Looks like Tormek is running a promotion offering free gindstones for life if you purchase a T-8 or T-4 in July! I would imagine there are some pro knife sharpeners out there who could make out like bandits with this one.
https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/blogs/sharpening-blog/free-tormek-grindstones-for-life?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=24P-JUL
Quote from: 3D Anvil on July 01, 2024, 09:07:12 PMLooks like Tormek is running a promotion offering free gindstones for life if you purchase a T-8 or T-4 in July! I would imagine there are some pro knife sharpeners out there who could make out like bandits with this one.
Might check the fine print... last time it was 3 stones max and I think commercial sharpeners were excluded? (Also a 25 year cutoff.)
Kinda like "unlimited" phone data... ::)
Still not a bad deal for some, but I'd imagine it actually doesn't benefit most users.
Quote from: cbwx34 on July 01, 2024, 10:40:03 PMQuote from: 3D Anvil on July 01, 2024, 09:07:12 PMLooks like Tormek is running a promotion offering free gindstones for life if you purchase a T-8 or T-4 in July! I would imagine there are some pro knife sharpeners out there who could make out like bandits with this one.
Might check the fine print... last time it was 3 stones max and I think commercial sharpeners were excluded? (Also a 25 year cutoff.)
Kinda like "unlimited" phone data... ::)
Still not a bad deal for some, but I'd imagine it actually doesn't benefit most users.
Hah, well... I guess it would still be a decent deal for someone looking to get into Tormek, anyway. Best not to get into Red Lobster's all you can eat shrimp situation, eh? ;D
Free as in there is no such thing as a free lunch? This really is false advertising tbh. You have to ship back the old wheel then it is only three.
QuoteThe 'Free Grindstones for Life Certificate' guarantees you to exchange your grindstone if it wears down to a certain diameter. You can exchange your SG-250 Original Grindstone for Tormek T-8 if it wears down to a diameter of 7" / 180 mm, or your SG-200 Original Grindstone for Tormek T-4 if it wears down to a diameter of 6" / 150 mm. The exchange of worn-out grindstones will be administered by Tormek, and you will get at new Original Grindstone free of charge, shipping included. The 'Free Grindstones for Life Certificate' is valid for, at most, three (3) replacement stones in total within 25 years from date of purchase (based on the approximate service life of your Tormek machine).
I personally will not wait until my SG-250 is 7 inches in diameter before I change it. And at the current rate I am not even close to swapping it out.
I don't see any exclusions for professional sharpeners, but I guess they will reach the three grindstones limit way before their life expires after 25 years maximum :) Do any of you pros wear the wheel down to close to 7 inches before you discard it ?
Still it is a clever marketing stunt.
I don't think this is a bad deal. In fact, for anyone planning to purchase a Tormek this summer, I would recommend purchasing it in July to take advantage of this offer. I say this fully realizing that most users will probably not end up with more than one free wheel. One free wheel is still a saving of a couple hundred dollars.
It would have been an even better deal before the other wheels were introduced and the SG was pulling 100% of the load. Worst case scenario, you would still end up with a brand new top of the line Tormek with an eight year warranty at the regular price. One could do worse. I bought my first T7 new almost fifteen years ago.It still works flawlessly; I don't remember the price.
To Tormek's credit, the return diameter and three wheel limit are plainly stated in reasonably sized print. In today's marketing environment, that's pretty straight forward. I think a more useful promotion might have instead included a rotating base, something everyone can use during every sharpening session.
I am pleased to finally see the T4 finally included in the promos.
Ken
Quote from: John Hancock Sr on July 02, 2024, 07:17:17 AM...You have to ship back the old wheel...
Based on the last promotion (https://tormek.com/en/inspiration/tormek-feed/news-feed/2022-08-29-campaign-september-2022-free-grindstones-for-life), you actually only need to submit a picture.
Quote from: tgbto on July 02, 2024, 09:02:20 AM...
