Messages

Ok, T8 Standard showed up yesterday with the hand tool kit.   Went to the store and bought a $10 chef knife to practice on first today, and am going to follow this up with some cheaper kitchen knives and outdoors knives for practice.

My first try I definitely left some inconsistencies in the bevel, likely was getting used to it and having trouble keeping the blade level on the stone I think.    Second try was much better, I actually found that if I looked under the blade it made it very easy to see light and keep the blade level.  The hardest part is how much to "tip" the blade to sharpen the tip correctly and consistently.

Honed the knife free-hand on the leather wheel, I now see the benefit of the FVB and would rather use the guide rail if I continue to hone that way.  But, I could also play around with honing on my worksharp too as you both mentioned above.

Wasn't perfect, but the knife came out very sharp.   I'm happy so far, even when I'm really just learning the machine and probably far from perfect.   Not ready to start sharpening my nice knives yet, but have plenty less expensive ones to practice on first.

I'm sold enough based on my first try coming out as good as it did that I'll add some CBN wheels, FVB, etc. next.

Thanks for the advice! 

Ok, I'm sold.   Have a T8 Standard Kit on the way with the SG250 wheel, and they were doing a special on the hand tool kit as well so have that coming with it.

I will hold off on additional CBN Wheels, Felt Wheel, FVB, etc. until I've had a chance to use it some as is.

And, I think I'm also sold that I'll keep both the TSProf and Worksharp for the time being anyways.   At the very least that allows me to get a process down and learn the T8 before making any decision.

Thanks for the input!

Hi Everyone, first post here but was hoping I could get some insight from people who have (or had) a guided system like a TSProf and have moved to a Tormek, I am considering a T8.  I currently have a TSProf K03 setup, but the honest answer is I've never really "bonded" with it, and it probably doesn't get used as much as it should.  I have a Ken Onion Worksharp too that I should probably sell as it hasn't been out of it's box since I got the TSProf.

You can probably guess, but knife sharpening is my primary use case, although the ability to do chisels, other flat tools, grinder plates / blades, plus things like my axes/hatchets, machete, even if I have to free hand some of the stuff like the machete would be appealing too (or, maybe just keep the worksharp for that).   I have general Kitchen Knives, Long chef's knifes, hunting and butchering knives (I'm a hunter and do all my own processing), fillet knives, EDC knives, etc.  Currently have SV35VN, 154CM, 420HC, A2 Tool Steel (2 x A2 Hunting Knives for use in the field), Sandvik 12c27 MOD Stainless on hand right now plus whatever my Dexter Sani-safe butchering stuff is, and I'm sure some others.  If I could find a way to do broadheads for my archery gear using the rest and not free hand them, that'd be another bonus.

I do have a dedicated space I could leave the Tormek set up, with wheels and accessories readily accessible.   And, I probably wouldn't keep both.  If I bought the Tormek, I'd end up selling the K03 so the the cost to buy the Tormek and the accessories I'd need honestly wouldn't be a blocker .   If I feel after getting used to it I could do an as good or better job faster for most sharpening jobs, I think I'd be sold. 

So with that said, any thoughts for me?  Once you learn to use it, do you feel the Tormek is faster?  Do you feel you can get as good of an edge?   Hopefully better and faster?


Thanks for the insight!