David,
Bad news: you need to add the stone grader (SP-650), and also the stone truing tool (TT-50).
Good news: you will probably never need to replace these two. My stone grader is 20+ years old and still working strongly. I upgraded to the TT-50 truing tool, but re-used the diamond tip which came with my machine in 2003.
I know that this all adds up to a lot of money; however, I would challenge you to find another machine that is this well made at a better cost. One similar type of machine was made by Accu-Finish (though it no longer is). You were lucky to be able to get one 5 years ago for less than $3,000. And it too required a lot of add-on pieces, so $4,000 - $5,000 was not an unusual investment.
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I had a low-end metal lathe which seemed like a good deal at the time. I learned a lot about how it worked as it was often broken down. I now have a nice Jet lathe for metal.
When I purchased my Tormek SuperGrind 2000 in 2002, it cost $549. Certainly, I've had to replace worn grinding wheels over the years just like one must replace brake pads or tires. But I've only had to replace two parts on that machine, adding another $139 to the cost. (I wish my pickup truck were so reliable.)
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Finally, I think it is also key for all of us to remember how Tormek supports what they make. There have been some nice improvements made over the years (from my SuperGrind 2000 to my T-8), but all the jigs and parts work on both machines equally well. I don't know any other companies which provide such backwards compatibility.
Please don't give up hope on your Tormek. It will serve you well for a long time.
Bad news: you need to add the stone grader (SP-650), and also the stone truing tool (TT-50).
Good news: you will probably never need to replace these two. My stone grader is 20+ years old and still working strongly. I upgraded to the TT-50 truing tool, but re-used the diamond tip which came with my machine in 2003.
I know that this all adds up to a lot of money; however, I would challenge you to find another machine that is this well made at a better cost. One similar type of machine was made by Accu-Finish (though it no longer is). You were lucky to be able to get one 5 years ago for less than $3,000. And it too required a lot of add-on pieces, so $4,000 - $5,000 was not an unusual investment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had a low-end metal lathe which seemed like a good deal at the time. I learned a lot about how it worked as it was often broken down. I now have a nice Jet lathe for metal.
When I purchased my Tormek SuperGrind 2000 in 2002, it cost $549. Certainly, I've had to replace worn grinding wheels over the years just like one must replace brake pads or tires. But I've only had to replace two parts on that machine, adding another $139 to the cost. (I wish my pickup truck were so reliable.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally, I think it is also key for all of us to remember how Tormek supports what they make. There have been some nice improvements made over the years (from my SuperGrind 2000 to my T-8), but all the jigs and parts work on both machines equally well. I don't know any other companies which provide such backwards compatibility.
Please don't give up hope on your Tormek. It will serve you well for a long time.