I don't see any exclusions for professional sharpeners,
...
I don't either, I thought someone posted (or made a video) that they wouldn't do it for a commercial operation, but i don't see it in the earlier promotion.
Quote from: cbwx34 on July 02, 2024, 11:59:32 PMBased on the last promotion (https://tormek.com/en/inspiration/tormek-feed/news-feed/2022-08-29-campaign-september-2022-free-grindstones-for-life), you actually only need to submit a picture.
From the page announcing the promotion
"Should your SG-250 grindstone wear down to a diameter of 7" (178mm) or your SG-200 grindstone wear down to 6" (150mm), simply send your worn stone to Tormek. Include a copy of your purchase receipt with your shipment."
In countries where the shipping would be exorbitant they may accept your word for it (ie photo) but that is what it says there.
Saw that and was really hoping for the SJ to be included too... oh well.
Quote from: sharpening_weasel on July 03, 2024, 01:09:43 PMSaw that and was really hoping for the SJ to be included too... oh well.
No such luck. I have no company statistics. How many grinding wheels would you estimate the average (or very active) Tormek user has today? Tormek alone sells six for the T8 and five for the T4. Plus, several vendors sell a variety of CBN wheels in both sizes. Would a total average of five be a good guess?
Splitting up the sharpening five ways, how many new Tormek buyers would even wear out one SG? Especially when the definition of "worn down" is defined as "worn down to 178mm? I believe many of us, myself included, would not feel comfortably going below 200mm.
I can see where an ambitious sharpener, using the SG exclusively, could benefit substantially from this program.
If I needed a T4 or T8, I would be much more tempted if the deal included a rotating base, KJ-45, or KS123 instead. I would add a TT-50 or SE-77 to that list with a T4.
Ken
Well, as one who's worn out two SG and one or two SB grindstones in the 21 years I've had my Tormek, I'd say it is very possible.
To me, 178mm is the more interesting point. I've always thought of 180mm as the min. And to get down to that, I had do some interesting machinations to get the water trough on the T-2000 raised up high enough (https://sharpeninghandbook.info/Grindstones-StoneLife.html).
Quote from: RichColvin on July 03, 2024, 04:34:42 PMWell, as one who's worn out two SG and one or two SB grindstones in the 21 years I've had my Tormek, I'd say it is very possible.
To me, 178mm is the more interesting point. I've always thought of 180mm as the min. And to get down to that, I had do some interesting machinations to get the water trough on the T-2000 raised up high enough (https://sharpeninghandbook.info/Grindstones-StoneLife.html).
The exception that proves the rule? :)
The link I gave earlier is from Tormek's website. While it's the last promo, it says picture instead of mailing the stone in, 180mm instead of "178". Makes me think some of the resellers are "adlibbing" or maybe given outdated material? Perhaps someone who is in regular contact with Tormek could straighten this out... ???
CB,
I emailed Tormek this afternoon. Here is their reply:
" This is not a worldwide program, just a US based program sponsored by us. It's available through all Tormek US dealers.
Professionals are not included in this. It's to drum up interest in the non-professional community."
I am in favor of any program which can save money for our members.
Ken
There's a promotion in the UK right now from Axminster tools. Unrelated to this one but interesting nonetheless. It allows you to buy a naked T8 or 4 to essentially switch out your older T2000 or T7 motor. You can salvage your existing wheels and mount them on a nice shiny new T8 with the easier to use water bath.
Cost is £400 odd. I'm seriously considering it
Quote from: Rob on July 04, 2024, 10:55:32 AMThere's a promotion in the UK right now from Axminster tools. Unrelated to this one but interesting nonetheless. It allows you to buy a naked T8 or 4 to essentially switch out your older T2000 or T7 motor. You can salvage your existing wheels and mount them on a nice shiny new T8 with the easier to use water bath.
