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Could someone on this Forum kindly help me on a matter relating to setting up the BGM-100.I want to set up on both sides of the grinder,as there is measurements in relation to setting up the BGM-100 correctly ,what ,I would liked clarified is in relation to the measurements from the Outside of the Grinding Wheels on the Left/Side it's 190mm,on the Right/Side it's 160mm,on the drawings ,I am not sure if it's from the EDGE of the Grinding Wheel,or,from the EDGE of the Spindle running through the Grinder,(that will give you 2 different positions?) Could someone kindly help me to resolve this matter,or a good link on setting up this BGM-100 correctly.

                          Kindly Paul

Thanks for your replye.Its my intention to use the Tormek BGM-100 ,Mounting Sets on a separate set up with a Fast speed Grinder,this let me use all the Tormek Jigs for sharpening Woodturning Tools,What Stone type would you recommened for fast Steel removal,for SHAPING Tools prior to Sharpening,

I came across this stone ,a seller in Germany sells it,Has anyone on this Forum used this stone ,for fast Shaping of Wood turning tools? if so,what is there opinion of it? It costs nearly 200 Euros, I would like to get a opinion on it before buying.

                                      Yours Kindly Paul

The easiest way to summarise the Tormek at the helicopter level is that its good at sharpening and terrible at shaping.  It's certainly very well made, robust etc and will go on for many many years with only minor faults every now and then.  They give it a 7 year guarantee because they're confident in its ability to not break and that experience is largely borne out on this forum's membership, many of whom are very advanced users.

I am a woodworker and turner also who started with a T7 because I already had one for bench tools and knives.  I became frustrated at trying different grinds, particularly on bowl gouges but also on detail spindle gouges and immensely frustrated with skew chisels. What has always frustrated me is a sharpening operation that takes too long and keeps me away from the lathe.  I found that any operation that requires removing a lot of steel on the Tormek (especially HSS) to be long, laborious and painful to the fingers.  That includes, skew chisels (in fact anything with a large surface area bevel), experimenting with different bowl gouge grinds etc.  So I got a dry grinder and a BGM to try and marry the speed of the fast grind with the precision of the Tormek jigs.  It has sped things up but of course you then start bumping into overheating problems.

In the end I started seeing belt grinder/linisher style systems at wood turning shows and plumped for one and have been very happy with the compromise between speed and coolness.

So now my personal setup is somewhat eclectic in that I have my T7 setup for my favourite bowl gouge with the elliptical jig you refer to (I only ever sharpen on the T7 rather than shape).  I have the Torlok toolrest setup on my BGM for round nose scrapers and I use my linisher for everything else, especially skews and also I do my detail spindle gouges and roughing gouge on the linisher (and bedan and other square type scrapers).

The Tormek is refined and good quality for sharpening but the huge variety of jigs for different turning tools is time consuming on the setup and it really is awful at shaping anything but the smallest of tools ie minimal steel removal.  The need to keep regrading the stone to keep it cutting also drives me insane.

But on the plus side its very versatile in that you can handle everything from lawn mower blades, kitchen knives and many other edge tools and in the main Tormek's jigs are superb quality.

If I had my time over again, although I definitely value my T7, I wouldn't be happy paying the new price for it.  I would buy 2nd hand (because they're so robust).  But given the advent of these much cheaper linisher style tools, for turning specifically, they would be my first choice.  Not as slick as the Tormek for that pin sharp edge but easily good enough for turning, much quicker to setup and use, half the price and require very little learning and skill ramp up to use effectively because they're brilliantly designed.

.  Thanks for your post, Is it the Robert Sorby type system ,that you would be referring to, or is there another type belt system,    Yours Kindly Paul

At the moment I do not have a Tormek T7 ,(I hope the family will buy me one for Christmas ),that is why I am using the BGM-100 on both sides,one for grinding the shape,and the CBN Wheel for sharpening the tool. Thanks kindly for your help,What's your view on the Tormek T7,they say it's the bees-knees for sharpening your woodturning tools? It is expensive,but the feedback seems to indicate that it's a very sound and we'll made system.

                         Yours Kindly Paul

I have just purchased 2 BGM -100 Sets ,to place on my 6 inch grinder,on which ,I have a 6 inch CBN Wheel,and a O,Donnell red stone for shapening or grinding my woodturning tools.(CBN Wheel is for sharpening).  On the instructions that came with the BGM-100 Set,it states that if one is mounting on both sides of ones grinder,,the recommened lengths on the Left and Right sides differ ,due to the asymmetrical Gouge Jig SVD-185,The Left side is 190 mm from (I presume ) looking at the diagram ,outside of your left wheel too the outside of your Height Adjustable Block,and it's 160 mm from outside of your Right wheel too the outside of your Height Adjustable Block. Could someone kindly clarify something for me please? Can I use the Gouge Jig SVD -185, both on the Grinding Wheel side to shape my profile,then over to the other CBN Wheel to Sharpen my tool? even tough the 2 Height Ajustable Blocks are set at different distances? or is this irrelevant ,the important measurement is the actual height of the adjustable block ,so that your TTS-100 tool setter,sits perfect on the Arc of your wheel. I hope I have not been too long winded,on this matter,but I want to set it up right.

                                 Yours Kindly Paul

A dream come true, you are a gentleman,at a quick glance ,looks like all the info I need is there.Now only too buy the various jigs and bench fittings,and give it a go.Do you use this set up yourself?if so,what type of grinding wheel do you use?

                     Yours Kindly Paul

Hello ,I have just joined this forum,but I need some advise and help.to make a final decision as wether to buy the Tormek T7 system.I have only been woodturning a lot of months,I what to gain knowledge on how best to sharpen my tools, Is it true that Tormek is slow at grinding your profiles?if so,is it possible to set up a sharpening station,with a high speed grinder with a good grinding wheel attached,but with Tormek attachments , and jigs,so as to give you the perfect angle while you are grinding your profile,then switch it over to your Tormek T7 for your final sharpening? Could someone kindly forward to me as to how you would set up such a sharpening station?ie, some photos,and information. Or is it possible to use some of the Japenese Waterstones,on your T7 for grinding your profile quickly, then switch to your tormek stone for a final edge on your woodturning tools? I have a CBN wheel on a high speed grinder with jigs similar to Vari Grind set up,for my angles,but I am very interested in Tormek,although it is expensive. Yours Kindly Paul from Ireland.