7 today (Early birthday gift from the mrs. :-D)

:shock: Wow are all Norwegian women so generous?
You have a good point Henning, about the amount of time sharpening. Much as I enjoy the results of sharpening, the doing can be a bit tedious.

 

[Harbo]

If you have all sorts of tools that need sharpening - gouges, chisels, plane blades etc etc then a Tormek is probably the way to go as you can buy all sorts of jigs to cope with just about anything?
If it's flat tools - chisel, plane blades then a cheaper option is a grindstone with a cool running stone and some sort of jig (which can be shop made) and your scary sharp for honing/secondary bevel etc.
The alternative to SS is Diamond or Waterstones - they all perform well with various degrees of messiness.
There is not definitive way - everybody has their own favourite.

I use a Tormek, a Grindstone, DMT stones, SS and a Ceramic stone depending what suits what at the time?

Rod

 

[Froggy]

Harbo, By 'grindstone' do you mean a grinder with a white stone? Please excuse my ignorance

 

[seanybaby]

going round in circles...most economical way of sharpening...'scary sharp'...delighted with the results

Maybe you have answered your own question?

I think you need to research the difference between grinding a bevel and honing. They are totally different things.

 

[Harbo]

Froggy - yes I use a cheap grinder with a white stone and a blue Norton 3X - mainly for rapid removal of steel.
The Tormek is fairly slow by comparison but runs cool and the various jigs can be very useful especially for sharpening wood turning tools.

Rod

 

[Chems]

My votes for the Tormek also, I bought on in March 09 and although I haven't used it loads as I'm more of a powertool user, it gives a super sharp edge in the minium of time that a novice user can achieve. Theres no need for any other stones or anything, a quick polish on the wheel. I was unsure that I was getting the super sharpe edge I needed but MicktheTree came over the other day and hes big into hand planes and he declared that they were good an sharp so I'm happy with it. No need for the T7 the only difference I could find was that the T7 motor can be ran all day where as the T3 is only for light use.

 

[OPJ]

Nobody's yet mentioned the Work Sharp 3000??? :shock:

Dead easy to set up and use, minimal mess and it gives excellent results. With the supplied grits, it's not best-suited to heavy, coarse grinding but you can always buy cheap self-adhesive discs for the work work, finishing on the finer grits, supplied as PSA sheets.

No sparks and it's quite difficult to get any serious heat build up. 8)

 

[Froggy]

Nobody's yet mentioned the Work Sharp 3000??? :shock:

Hi Olly is that used for grinding a bevel, honing or both?

 

[woodsworth]

I don't think the Tormek is a good idea at all!!!!

I've been trying to get on on ebay for some time but there are to many interested people and i don't want more people becoming interested to bid against.

 

[Froggy]

I've been trying to get on on ebay for some time but there are to many interested people and i don't want more people becoming interested to bid against.

Let me when you're bidding and I'll leave it alone :lol:

 

[OPJ]

Hi Olly is that used for grinding a bevel, honing or both?

It will do both! 8)

There are plenty of videos on YouTube, if you have some time spare. They also do a smaller 2000 model but, although you can sharpen knives on that one with an additional jig, I don't see any reason not to go for the 3000 model (if you were considering it). Only available from Rutlands in the UK. Currently on special offer for a limited time.

 

[studders]

Nothing new under the Sun.

Advert from 1975

 

[Mr Ed]

The Tormek is OK, but not the panacea to all sharpening needs. I bought one in the mistaken belief that it would do everything, but I find now I finish all my blades on diamond stones or PSA lapping film and only use the Tormek for regrinding.

On this basis, it is a tremendously expensive thing for a grinder, but since I have it I'll keep on using it now.

Ed

 

[L Harding]

I was wondering if anyone would mention the worksharp. I was interested in them when they first appeared over here. Havent bought one tho. Still use me ez-lap diamond stones, re-honing takes an age tho!

 

[Froggy]

I'm really suprised that more of you are not advocating the use of sharpening stones. I was under the inpression (don't know why really) that most of you used either water or oil stones as your primary sharpening method!? May be a poll to see who uses which method as a primary method might be a good idea?