Messages

On the other end of the spectrum we have members like Steve Bottorff. Steve has run a very busy farmer's market sharpening service for many years. Sharpening over a hundred knives during a Saturday morning, plus scissors and garden tools is typical for Steve's business. Steve uses the Tormek as a key component of his business, however, with that much sharpening to do in a short amount of time, the pedestrian Tormek technique will not handle the load in a profitable business manner.

In the middle we have members typified by our fairly new member, Bob. Bob has started a specialized knife sharpening business in his area dealing with restaruants. At this stage, a typical Saturday might involve sixteen knives, and Bob hopes to grow the business. Bob is at the stage where an efficient Tormek technique is profitable for his business.  The Bobs of the forum are one of the target groups for this discussion. For the beginning businesses like Bob's, the main benefit is efficiency. If a more efficient technique allows Bob to sharpen more knives on a Saturday, while still maintaining his very high standards, the business will be more profitable and have a better chance of growing.These techniques are not for cutting corners. They are for delivering a high standard of quality in a more efficient manner.

I don't know if the 90 RPM Tormek can ever compete with 3450 RPM machines purely on speed. However, the jigged water cooled grinding of the Tormek has other advantages no high speed grinder has. If we can cut down the redundant set up time to improve the speed of operation of the Tormek, the Tormek person will be able to function competitively in more professional areas. The Tormek by itself may never be able to match the speed of a hybrid technique with several machines at a farmer's market. I do believe a more efficient technique will make more business opportunities competitive for the Tormek only or principally Tormek sharpener. I believe discussion on this forum can promote that goal and that we will all benefit from it.

Ken

Actually, from what I read of Bob's posts, I think he is more of a specialized (requiring other equipment), then Steve Bottorff's.
I'd love to see how well Steve's video covers serrated knives; and that would benefit Bob.  But some stuff I read Bob say, either tends to be sharpened on the machine (slicer blades), or would have to be done free hand, in which case I would LOVE to see video's on that.  (things like a Hobart S blade or any of their other specialized meat grinding equipment)

There isn't a Tormek jig, but there are jigs.  I've seen those from the ones that look like the typical handles you pull over a knife edge, to the little stones with the plastic backing, that you place in a drill and run over the mower blade.  Considering the tree debris, rocks (gravel driveway or gravel out of tires), possible roofing debris, etc. I tend to just use a grinding wheel. (speed over a file or carborundum stone)

I am sure I have seen links to youtube video's here, before.  I think that also brings people looking for Tormek information to the forum (I found it after looking at Jeff Farris's video's).
Also when this forum was started, where was it started and who has the server now?  Space is always an issue and who controls it, physically, can better tell the health of it (and the dangers of uploading to it, etc).

Just one server?
Good to see it back up, but when it was down, at least sometime, I couldn't even get to the normal Tormek page.

What do you mean by blocked?
Have you tried holding the stones at the top and moving them opposite directions, by hand?

If I had a £1 for all the stupid things I shouldn't have spent money on I'd have.....a small fortune :-)

The difference in language, LOL.  Here that would be every one, or each, as all would lump them together, and get you a pound.
BTDT on the stupid things, never due to alcohol though.

Dumb question (not that I am ever going to attempt to sharpen this type of scissor)....

Is the reason for the line, similar to Japanese swords, where they are effectively a different metal at the tip (tempering different in parts of a Japanese sword)?

Training, training, training...............

Part of the reason I didn't get a new Tormek, verses used, was training.  I went to my local Woodcraft because they were going to have a training session/course on the Tormek.  I went specifically for that, and they turned it into a bench stone training session and pushed their supply of bench stones (completely ignoring the Tormek).  I didn't feel like buying new was worthwhile, if I didn't like or feel comfortable with it and has to lose money on a new tool that the warranty wouldn't transfer.  Used made more sense especially at the price I found mine.
The only time I saw Jeff, was my first attended woodworking show, in 2004, and after that he moved out of the area.

