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#1
Tormek T4 and T4 Bushcraft / Re: "Including, but not limite...
Last post by Ken S - Today at 01:17:40 AMWhen I purchased my first Tormek in 2009, in the US, "the Tormek" was the T7. In hindsight, like Integrale, if the T4 was available, it would have been quite adequate for my needs, either blue or Bushcraft version. No complaints with my faithful T7.
John, one of my pet ideas over the years has been using a single ball bowling bag to carry my T4. (It also works with a T2 or T1.) I think it makes an ideal way to carry a mobile Tormek. My Brunswick bag cost around thirty dollars US. I wish it had been available in blue with gold trim, the colors of Sweden and King Magnus III. In my humble opinion, that would have been really classy. However, my black bag is perfectly functional.
I removed the grinding wheel. I placed the wheel in its cardboard box. The box fits in the bottom of the bag. The T4 sits on the wheel box. A plastic food container would provide more water protection, but a sealable baggie would also work with the box. i lent my T4 to a friend for an extended trial run. I was surprised by how much my humble bowling bag held. Several jigs, truing tool, stone grader, etc., protective plastic cloth, extension cord, more etc.
The neckstrap makes carrying very convenient. I can even imagine using public transportation for mobile urban sharpening.
Ken
John, one of my pet ideas over the years has been using a single ball bowling bag to carry my T4. (It also works with a T2 or T1.) I think it makes an ideal way to carry a mobile Tormek. My Brunswick bag cost around thirty dollars US. I wish it had been available in blue with gold trim, the colors of Sweden and King Magnus III. In my humble opinion, that would have been really classy. However, my black bag is perfectly functional.
I removed the grinding wheel. I placed the wheel in its cardboard box. The box fits in the bottom of the bag. The T4 sits on the wheel box. A plastic food container would provide more water protection, but a sealable baggie would also work with the box. i lent my T4 to a friend for an extended trial run. I was surprised by how much my humble bowling bag held. Several jigs, truing tool, stone grader, etc., protective plastic cloth, extension cord, more etc.
The neckstrap makes carrying very convenient. I can even imagine using public transportation for mobile urban sharpening.
Ken
#2
Tormek T4 and T4 Bushcraft / Re: "Including, but not limite...
Last post by John_B - Yesterday at 11:02:19 PMI would like to have one for mobile sharpening when I visit family or friends. Quite often I am asked to cook and carve and I travel with a knife roll and a second set of knives. More than not I am asked to sharpen my host's knives. Rather than carting them home it would be more convenient to set up shop and sharpen there. For my daughter I will exchange a couple from the roll and bring hers home for a fresh edge.
#3
Knife Sharpening / Re: DIY Sharpness Tester
Last post by John_B - Yesterday at 06:45:18 PMIt is nice to have if you are making YouTube videos. Another use is if you are going after ultimate sharpness for some reason it gives you an idea of how various techniques work. Our library has a nice 3D printer and the clips for testing are only $21 a bag.
#4
Tormek T4 and T4 Bushcraft / Re: "Including, but not limite...
Last post by integrale - Yesterday at 09:36:41 AMThank you for this.
I am - by any and all definitions* - a hobbyist and when venturing in to Tormek land about a year ago I carefully perused the (relevant parts of)* the internet to identify the differences between the T4 and the T8. Disregarding the above-mentioned "V8 lust" I ended up getting the T4 as the differences for my use where not sufficiently significant to justify the price difference. I have not regretted as the T4 is more than sufficient for my sharpening needs (it has replaced Japanese waterstones I have used to sharpen my knifes for several decades).
*Yes, I AM a lawyer by trade
I am - by any and all definitions* - a hobbyist and when venturing in to Tormek land about a year ago I carefully perused the (relevant parts of)* the internet to identify the differences between the T4 and the T8. Disregarding the above-mentioned "V8 lust" I ended up getting the T4 as the differences for my use where not sufficiently significant to justify the price difference. I have not regretted as the T4 is more than sufficient for my sharpening needs (it has replaced Japanese waterstones I have used to sharpen my knifes for several decades).
*Yes, I AM a lawyer by trade
#5
Knife Sharpening / Re: DIY Sharpness Tester
Last post by John Hancock Sr - Yesterday at 12:15:12 AMYup. That all the BESS is. A general guide. Indeed IMHO the BESS is over priced and over rated.
#6
Knife Sharpening / DIY Sharpness Tester
Last post by John_B - March 06, 2026, 11:49:09 PMI came across an interesting video where the author 3D printed a knife and 3D media holder to make a DIY BESS tester. He bought test media clips from BESS and a $13 digital scale. The only downside is that his scale does not retain highest reading. I think for around double the price you can find a scale that holds the highest reading. He also provides the printer files. He uses an electric knife sharpener for demonstrating which is funny if he is going for a low reading. I may go to the library and have the pieces printed. Here is the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF_WTo-uLvg&t=360s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF_WTo-uLvg&t=360s
#7
Tormek T4 and T4 Bushcraft / "Including, but not limited to...