Cost is £400 odd. I'm seriously considering it
Isn't that just a "Tormek Custom (https://tormek.com/en/products/sharpening-machines/tormek-t-8-custom)"?
Rob, old friend, you haven't yet completely sold me on the Axminster deal, unless someone wanted a second Tormek. Even then, my inner thrifty old Yankee is skeptical. £400 could buy a lot of water and shininess. Or, I would think the proceeds from selling your old reliable Tormek plus that £400 could pay for a shiny new T8 Original with shiny new grinding and honing wheels, all with Tormek's new warranty.
I would stay in the serious considering mode a while longer.
Ken
Quote from: Ken S on July 04, 2024, 02:48:31 PMRob, old friend, you haven't yet completely sold me on the Axminster deal, unless someone wanted a second Tormek. Even then, my inner thrifty old Yankee is skeptical. £400 could buy a lot of water and shininess. Or, I would think the proceeds from selling your old reliable Tormek plus that £400 could pay for a shiny new T8 Original with shiny new grinding and honing wheels, all with Tormek's new warranty.
I would stay in the serious considering mode a while longer.
Ken
I agree. I've had to replace some parts over time on my Tormek T-2000, but it is a beast. And some of the replacement parts are better than the original ones, so like Robert Pirsig's bike (in
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance), it is always getting better! As long as Tormek sells replacement parts, I'll keep using it.
Some Tormek stuff is worth replacing when new ones come out:
- The SVD-186 is a significant upgrade from the SVD-185, which was a nice upgrade from the SVD-180
- The SE-77 is a really nice upgrade from the SVH-60
- The KJ-45 is a really great upgrade from the KVM-45, especially when used with the KS-123.
- The TT-50 is a HUGE improvement over the ADV-50
The base machine isn't in that category for me. It is more like the grindstones I have the diamond grinding wheels, yet I find myself using the SG grindstone most often.
Summary: if you want to get a 2nd machine, then this is a good way to go. Otherwise, I'd keep the machine you already have.
I think it is yes. Didn't realise it had a name 😎
Well it's funny you should mention Robert Pirsig because I was musing along the same lines when I wrote that post. Here's part of what was driving the upside of that deal idea.....
... my T7 has the older style water bath operating mechanism and my sense is the T8 innovation with the winding up/down design is superior.
... my T7 does keep having torque challenges where pressure applied to the grindstone tends to halt the wheel. I've taken the advice and "roughed up" the drive wheel with sandpaper and it mildly improved but didn't really fix the problem. I've got the original shaft, not the posh newer one with tool free wheel release.
... so it had occurred to me that I should take the "quality" approach and be more concerned with a little deepening of things and replace or maintain those bugs. But then the ghost of Jeff Farris suddenly entered my rather pleasant visions of Mr Pirsig and rudely pronounced " he who dies with the most tools; wins". That abruptly burst my Pirsig bubble with a veritable burst of "shiny". Then I found myself post rationalising the idea that a second machine would indeed be a useful addition to my workshop. That's the same workshop I rarely get chance to enter these days due to work commitments 😎.
To add insult to injury, I have vouchers for Axminster from Xmas presents of old so it's not even real money, not all of it at least!!
But of course you're right, I should fix the T7 shouldn't I? Shouldn't I?
Rob, old friend,
I feel comfortable being very candid with you. You and I are both old enough to be comfortable using a 19mm (3/4") wrench to remove the grinding wheel on a T7. While the shaft on your T7 is not EZYlock, since 2006, all Tormek shafts have been stainless steel, and do not have the rusting solid to the grindstone problem.
Also, purchasing a plastic turkey baster at your local grocery store for a couple quid and reusing a screw top plastic jar will make a credible stand in for an elevator water trough.
I would suggest emailing support (support@tormek.se) about your slippage problem. This occasional problem is not new; I'm sure they have suggestions. Ask them whether the new drive wheel made of zinc instead of plastic and with Tormek's patented rubberlike material would help. I trust Mats to give you an honest answer.
