DaveL
Established Member
OK call me a skin flint or maybe even a tight git but the Tormek Grinder does cost a lot of pennies. I bought a cheap Rexon ages ago from B&Q, er this one:-
At the time it was on special offer at ~£35 half the then asking price, they are now <£30 so even better value!
The draw back is the lack of tool rest when using the wet wheel, this is a major flaw in the design. I lashed up a bit of 15mm copper pipe held in a 2"*1" pine frame, holding the blade on the pipe using two bits of wood two small coach bolts and wing nuts, not a pretty sight but it did just about work. So how to improve on this crude idea? Well those of you who were subjected to my ramblings at the Axminster show may remember me hovering around the Tormek demo on the Brimarc stand muttering about tool rests, well I stepped on to the dark side and I bought some of the Tormek spares. 8-[
This is the idea that was going round in my head.
After checking that it was about the right height.
I set up for a trail run, I trimmed the timber added water
Action!
Well it worked OK, so the clamps were replaced with screws.
Here is another old chisel with a freshly ground primary bevel.
I am with Alf in liking to use hand sharpening for the rest of the edge, so the lack of stone grader, honing wheel does not bother me.
I do need to remount the grinder on a stiffer board before the rest gets fixed down, I think I will use Tee nuts and bristol levers, that I happen to have in a draw to allow final adjustments to be made.
It will never be as quick to grind as the Tormek and I don’t think it would be any good for turning tools, the stone is too soft but for putting the primary bevel on the irons from the old woodies that I have it works a treat. The bits from Bimarc cost ~£55 so for just over £80 you could build a similar setup. I hope Martin will still talk to me at the next show.
Just one more question, why would you be taking any notice of a chap who came back from his granddaughters 5th birthday party looking like this I don't know!
At the time it was on special offer at ~£35 half the then asking price, they are now <£30 so even better value!
The draw back is the lack of tool rest when using the wet wheel, this is a major flaw in the design. I lashed up a bit of 15mm copper pipe held in a 2"*1" pine frame, holding the blade on the pipe using two bits of wood two small coach bolts and wing nuts, not a pretty sight but it did just about work. So how to improve on this crude idea? Well those of you who were subjected to my ramblings at the Axminster show may remember me hovering around the Tormek demo on the Brimarc stand muttering about tool rests, well I stepped on to the dark side and I bought some of the Tormek spares. 8-[
This is the idea that was going round in my head.
After checking that it was about the right height.
I set up for a trail run, I trimmed the timber added water
Action!
Well it worked OK, so the clamps were replaced with screws.
Here is another old chisel with a freshly ground primary bevel.
I am with Alf in liking to use hand sharpening for the rest of the edge, so the lack of stone grader, honing wheel does not bother me.
I do need to remount the grinder on a stiffer board before the rest gets fixed down, I think I will use Tee nuts and bristol levers, that I happen to have in a draw to allow final adjustments to be made.
It will never be as quick to grind as the Tormek and I don’t think it would be any good for turning tools, the stone is too soft but for putting the primary bevel on the irons from the old woodies that I have it works a treat.
The bits from Bimarc cost ~£55 so for just over £80 you could build a similar setup. I hope Martin will still talk to me at the next show. Just one more question, why would you be taking any notice of a chap who came back from his granddaughters 5th birthday party looking like this I don't know!
