your favorite powered sharpening machine
BriMcG
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
I’ve tried lots of differant methods of sharpening. Water stones. oil stones, glass and sandpaper but have come to the conclusion that I suck at it and just want to get a powered sharpening staion.
Can anyone please recommend your favorite?
Thanks, Brian
Replies
granite block, lots of grits of wet/dry paper and patience. The second time is faster. - GT
Brian,
I have waterstones, sandpaper and all the other stuff. I have been a big fan of the scary sharp method and used sandpaper, a piece of glass and a Veritas sharpening jig. I just bought the Worksharp 3000 and it is wonderful (imho). It make sharpening a breeze and I am glad I bought it. I want to spend more time making dust than I do making a sharp edge.
Jeff
Thanks Jeff,
My sentiment exactly. I want good sharp tools but just don't have the time to spend doing it correctly by hand.
Am leaning toward the Veritas tho. WS3000 a close second.
Thx again, Brian
I've tried lots of differant methods of sharpening. Water stones. oil stones, glass and sandpaper but have come to the conclusion that I suck at it and just want to get a powered sharpening staion.
My experience too. Bought a WS 3000 3 months ago with no regrets.
WorkSharp 3000 - you'll love it.
But, I suspect you will still, on certain occasions, want to 'touch-up' an edge by hand.
Frosty
"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922
It's coming in second only to the Veritas. Wouldn't mind saving a few bucks but I'm at that point where I'm willing to spend a couple extra bucks to have a machine that is superbly engineered and made and will, hopefully, last the remainder of my lifetime.
Thx for your help,
Brian
BriMcG
I own a Tormek and it's been good.. I see that Grizzly has a clone of the Tormek available now for only $169.95 It's even made in Germany like my Tormek
http://www.grizzly.com
Thanks Frenchy, No doubt both are good machines but I'm leaning toward the Veritas with the worksharp a close second. I have always admired Veritas engineering.
On another subject the Griz 12" jointer is at the top of my list. Looking to replace my Jet 6" pretty soon and figure the next one is going to last the rest of my lift and I might as well go for it.
Thx again,
Brian
Brian,
The reason I have my Tormex is because I looked at the report that fine wood working did on sharpening a while back and of the powered sharpener systems it had the best edge.. The really sweet offshoot is the way it helps me sharpen with sandpaper on glass.
If you look back at the powered sharening systems they all leave a burr that the leather wheel only buffs over..
The scary sharp (sandpaper on glass) leaves the finest, easiest edge and if you do the prep work on a Tormek it's but a few seconds work.
I'm not kidding, sharpen the edge on the Tormek and then finish it off on the scary sharp method (sandpaper on glass) and it takes you maybe a whole minute to put and edge on that chisel or plane..
Nothing and I do mean nothing is faster or sharper!
I've never heard a negative comment on the Tormex. I just wanted a dry system and in the end , saving 100.00 on the WorkSharp3000 won me over. The majority here recommended it and that pushed me over the line. Ordered it a few ago.
Thx Frenchy, Brian
I think your Tormek came from Sweden. I have had a Tormek probably ten years. I like it but since I have had no other, I have nothing to compare it with. Others have complained that it is slow but I am surprised how fast it can take a chip out of a chisel.
Edited 2/10/2008 10:08 pm ET by Tinkerer3
Because I do not like the "hollow grind," I purchased the Veritas Sharpening machine. I demo'd it at a show and was pretty impressed with it. I have been even more impressed since I got it. I bought a couple of extra blade holders so I could sharpen more than one tool at a time. It is very solidly made, very easy to use, and created a very repeatable edge with no hollow grind. Free-handing is pretty easy for rounded edge tools, and skew blades are simple. Also, for lapping the backs of blades, this machine is very good. I would still buy this machine over everything else out there, though I understand that the WorkSharp is also a great machine.
Joe
Thanks Joe, I'm leaning that way. I have always been very impressed with the engineering of any Veritas product. I doubt if I would be disapponted even with the extra expense.
Thx, Brian
Brian -
I was given a WorkSharp 2000 for Christmas and use it primarily for regrinding bevels. With a fine abrasive on the platter, it does a very good job getting the plane iron or chisel into shape for rough work.
But, when I have to take it to the next step, I move to the Veritas Mk. II jig and use a fine diamond stone, then extra fine, then I'll hone with some Veritas honing paste.
I get some pretty nice results that way....
Tom Iovino
http://tomsworkbench.com
No doubt. Think I'll just start with the Veritas system. Thanks. Brian
I've had a Tormek for many years and the only complaint I had is that the wheel truing tool was awkward, but I just bought the new tool they are selling for truing the wheel and it's really good.
There are so many options for sharpening on the market today that were not available when I bought the Tormek, but even though I would do the research on a range of them I would still be inclined to buy the Tormek again. It's built well and it's unlikely I will ever buy another sharpening system again.