Keep us posted.
Ken
Quote from: Rob on July 06, 2024, 10:44:41 PM...
But of course you're right, I should fix the T7 shouldn't I? Shouldn't I?
Personally, I think the updated EZYlock shaft is a better upgrade than the adjustable water trough... I'd just put the money toward that (keeping
this (https://forum.tormek.com/index.php/topic,3911.msg26559.html#msg26559) in mind)... assuming you can fix the "torque" issue. (A shaft upgrade might fix it.) Then spend the extra money on a KS-123, FVB, or what Rich mentioned... something that you'd notice an actual difference in sharpening. An adjustable water tray can be offset easily by Ken's suggestion, or just better water management.
Ok thanks chaps. Good advice there. When I get back from hols I'll investigate. I hadn't realised my shaft was stainless with a vintage of 2013 so it looks like the drive wheel is where my focus needs to be. I'll disassemble and check it all out.
Thanks for the tips (I have a turkey baster that has reached that age where it will feel more comfortable in my workshop!)
Quote from: Rob on July 06, 2024, 10:44:41 PMmy T7 does keep having torque challenges where pressure applied to the grindstone tends to halt the wheel. I've taken the advice and "roughed up" the drive wheel with sandpaper and it mildly improved but didn't really fix the problem.
Not entirely convinced by the sandpaper approach. I had an old T7 which had persistent slipping and I used belt grip compound. It is available from automotive parts suppliers. Sometimes referred to as "never slip". It comes under different brand names and meant for Vee belts but works a treat on the Tormek drive wheel. I keep a spray can handy for my various machines.
Quote from: John Hancock Sr on July 08, 2024, 01:32:39 AMQuote from: Rob on July 06, 2024, 10:44:41 PMmy T7 does keep having torque challenges where pressure applied to the grindstone tends to halt the wheel. I've taken the advice and "roughed up" the drive wheel with sandpaper and it mildly improved but didn't really fix the problem.
Not entirely convinced by the sandpaper approach. I had an old T7 which had persistent slipping and I used belt grip compound. It is available from automotive parts suppliers. Sometimes referred to as "never slip". It comes under different brand names and meant for Vee belts but works a treat on the Tormek drive wheel. I keep a spray can handy for my various machines.
Interesting. Does that make the rubber sort of "sticky" then? More apt to allow friction between the drive shaft and itself?
Also, that brand, are we talking UK or US?
Many thanks. Rob
Quote from: Rob on July 08, 2024, 08:26:07 AMInteresting. Does that make the rubber sort of "sticky" then? More apt to allow friction between the drive shaft and itself?
Yes. I believe it may have tar in it - at least the tin of never slip I bought back in the 80s seemed tar based.
Quote from: Rob on July 08, 2024, 08:26:07 AMAlso, that brand, are we talking UK or US?
The spray can I bought was CRC This stuff https://crcindustries.com.au/crc-belt-grip-400g-3081/
You should be able to get it anywhere world wide under any number of brands.
Many thanks John
Right, ordered a can off Amazon, arrives tomorrow with a bit of luck. I'll report results in due course.
Quote from: Rob on July 09, 2024, 11:09:22 AMRight, ordered a can off Amazon, arrives tomorrow with a bit of luck. I'll report results in due course.
The spray stuff has a lot of "carrier" so can be messy. You should not need much. Place a rag or paper towel under the wheel, set the machine running, shake the can and spray a little on the wheel. Wipe off the excess and you should be good to go. If it does not work first time (tbh one application should do the trick) then re-apply.
Righto. Thanks John.
Quote from: John Hancock Sr on July 09, 2024, 12:34:15 AMThe spray can I bought was CRC This stuff https://crcindustries.com.au/crc-belt-grip-400g-3081/
Good suggestion, thank you!
The product has arrived, just not had chance to apply yet. Will keep you posted.