T4 to T8 Black, worth the upgrade?

[jkSharp]

I love my T4. Essentially I only sharpen knives on it, as a busy but fulfilling side hobby.

There's a new T8 black edition for sale on a popular auction site that I'm eyeing.. contemplating going for it. The diamond wheels intrigue me.

I have the funds to spare, and I love Tormek in general, just wondering if I would notice a difference in my overall sharpening practice going from a T4 to T8.

Cheers!

[Ken S]

Good question. However, a better question would have two parts. Would a standard issue T8 improve your sharpening over a T4? And, would a Black Edition T8 improve your sharpening over a standard T8?

Comparing machine to machine, all T8s are identical. Except for the warranty, there is nothing in the Black Edition to extend its longevity.

Please ignore the old "thirty minute duty" myth. This was a regularity issuehaving nothing to do with real world performance.

Tormek now carries the full grit range of diamond wheels in both sizes.

If having a limited edition model would please you, by all means purchase the Black Edition. Don't buy it for any sharpening improvement. The choice is yours.

Ken

[tgbto]

I agree with Ken, compare the price of a DF-200 and your Tormek Black. If they are similar and you have real estate to spare, by all means go for the Black, you might even get to use your T4 as a honing station.

If the T8 Black is significantly more expensive than the DF-200, it's up to you to value having a limited edition T8 (that most non-sharpening-nerds will be clueless about).

[RichColvin]

The T-8 (regular or black) has one advantage over the T-4 which you may find useful:  the SB grindstone is only available in a 250mm size, so it won't fit on the T-4. 

I don't sharpen for a business, but I often find that the traditional grindstones are my preference. I have all 6 of the Tormek grinding wheels, but find myself using the traditional grindstones quite often.

[Ken S]

Although I would have preferred a Tormek version, Ihave had good success using an eight inch 46 or 80 grit Norton 3X wheel. Adapting them to fit a Tormek takes a little fiddling, however, this can be done in a home workshop. A strong point with these wheels is cost. These wheels cost around $70US, and one is enough.

Ken

[tgbto]

These wheels cost around $70US, and one is enough.

In France, I couldn't find those aside from Amazon, priced at a modest EUR 200. The BDX line of wheels is more widely available and more reasonably priced. Does anyone know how they compare to the 3X ?

[RickKrung]

These wheels cost around $70US, and one is enough.

In France, I couldn't find those aside from Amazon, priced at a modest EUR 200. The BDX line of wheels is more widely available and more reasonably priced. Does anyone know how they compare to the 3X ?

I think just about any standard grinding wheel, in the 64-80 grit range will do about the same.  I was gifted the 8" Norton wheels that I first used in this manner, which were great.  Then I was gifted a no-name/don't even know the grit 10" grinding wheel.  It works every bit as good as the Norton and I much prefer the 10" diameter as it is more similar to others on my T8. 

These standard grinding wheels are trued just like any the SG or SB wheels using the Tormek Truing Tool.  An excellent choice for anyone wanting faster metal removal.

Norton 8", 64 grit wheel on T8 sharpening a drill bit

10" standard grinding wheel on being trued on a T8