One thing I would point out is that the range of jigs available for the Tormek means you can sharpen literally any tool, from turning gouges to household scissors to axes (although I have yet to see the need to be precise about axes.)
I have mine setup on an old kitchen butcher blog mounted back-to-back with my bench grinder. I still use a waterstone to finish off my fine tools but have to say that the Tormek alone will do the job just fine.
Hi, Well..decision made. I went with the Work Sharp 3000. Ordered it a few ago. Was going to get the Veritas but decided to put the extra 100.00 toward another tool. From what everyone was saying I think I made a good choice. I really wanted a dry system too.
Thx, Brian
I hear you. Look hard at this thing ..........
http://www.veritastools.com/Products/Page.aspx?p=162
It's really fast and really easy. I've used just about all the techniques: hand, water stones, oil stones, sandpaper on float glass and a tedious Tormek that ended up in the dumpster.
I've finally found something that suits me.
Well, whaddaya know. I never knew that Veritas had its own web site.
-Steve
You're killin me...Almost went for the Veritas and made a last second money decision and ordered the WorkSharp3000. Think it will fill the bill well enough. I do like Veritas products though. We'll see.
Thanks Bro.
Brian
They have some similarities. I'm sure you'll like the WS.
I have used the Veritas extensively and seen the Workshop demoed. To me, the Veritas is king.
I think that the Workshop is a little under-engineered and has some short-comings. Under the wheel, you can only sharpen in 5-degree increments (can't sharpen a microbevel) and not all blades will fit in the holder (up to 2", I believe). I spoke to their rep at one of the shows and he agreed that there are still some details to be worked out. I was impressed with what it could do, but I would wait another year or so until the new improved model comes out. A sturdier tool rest for the top along with some sort of jig would be a very usefull feature.Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Methinks I'll just never have the dexterity to really do a good job of freehanding. I took half a Saturday morning last month and sharpened two dozen chisels and 15 plane blades with my Veritas. A great machine that sure made my sharpening better (not to mention a whole lot faster).
Belt/stroke sander thing from Rigid. I use it to quickly grind an angle, then diamond stone and either wet stone or sandpaper/glass to finish. Takes a few minutes, tops. For chisels and plane irons, these powered sharpening machines are a waste of money, unless you need a crutch.
Why are you using the belt sander. Isn't that a crutch?
Sure. I used to grind my chisels by dragging them across the sidewalk, but now I'm lazy.Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
Fortunately I'd swallowed the mouthful of soup just before I read this ...So, do you like the smooth-finished concrete, or do you prefer lots of aggregate for a quicker job?:)
Leon
Best are sidewalks busted up by tree roots: the odd cracks and breaks are perfect for turning gouges and other odd shaped chisels. Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
hi brian,
i see from later posts that you've already bought one. i've been using waterstones for some time now, and can get things plenty sharp, but it's somewhat time consuming -- particularly when flattening the back of a bunch of plane irons for the first time. so, i've been looking at powered sharpening systems too -- i'd rather work wood than sharpen tools...
so,a few days ago, i finally settled on a lap-sharp. (see http://www.woodartistry.com) i can sharpen chisels and plane irons as well as turning tools, carving tools, planer/jointer knives, even card scrapers and shaper knives.
i made a long smoothing plane (about 11") this past weekend, and used the lap sharp to hone the blade and flatten the cap iron. took much less time than using my waterstones, and was actually kind of fun. (new toy syndrome?) came out great too; the blade is so sharp that the plane can take whisker thin shavings.
before the feeling wears off, i think i'll go through my edge tools and sharpen everything... :-)
cheers,
bert
Hi Bert, thx for the reply. Am really looking forward to the WorkSharp getting here. I'm sure I will still a few things by hand but as we've said I would rather cut wood then sharpen a chisel.
Is your system a wet or dry system? I wanted a dry system. Much less trouble I think.
Thx again,
brian
hi brian,
having a powered sharpening system is really quite a time saver. i'm sure you'll enjoy the worksharp. i'd call the lap-sharp a semi-dry sharpening system, meaning that a few squirts with a sprayer bottle is all you need to provide enough slurry to keep the swarf (ground off metal shavings) contained, and the abrasive from over heating the tool.
cheers,
bert
if it's worth doing at all, then it's worth doing well.
Hi Bert, Agreed. Unless the owners manuel says not to, I will probably want a few drops of water going too. It's just the systems with the container that the wheel goes through are really a mess.
Happy Woodworking!
brian
I flatten the backs stating wit sandpaper and work through waterstone up to 8000. Then I grind a 25 degree bevel on a tormek machine. After which I use the veritas Mark 2 honing guide and hone a 30 degree micro bevel. Then I touch up the back one more time, the strop it on the tormek strop wheel. Then she is good to go.
Kaleo
http://www.kaleosworkshop.com
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