Advice on Choosing the Right Grinding Wheel for T-8

[Irepone]

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased a Tormek T-8 system, and I'm really excited to dive deeper into sharpening my tools, particularly chisels, plane irons, and turning tools. I primarily work with high-carbon steel tools but occasionally have high-speed steel (HSS) tools as well.

After reviewing the accessories, I'm a bit uncertain about which grinding wheel would be best suited for my needs. I currently have the standard SG-250 wheel that comes with the T-8, but I'm considering investing in an additional wheel for better performance, especially for HSS tools and potentially faster sharpening.

Here are a few questions I hope you can help with:

CBN vs Diamond Wheels – For HSS tools, I've read that CBN wheels are highly effective. However, is there a significant advantage of using diamond wheels over CBN for sharpening HSS and high-carbon steel tools? Or is one clearly better for my specific use case?

Grit Size Recommendations – Should I consider getting multiple wheels (e.g., coarse and fine grit) to balance reshaping edges and maintaining a razor-sharp finish? If so, what grit sizes do you recommend for general woodworking tools?

Maintenance and Longevity – For anyone using CBN or diamond wheels, how do they hold up over time compared to the standard SG-250? Are there any tips for maintaining them?

I would really appreciate any insights or recommendations from those of you with more experience using these wheels. I want to make the most out of my T-8 setup while ensuring I'm investing wisely in additional accessories.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

[Sarahclark]

Congrats on the Tormek! CBN wheels rock for HSS – they last longer and cut better. Diamond's overkill for high-carbon tools. Grab a 220 grit for reshaping, 1000-1200 for the sharp finish. Keep 'em clean and they'll last

[Ken S]

Welcome to the forum, Irepone and Sarahclark.

One of the frustrations for many forum members is a lack of good information which is both unbiased and suited to individual requirements, even if the poster's intentions are good and in the spirit of helping.

The truth is that "superabrasive" grinding wheels, both diamond and CBN, cut more aggressively and last longer than aluminum oxide wheels like the SG-250 IF used properly with light grinding pressure.

I tested CBN wheels several years before Tormek introduced diamond wheels. They were designed for high speed dry grinders. They work very well for this purpose. Using them with a Tormek was an after thought. Back then, all of the CBN videos used high speed dry grinders. Many CBN wheels required special 12mm bushing reducers to fit Tormeks and were oversized with 10" diameters instead of 250mm. of the two brands I tested, one required an anticorrosion solution to prevent rusting and the other vendor insisted that his wheels had to be used dry to maintain the warranty. As one of the main advantages of the Tormek is dustfree sharpening, I did not bother to test that brand. That vendor has since modified his admonition against using the wheels dry.

Used with an anticorrosion, both diamond or CBN wheels perform well. They can be mixed and matched as well as with aluminum oxide wheels. If I wanted to purchase only one superabrasive wheel to complement my SG-250, I would choose either the DC-250 or a CBN wheel around 200 grit.

Before purchasing either, I would work with your SG-250. It should work well with knives, chisels, and planes. Grinding HSS will take longer, especially if youdo much reshaping. Resharpening removes less steel and takes less time.

The first time I sharpened a turning skew chisel, I made the mistake of assuming it fit one of the provided profiles. It was not an exact match. I foolishly just soldiered on. It took "forever". A much wiser plan would be to use a black marker and make chnges over several sharpenings.


Sarahclark, I ask this in the soirit of curiosity rather than criticism. How did you decide that diamond wheels were "overkill"?

Ken

[Dusty]

I've owned my 2000 sine the first batch came to the US in 1993. I've tried most of the wheels available and the diamond is the clear winner. Cbn was first used specifically for dry grinders since it can handle the heat. The only time cbn has an advantage is above 650C otherwise its inferior to diamond.

Dusty