Review of the Tormek TS-740 Sharpening Station

[jeffs55]

Nice thought, Mark.



Ken
Once again, how about using the forum members forum name when referring to them. There is no way to scroll "up" and find "Mark" as a poster.

[Ken S]

Jeff,

I have amended the confusing posts.

Ken

[dragoneggs]

Ken, I know this is an aging thread but I purchased a T-8 about 8 months ago and love it.  Wondering if you have any updates on the TS-740 cabinet now that you have been using for a long time I am guessing.  Yes, seems like way too much money but I like order and efficiency. I know I would put some casters on it as I like being able to rearrange, clean my shop with ease.

Your updated comments appreciated.

[Ken S]

Very good questions; I'm glad you asked. All too often, the "expert" comments posted are too near the unboxing and too far from longer term use.

I have mixed feelings about my work station. First, let's look at the dimensions. The width and depth are sized for the Tormek Rubber Work Mat. If you can get past the price prejudice, this is a very useful, well made accessory. I have found it an ideal size. It holds a Tormek with enough room to rotate. There is also enough room to set the stone grader, tool and a jig or two. It requires only a small footprint, which I like. It is luxuriously thick, and the lip more than catches any escaping water without being obtrusive.

If I could only keep either the work station or the mat, the mat would win hands down.


Height is a more complicated situation. Work height is a personal issue. The work station's height is taller than some of the several handbook recommendations. I'm 5'10" and have found it comfortable at its lowest setting. Ideally, I would have two heights, one for the vertical position; one for the horizontal.

I find the height of the lowest drawer inconveniently low. That's the quandry of combining a working surface and a storage area. If the storage height is convenient, the working height is too high.

The amount of drawer storage seems about right for most users. I have never used the foam organizers, although I can see where they would be good organization tools for many users. In my case, I have to periodically remove items from the drawers to prevent overcrowding. (For example, I have six support bars; five knife jigs; and three platforms for different purposes. They all fit in the drawers, however, things like the drill bit and planer jigs sit on nearby shelves, as do several grinding wheels and spare parts. As I stated, the amount of drawer storage seems ideal for most users.

I like the side hooks for the grinding wheels. I added two, bringing the total to four. I store the three diamond wheels and the Original SG on these hooks. Going forward, I believe these four wheels will cover almost all of my needs.

I have mixed feelings about putting the work station on wheels. Jeff Farris advised against it. He appeared with Norm Abram on the New Yankee Workshop, demonstrating the Tormek and offering some work station advice before Norm built his version. Norm's version does not use wheels. Jeff's objection to wheels was based on the heavier grinding pressure involved with the Original SG grinding wheel. The new diamond wheels must be used with much less grinding pressure. Wheel movement during grinding may not be such a pressing issue. Keep in mind that putting the work station on wheels will increase the working height.

I like rolling chests. Unlike the larger multi component chests, the Tormek Work Station loaded would be light enough to actually be moved for cleaning or reorganization. Comparing apples to apples, the price is not out of line when it is compared with a heavy duty Kennedy rolling chest with six drawers. It is a convenient size for a workshop.

Take a look at the photos on Wootz' website (knifegrinders.com.au) I think Wootz has an ideal set up for longer sharpening sessions. His benches are simple, easily moved, and designed to be used while sitting. If you are comparing options, I would give Wootz' benches serious consideration.

If you do order the Tormek Work Station, examine the shipping container very carefully. Refuse it if there appears to be any damage. I did not do this. The top of my unit is fully functional, but I had to pound out a dent. The work station weighs around ninety pounds (unloaded). I used a refrigerator dolly to move mine downstairs. Not a problem once there, however for a senior citizen working alone, it took some thought.

I suspect my reply asks as many new questions as it answers. I hope it helps you. Please do not hesitate to ask any further questions.

Ken

[RickKrung]

I would be interested in seeing how they use a CBN wheel, and get multiple grits out of it. (current tech, the stone wins in that regard)

But the stand question, made me think of an old post, AND of getting old or having health issues:
http://forum.tormek.com/index.php?topic=172.0

Interesting and disturbing post, SADW. I have no clue about CBN wheels, however, back in 2005, the forum clearly  let down the poster with "the bum knee". I hope that the same post would receive more and better answers today.

Ken

I would agree the forum let down Mr. bnlsrv back in 2005.  I have the same issue.  I have a bum knee and some other issues and cannot stand for long periods.  I much prefer sitting for many operations and some are amenable to it. 

I have a wooden (plywood) stool that I brought home to CA from the jobsite of my first job out of college in NY.  I am not sure of the height as I'm not home to check it, but it has to be about 18-20".  I have my T8 on the rotating base on it.  I use a standard rolling (casters) office chair to sit on.  I started out sharpening on the rear (vertical) USB from the front of the T8, so, sort of "backwards" from the traditional standing behind it. 

