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Your lawn will love you for it!

Turn your TORMEK around so that the wheel is turning away from and freehand grind the lawnmower blade, approximating the orginal bevel angle of the blade.  You will want to frequently use your Stone Grader to clean the the stone and keep it cutting effectively.  

Most lawnmower blades are a relatively soft steel (otherwise they would chip worse than they do).  The leather strop will remove the wire edge, but it is a bit time consuming and is definitely over-kill.  I use the side of the stone.

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 However, paradoxically, I am investigating the use of a powered sharpening system for sharpening, and minimizing the use of hand sharpening - be it with waterstones or sandpaper.  I read David Charlesworth's books, and he seems to get benefit from the older Tormek system.

David - any comment?

Good point, however the justification is that you can spend your free time woodworking instead of sharpening.  I think that is the most common praise I receive from experienced owners -- that they have more time to enjoy their hand tools.  

The trickiest part is set up.  Getting the angle set correctly and making sure the blade is parallel to the stone.  It is not difficult, but must be done correctly to achieve the results I imagine you are looking for.  If the set up is done correctly, the only mistake you can make is to stop too soon, you can never grind too far.  

That's a fine planer you have there.  I think you will be well satisfied with the Planer Blade Attachment if you currently are confident with your TORMEK.

The TORMEK Scissors Jig does not preclude a curved blade.  It's designed specifically to accomodate curved edges.  Even highly curved blades like pruning shears can be sharpened.

As I see it from their website, there is no jig for sharpening gouges.  It would appear to me that it might work OK for carving tools, but you will not be able to control the accuracy of the bevel as well as you can with a TORMEK and I cannot see that system (Veritas Mk II) as effective for turning tools.

I have used the older Veritas platen system, and I saw the new one recently at a show.  Of course, I am biased, but here are my thoughts.

Anytime you use a horizontal surface, you face some struggles with grinding evenly across a tool.  The surface speed of the cut at the outer edge is faster than the surface speed at the inner edge, so the wheel is trying to cut more off one side of your tool than the other, making it difficult to keep your tools square.  Next, while the Veritas system is slow speed, it is still much faster (turning - not cutting) than the TORMEK, and without the water bath, heat build up is always a concern.  It's also messy.  The grinding dross is spread throughout your shop.  And, finally, the Veritas has to be followed up with bench stones....there is no provision for honing the tool.  

There is a growing group of woodworkers who are learning to appreciate the joy of working with traditional hand tools.  Let's use this forum to let others know about the sense of accomplishment gained by using your skill and muscle instead of just another electric motor.

Planer blade sharpening is perhaps one of the most challenging jobs the TORMEK can do.  However, when done properly the results are better than the majority of professional sharpening services throughout the country.  Use this forum to discuss the difficulties and share your successes.  

Nothing helps your carvings come to life like a perfectly hone edge.  Use this forum to share and/or learn how the TORMEK works with all styles and sizes of carving tools.

There simply is no better way to sharpen turning tools than a TORMEK Sharpening System.  This forum is for the discussion of techniques and approaches in turning tool sharpening with the TORMEK.  Join in and let's get turning!