The broken plastic drive wheel wasn't mentioned.  Kind of hard to make "fully" informed suggestions, if one isn't.
A lot of the Tormek's I have seen used, don't have the rusted frame issue, but may have a rusted shaft issue (never pulling the stone off for regreasing).  I am NOT a fan of the throwaway issue and still think this is definitely worthwhile, but the reason I mentioned the square frame model is some old posts I saw here, which talked about sharpening and clearance issues, verses the newer shape.  If ones chassis were rusted, the wheel and bar as mentioned, it would seriously make me wonder about buying a new frame and then we are talking, IMHO the T4 would be more cost effective.  Even then, I might compare the motors of the T4 and the T2000, and see if the heavier motor would fit in the T4.

Ken, is the Craftsman a square frame grinder? (right time period)

If so, don't knock those, as they were US made and by forums I have been on, quite comparable, even better cost/value to a Baldor, and I have one of each.

Ken, get your reading glasses! (I think you missed it)
Not likely to get a lot for a 2000 minus stone, and with a cracked grindstone, it doesn't sound like a fully functional spare.

Mine suffered the rusted shaft, but the grindstone wasn't cracked. The previous owner, chipped the stone, getting it off the shaft, and bought a new stone.
I picked up the stainless shaft, and the new water tray and downloaded the new book. (Tormek's site, think the PDF is exactly the same).  Just the shaft, water tray, and a new stone, comes up to $295, so I think your $70 off, is before the sale that brings it down to $315.

I've been interested in the HB upgrade, as I figured I would use the old one, with a bench grinder for initial shaping for turning tools.  Just having done it yet.

If you want to see ouch, then check the auction site, as there are two Tormeks that have been on my local CL for some time, that are now there.  One still shows a picture of the receipt with the price from Jeff's Grain Valley location (LONG ago, 2004) square frame 2000, $369.  You will see what they are asking now; when they were on CL around here, they started around $550.
Personally, I would do the upgrade, verses the new machine, UNLESS, you have a square frame model 2000.

I think this has been an interesting topic. It is obviously about non Tormek products being used on the Tormek. We have expressed doubts and concerns about the present effectiveness of  the Tormek system with coarse grinding and hard steels. Admittedly these are beyond the original scope of the Tormek. However, the scope of the Tormek has widened over the years, without losing sight of its original purpose.

Despite the constructive criticism, I do not see us selling our Tormeks, nor do I expect to see a rush in CBN or Norton 3X grinding wheel sales.  Hopefully Sweden has been reading this topic and has become more aware that the party faithful would like a more efficient means of dealing with heavier grinding and harder steels. I believe this kind of work is within the present scope of the Tormek when supplemented with third party grinding wheels. I believe Tormek will continue evolving and eventually offer its own wheels for these tasks.

Most of us do not require these specialized grinding wheels. I do not believe many of us will actually purchase CBN wheels, although the 3X wheels may prove most effective for some of us. It may be that Tormek may decide that the business interests of the company are more effectively served by using third party products for items of limited demand. That is certainly understandable. As the cost of CBN wheels declines, Tormek may decide to enter the ring. I have no inside information.

It is comforting to know that should the need arise for me to sharpen planer blades or hard steel allows that my Tormek can be adapted to these tasks while still providing the same hallmark cool dust and spark free grinding.

Ken

To me, I see the CBN quite similar to how I see  a bench grinder, which Tormek does sell a kit to use their jigs on.  One thing to possibly speed up initial sharpening/shaping/chip removal, verses taking a while on the Tormek.  The other direction, and I couldn't find the wheel, was a finer grain CBN, compared to the SJ wheel for stuff like the knives some chef friends have (frequent touch ups).  I remember reading about a finer grit CBN somewhere.
Those 3x wheels are great for a lot of metal removal (think punch dressing/sizing for garage/mechanical work) and I would like to try a CBN for that (keeps auto fluids away from the Tormek stone).  I don't think there is any issue with that (no warnings from them yet), as that tech advances, I could even see Tormek, eventually deciding to sell one if it was deemed useful enough. 

There is an adjustable speed grinder that comes with that wheel, or a multitool belt grinder, that makes the Tormek look inexpensive.  Personally, I think I would like to try the CBN AND the SJ wheel in comparison,  I would think the SJ wheel would do pretty much the same for a better cost since it isn't just a coating.

Congratulations and let this be a reminder to all, don't take the ones you love for granted!

From the image I saw of the light, I think one of those arm lights with the magnifier lens might be a better deal for those of us with pre this T7 fixture.  Have both light and a magnifier, verses just a light that you hold behind your item.