The stool is not wide but I still have to have my feet apart when sitting at it for sharpening.  I think it would be great to have a stand where my legs & feet were under it, but that may make it too high for comfortable use while sitting.  I do not have any photos of it to share. 

I do not have any photos of it to share but will take some when get home and share at least one. 

Rick

[GeoTech]

I am thinking of purchasing a TS-740 and have been doing some research. First the price $725.00 is on the high side, my second concern is the condition it will be in when it arrives, it isn't mobile, and where is it manufactured. I was a mechanic in my younger days and started out with Kennedy tool boxes. So looking at the Kennedy line, the K1800 series offers a model 21040B, that is 21"x 18" with 4 drawers and 5" casters. My one concern the height at 34" but I could get it lower with 3" or 4" casters, or just build a small platform to stand on. The price I found is under $500.00 and it is made in America. Thoughts?

[Ken S]

I will try to keep this short (difficult for me). We are asking the TS-740 to perform two different functions. We want it to be a working bench for the Tormek, and, a storage unit. In my opinion, it does an adequate job of both functions, but not a stellar job of either. To be fair, that is a very tall order.

I like the width and dimensions of the TS-740. Height is a sticky wicket; I don't know if any stand is ideal in all situations. The same with weight and stability. I want a stand for my Tormek which is both portable and lightweight AND stable and solid. It should also be easily field adjustable for height and inexpensive. It would be nice if it could be used both sitting and standing.

I like Kennedy chests. NE Ohio, where I lived most of my adult life, was a plentiful area for used machinist's tools. I have several old Kennedy machinist's boxes and rolling chests. They are great for storing tools. I do not like the box you mention. In my opinion, the very large bottom drawer (or cabinet space) is more designed to lower cost than increase efficiency. I would much prefer to have three more drawers. Most Tormek items do not require deep drawers. Also, that box does not have ball bearing drawers like the TS-740 has. Better Kennedy boxes do have ball bearing drawer slides, and are comparably priced with the TS-740

For storage, in my opinion, the best low cost choice is a set of heavy duty metal shelves. I have a lot of Tormek stuff. Most of it does not require quick access, and can easily sit on shelves. Like many of us, I bought jigs for future intended use. For some of these, ten years later, the future has not arrived. A set of heavy duty metal shelves can hold Tormek and non Tormek items. The most used Tormek items can easily fit on a cafeteria tray: square edge jig, knife jig(s), platforms, TT-50, stone grader, and honing compound. If you also turn, you might want a second tray.

Following Jeff Farris' advice, I did not add castors until quite recently. When I needed to move my TS-740, I used my appliance dolley. Stig recommended a Bora mobile base, which I purchased and installed. It is a well built unit, although it requires some modification to install. The included bottom threads on the TS-740 are 5/8 x11 tpi (surprisingly, not metric) They may be difficult to fit directly with castors. Incidentally, the unit is manufactured for Tormek in Germany.
Edit: I have been informed that the TS-740 is manufactured in Tiawan.
So, I leave the decision up to you.

Ken

[Hoonigan]

OP bought his Sharpening Station for $699 back in Dec, 2015. Less than 11 years later and on the Tormek website it costs $1069. That's about a 53% increase. Who's salary has gone up by 53% in the past 11 years?

Thank you America for the forever wars no one voted for. Thank you for causing inflation by printing money and going into trillions of dollars of debt; the hidden tax on the middle and lower class no one voted for. Thank you for destroying the global oil and gas markets.

In summary, buy as many Tormek TS-740 Sharpening Stations as you can. They'll probably cost over $2,000 by 2035. It's a good hedge against the stock market, crypto, and gold.

please note first and second amendments at the bottom of this post.

Before I get into this review, I would like to mention two things which effect anyone purchasing a Tormek TS-740 Sharpening Station:

First: The TS-740 is the only Tormek product I know of where it can pay to do comparison shopping with several authorized dealers. The problem is the present consumer craze for "free shipping". At the time of this writing, the official retail price for the TS-740 is $699. This price does not include shipping, and the shipping weight is 93 pounds. Living in Ohio, I found shipping costs ranging from $38 to $74 US. I have found dealer prices as high as $849 with "free shipping". I suggest getting several prices with and without "free shipping". As always, my first choice would be my local Tormek dealer.

Second: The TS-740 is shipped in a double box with some styrofoam padding. Under normal shipping conditions, this is probably adequate. In my case, I happened to order during the height of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday insanity. I noticed one side of the bottom of the box was slightly crunched. When I opened the box in my basement, I noticed that one corner of the top was slightly dented in. Three minutes work with a pry bar, hammer and round metal tool straightened the situation, leaving only slightly damaged paint. For me, this was not enough of a problem to warrant the hassle of returning it. However, if you are more particular, do not accept a damaged shipping box.