Last post by Ken S - March 06, 2026, 12:07:20 PMThe phrase, "including, but not limited to" is a legal phrase which can also apply to the Tormek machines. Tormek marketed the smaller, 200mm diameter wheel machines as being for hobbiests. With no disrespects intended toward hobbiests, I believe the improvements introduced with the T4 go well beyond the hobbiest realm. In fact, the machined zinc top designed to limit the heat of the T4 later became the primary difference between the T7 and the T8. The old "thirty minute duty cycle" is a leftover from the certification test for older models with all plastic housings which retained the motor heat. The machined zinc top of the T4 (and T2) acts like a radiator and disperses the heat. It also provides a three bundred percent precision improvement in the alignment of the main shaft and support sleeves.
The standard size of dry grinders in 200mm wheel diameter or "eight inch" in the US. Many old timers like me are still using fifty year old smaller six inch grinders. While the reigning champ is still the 250mm grinding wheel, the T4 "hobby" wheels are the same diameter professional eight inch dry wheels, and the Tormek wheels are thicker.
The Tormek 200mm universe is still evolving. A major step forward was the introduction of diamond wheels. These were first introduced as the DWF-200 and DWC-200 for the T2. Within a half hour of the arrival of my T2 and DWC, I discovered the DWC was also a perfect fit for the T4 and greatly increased its "horsepower". The switch from the DWS wheels to the DW series made flat grinding using the side of the wheel possible and added the extra fine wheel to the lineup. (The slanted composite honing wheel of the T2 also fits the T4.) In my opinion, the T4 wheel evolution is still not completed. I hope Tormek will eventually introduce a SB-200 blackstone.
Still underdeveloped markets for Tormek are older users and users with smaller workshop space. A T8 is a lot to carry for us senior citizens. A T4, especially with its grinding wheel removed, is pleasant to carry and requires less shop space. In a larger shop with a permanent space, this is not a problem. For a senior or an apartment dweller, this could be the deciding factor between a Tormek and going back to bench stones.
I am not advocating the T4 regular or Bushcraft for everyone. There are certainly situations where the T8 is the logical choice. High volume professional sharpening or situations like regularly sharpening larger drill bits certainly favor the T8 size machines. All of the jigs work with the T4, although some heavier applications favor the T8.
When the T4 was first introduced in 2014, I remember posts suggesting the T4 as a "starting" Tormek, with intentions of eventually "upgrading" to a T7. I don't recall many posts from users who eventually made that switch. Some, no doubt, coveted the "big engine V8"; however, I suspect most realized that the T4 was quite capable of handling their needs.
Incidentally, except for the color and marketing, the regular and Bushcraft models are identical. Neither is limited to hobby use.
Ken
The standard size of dry grinders in 200mm wheel diameter or "eight inch" in the US. Many old timers like me are still using fifty year old smaller six inch grinders. While the reigning champ is still the 250mm grinding wheel, the T4 "hobby" wheels are the same diameter professional eight inch dry wheels, and the Tormek wheels are thicker.
The Tormek 200mm universe is still evolving. A major step forward was the introduction of diamond wheels. These were first introduced as the DWF-200 and DWC-200 for the T2. Within a half hour of the arrival of my T2 and DWC, I discovered the DWC was also a perfect fit for the T4 and greatly increased its "horsepower". The switch from the DWS wheels to the DW series made flat grinding using the side of the wheel possible and added the extra fine wheel to the lineup. (The slanted composite honing wheel of the T2 also fits the T4.) In my opinion, the T4 wheel evolution is still not completed. I hope Tormek will eventually introduce a SB-200 blackstone.
Still underdeveloped markets for Tormek are older users and users with smaller workshop space. A T8 is a lot to carry for us senior citizens. A T4, especially with its grinding wheel removed, is pleasant to carry and requires less shop space. In a larger shop with a permanent space, this is not a problem. For a senior or an apartment dweller, this could be the deciding factor between a Tormek and going back to bench stones.
I am not advocating the T4 regular or Bushcraft for everyone. There are certainly situations where the T8 is the logical choice. High volume professional sharpening or situations like regularly sharpening larger drill bits certainly favor the T8 size machines. All of the jigs work with the T4, although some heavier applications favor the T8.
When the T4 was first introduced in 2014, I remember posts suggesting the T4 as a "starting" Tormek, with intentions of eventually "upgrading" to a T7. I don't recall many posts from users who eventually made that switch. Some, no doubt, coveted the "big engine V8"; however, I suspect most realized that the T4 was quite capable of handling their needs.
Incidentally, except for the color and marketing, the regular and Bushcraft models are identical. Neither is limited to hobby use.
Ken
#8
General Tormek Questions / Re: test
Last post by John Hancock Sr - March 04, 2026, 01:02:54 AMQuote from: Ken S on March 03, 2026, 08:25:43 PMTormek IT replied that according to our hosting service, we had an attack by a botnet.My money weas on a DDOS (distributed denial of service) attack. All too common these days. Insecure smart devices making it easier.
#9
General Tormek Questions / Re: test
Last post by Ken S - March 03, 2026, 08:25:43 PMTormek IT replied that according to our hosting service, we had an attack by a botnet. That is way above my paygrade, however, we are hopefully done with it.
Thanks for being alert, guys.
Ken
Thanks for being alert, guys.
Ken
#10
General Tormek Questions / Re: test
Last post by John_B - March 03, 2026, 07:08:53 PMGlad you are on it Ken