Replies

1. 
   RalphBarker | Jan 06, 2011 10:03am | #1

   Wet grinding was common on the so-called "old days" and has had a few more modern adaptations. They share a couple of factors: slow speed, and water used as a lubricant and to keep the tool cool. I've seen two variations: the usual vertical wheel, hwere the bottom of the wheel sits in a water bath; and horizontal, where water is often dripped onto the surface from a small resevoir. Antique wet grinders often had large white stones, 24" in diameter or larger, and were often pedal driven, with a can of water dripping onto the wheel.

   The Tormek T-7 is typical of the vertical wheel design:

   http://woodworker.com/fullpres.asp?PARTNUM=921-127&LARGEVIEW=ON

   The Woodtek is typical of the horizontal design:

   http://woodworker.com/water-cooled-sharpener-mssu-958-371.asp?search=grinder&searchmode=2

   I have the Makita interpretation of the horizontal design:

   http://www.amazon.com/Makita-9820-2-Horizontal-Wheel-Sharpener/dp/B0000223JC

   They are good for "rough" sharpening/shaping, prior to honing on finder stones (oil or water).

   You can gage the value of the one you're looking at from the new retail prices of the above links.