Now, for my impressions of the Sharpening Station. Be sure to watch Alan Holtham's video review. I found Alan's review well done. I like the size of the Sharpening Station. It is large enough to get the job done and at the same time does have a very small footprint. It fits very nicely in a corner of my workshop near my bench. My original plan was to place the TS-740 far enough out to allow me to work on all four sides. For the present, I altered that plan by placing the TS-740 nearer the wall and relying on the Rotating Base. Time will tell which arrangement I prefer.

I believe the storage size is a good compromise. I have a lot of Tormek "stuff", including several grinding wheels. Included are several duplicate jigs as well as jigs and set up tools I have made. Not all of my stuff fits in the six drawers of the TS-740. This would not be a problem for most users. In fact, it is not a problem for me. There is plenty of storage for both the things I use regularly and the things I use only occasionally.

The planer jig, which I have never used, did not make the cut. I keep it on a nearby shelf.

At first, I did not like the idea of storing the grinding wheels "outboard". This preference changed when I began using the extra grinding wheels more. The problem is that the grinding wheels stay damp for several days. The hooks work well for allowing the damp wheels to dry.

I have not decided if I will store the wheels on the hooks once dry, or whether I will continue to keep them in their boxes on the same shelf as the planer jig.

My unit came with the Rubber Work Mat instead of the Composite Surface. I don't know which is now standard. (my unit also came with a Tormek hat, so it may have originally been part of a promotion). I already have a Tormek rubber mat, which I like very much, so I have no complaints about receiving the rubber mat instead of the composite surface. The Sharpening Station and Rubber Work Mat are nicely sized together. As I stated earlier, the combination is large enough to get the job done, but has a minimal footprint.

I think incorporating the foam tool holder inserts is a clever design feature. I will begin working with them in place. In my case, I suspect at some point I will probably remove them. This reflects my personal work preferences rather than being a comment about the foam inserts.

I like the combination of having the two top drawers shallower and the four lower drawers deeper. That seems like practical design to me. Following the "foam plan", the second shallow drawer holds the basic (included with the T7) Tormek jigs and accessories. This leaves the very important top drawer for my necessities (bevel and regular markers; metric Allen wrenches; ¾" (19mm) wrench; kenjigs and other set up tools, and a lot of etc.

I have recycled the box which originally held my spare 105 Universal Support Bar into "Tormek parts". This box holds the two spare micro adjust rings I purchased for an idea which did not prove successful. The original nut for the T4 leather honing wheel is here. I replaced it with a T7 wrenchless nut. I made up several spacer pieces of plastic pipe to hold the shaft in place while transporting a Tormek with the grinding wheel removed. They reside here. The smaller shaped leather honing rings are here, also.Either the parts box or the planer jig was the last thing to make the cut. I chose the parts box.

In front of the parts box I keep some very rarely used jigs. I purchased an earlier version of the square edge jig for mortise chisels. I have a spare TT-50 and a spare scissors jig (a someday project to become one of Herman's HK-50 jigs).

The bottom drawer holds the DBS-22 drill bit jig in the back. In the front is my original water trough. The trough presently holds my compounds: spare Tormek honing compound; valve grinding compound; and lithium grease.

In general, I have been quite satisfied with the design and build quality of the Sharpening Station. If I were assigning a star rating to it, I would give a solid four stars, perhaps four and a half stars. Having a slightly dented corner (which I repaired) from inadequate packaging caused me to deduct some points. Also, one of the screw in feet would only screw in halfway before jamming. The screw in feet look solid and well made. The problem appears to be in the female thread. This was only an annoyance for me, as I am five feet ten inches tall and did not need the lowest range of the height adjustment.

I would purchase this unit again, however, I would watch the package condition closely. I unloaded and set it up myself, with the help of an appliance dolly.  Ideally, I would recommend it be a two person job.

I will update this post from time to time as I settle in to using the TS-740 Sharpening Station.

Ken

First amendment: Following a suggestion from Stig, I found that the obstruction of the one foot screw thread was just a minor blockage. (maybe just some paint or plastic) In fact, if I had used a wrench and some force, I might have broken through it. I initially used just my fingers. Instead, I ran a 5/8" NC thread tap through it which quite easily dislodged the blockage. The blockage is still unTormeklike in my opinion, but I have downgraded it to a minor nuisance.

Second amendment: Having to repair the thread turned out to be a positive learning experience. I was surprised how easy working with the Sharpening Station turned out to be. Removing everything from the drawers took only a couple minutes. I locked the empty drawers and tipped the chest on to the front. The original cardboard box protected the paint. For a heavy object, it is not clumsy to work with.

I noticed that the drawers have ball bearings to help absorb the load. Kennedy chests have these, too, but only in the premium chests. The ball bearings are a bit of overkill in the Tormek chest, however, they are indicative of not skipping on quality. My 4.8 star rating has become 4.8. The 5/8" thread is also a nice bit of over kill.

Another nice feature, not fully expounded in Alan Hotham's review is the drawer liners. There is a full pack of six included, not just three. Nice touch, Tormek.