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BGM-100 mounted to 8" bench grinder, can I use the truing tool?

Started by Erich Wise, April 20, 2016, 12:51:27 AM

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Ken S

Erich,

I hesitate to make recommendations with CBN wheels for several reasons. First of all, I have never used one. Second, I have been actively researching them, and not found very much solid information, especially with grit choices. A distant third reason is that CBN wheels are not in the everyday Tormek technique at this point.

I found a sawmillcreek thread with 31 replies. Most of the thoughts were opinions, rather than observations.

I used 46 and 80 grit Norton 3X wheels in my experiments. I was specifically looking for a more efficient reshaping method with my Tormek. I used both wheels wet, which I am convinced is the best method with the Tormek. (no dust or sparks. also dead cool) The 46 grit seems about 25% faster than the 80 grit. The 80 was plenty fast for me and slightly more controlled. If I was starting again, I would purchase only the 80 grit. Both of these wheels were too coarse for everyday resharpening.

If you choice is 80 or 180, my gut feeling would lean toward the 180. If you have other grit choices and want to use it primarily for sharpening, I would opt for a 600 or 360. Again, I have not found much good testing on grits.

Whichever way you go, be sure the wheel is well suited to the Tormek's 12mm shaft.

With Tormek's EZYlock shaft, there is no excuse for having a rust problem with a CBN wheel. I routinely remove my wheel to dry after a sharpening session.

One supplier has supposedly sold thousands of CBN wheels to Tormek users. They are apparently quite shy about sharing their experiences.

In my opinion, CBN or diamond wheels will be part of the Tormek lineup in the near future. It is already the wheel for the highly specialized T2. I suspect it will be an optional wheel, like the SB or SJ. Just my opinion.

You will be one of the pioneers. Please share your experiences.

Ken


Erich Wise

Ken,

I definitely understand your hesitation.

I find it very interesting that you used the 3X wheels on your Tormek. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I definitely think wet grinding is the way to go. The idea of putting CBN on the Tormek is a great idea if it works, I'd love for Tormek to put a CBN option with their stuff. Either way, right now I'll be putting CBN in the shop on dry grinders at work, but when the new Tormek comes out I'll be buying that for my personal sharpening system.

If I do get a CBN for the Tormek, I'll definitely do reviews and share all experiences.

Thanks


Ken S

Erich,

With all the posts about grinding wheels, I believe it is important to remember the original concept of the Tormek. In an era when most of us were burning edges with fast dry grinders with gray wheels and struggling eith oilstones, Torgny Jansson invented a wet grinder which was cool running and free of dust and sparks. This was soon followed by a remarkable selection of jigs for precise grinding. A stone grader offered double duty for the grinding wheel. This offered versatility and economy. One very generously sized wheel instead of two smaller wheels. The basic machine could grind, hone and polish. This was truly remarkable.

In just the seven years I have been a Tormek user, the improvements have been notable. These improvements are ongoing. Very soon we will have a replacement for the venerable T7. In the near future, I expect to see changes in Tormek's grinding wheels. I believe most of today's jigs will be machined to tighter tolerances with the new zink casting technology as well as expanded in range. Grinding a controlled camber on smoothing and jointer planes seems to have just arrived as well as controlled squareness tweaking on chisels. I suspect composite will supercede leather for the honing wheel.

I also believe CBN wheels will continue evolving. The CBN may last almost forever. The CBN may outlast the present technology and we may end up replacing only half worn wheels. During this advanced period, many Supergrinds and "old" T7s will be happily chugging along.

We live in interesting times. ( I vaguely remember that being a Chonese curse..... :(

Ken

Rob

I've not read this entire thread so apologies if I've missed anything but just yesterday my SB had got too ridged from gouge grinds to carry on so I was faced with the torture of stopping turning to redress the surface.  On opening my bits draw in my sharpening station, I spotted the cheap ten buck diamond T dresser and thought to myself...would it work???

So I shimmied the USB to within 1mm of the wheel and then by eye held the T bar square on to the wheel with plenty of pressure on its top so the wheel didn't push it up (bar on the side not the top).

It worked an absolute treat, redressed the stone in about 20 seconds.  Brilliant shortcut for a wheel restored to generic use.  I don't think I'd do that for my finest Lie Neilsen block plane blade but for quick and dirty, it was fabulous.

That's my quick tip for the day done :-)
Best.    Rob.

Ken S