Tormek ... Gimmick?

[Steve Mathews]

I just purchased a Tormek T8 Custom and fitted it with 10" CBN and leather wheels. I already had a slow speed 10" grinder with 8" CBN wheels and a Oneway grinding system for sharpening woodturning tools, which has served me well. The Tormek purchase was motivated after getting into some wood carving. I thought it might be better suited for that purpose especially because of the leather honing capability and since I would be wood carving in another part of my shop an additional sharpening station seemed to make sense. After setting up the machine I sharpened a couple of general purpose chisels with the Square Edge Jig. My first impression was ... why did I purchase this? The chisel already had a decent flat ground edge that could've been easily touched up with my sharpening stones. And if the edge was so badly damaged I could've fixed it with tools I already had. I also got the feeling that the Tormek was nothing more than a gimmick, one of those late night purchases on the shopping channel, my wife's purchases not mine. Should I keep the Tormek and risk it ending up in a closet along with the bread maker, various vegetable cutters, cotton candy machine, hot dog cooker, etc?

[mike stenson]

I find my tormek to be great for sharpening turning tools. Things like chisels and plane irons, faster with a normal bench grinder and stones. They're simply too slow for those imo

[Bill Howatt]

I find my tormek to be great for sharpening turning tools. Things like chisels and plane irons, faster with a normal bench grinder and stones. They're simply too slow for those imo
There are too many happy Tormek users to make me think it is a gimmick.
I don't have a Tormek but your comment is the opposite of what I would have thought would be the case. Slowness sharpening turnng tools is often stated as a negative for Tormeks especially since turning tools need to be sharpened frequently compared to hand tools.

[John Kananis]

Just kind of boils down to method of work. I use mine for all sorts of things from knives to scissors, etc. You really can sharpen just about anything with it and I like using it for a hollow grind instead of my 8" or 6" grinders as I like a flatter bevel. That said, I could totally live without it if I had to. I initially purchased to sharpen turning tools but I've gone free hand with a Wolverine platform for those now.

[Andrew Hughes]

I really like my Tormek. I have use the stones on mines. I guarantee there are things you can do on a Tormek that cannot be done on a regular bench grinder or sharpening stones.
I does take time to learn the ways of slow grinding. I encourage you to keep it
Good Luck

[mike stenson]

I don't have a Tormek but your comment is the opposite of what I would have thought would be the case. Slowness sharpening turnng tools is often stated as a negative for Tormeks especially since turning tools need to be sharpened frequently compared to hand tools.

I sharpen my hand tools several times during use. Basically, I keep my stones out when using them. Reestablishing a bevel, removing a nick etc, with the tormek is, well.. So slow it's painful. On the other hand, I don't turn often. If I did, I'd imagine a tormek holder for a bench grinder would be better. Its the jigs, not the low speed, that I like for turning tools.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Check out Taylor tools sharpening system for straight edge tools. Less than fifty bucks for complete system, plus cost of drill press.

[Richard Coers]

I added the planer knife attachment on my Jet version. I couldn't be happier doing my 12" jointer and planer blades. Not every machine feels just right when you use it for the first time.

[Mike Henderson]

I've used the Tormek system in the past but didn't like it for my needs - one reason is that it's a wet system. It's also very expensive.

For chisels and plane blades, I use a WorkSharp with diamond plates to establish the primary bevel and then water stones to put on a secondary bevel.

For turning tools (I don't do a lot of turning) I use a CBN wheel and the Wolverine jig.

Mike

[mike stenson]

I added the planer knife attachment on my Jet version. I couldn't be happier doing my 12" jointer and planer blades. Not every machine feels just right when you use it for the first time.

This was awesome, when I had straight knives!

[David M Peters]

I had a similar experience with Tormek. Too slow compared to my dry grinder, didn't deliver as sharp of an edge as stones.

The good news is that it sold quickly and for a good amount on eBay!

[Randy Heinemann]

I never found my Tormek, which I've owned for 20 years, to be useful for chisels or planes. However, when I started turning about 7 years ago, I found that the Tormek jig for gouges is the easiest and best way to resharpen HSS gouges. Scrapers are also easy to sharpen on the Tormek. When Tormek came out with diamond wheels several years ago, I bought a 600 grit. It is now installed on my Tormek and, while on the lathe, I just go over to the Tormek to sharpen my gouge frequently and it takes literally less than a minute (maybe 30 seconds sometimes). So, the Tormek just stays set up for my HSS gouges. I do have a regular slow speed grinder (Rikon) with CBN wheels that I use when shaping a gouge or scraper because that is faster. The Tormek isn't for everyone. It's expensive, but they do have a jig for everything and is very handy for more specialized types of tools. For resharpening chisels and plane blades I have a set of bench stones and a honing guide from Lie-Nielsen that works much better than any grinder for that.

[Steve Demuth]

I don't know that I'd call it a gimmick, but I do consider them highly over-rated. I use mine very infrequently, preferring a low speed dry grinder for things requiring actual grinding, and diamond flat stones for honing and secondary bevels. The turning tool jig is great, but you can use the same jig on a dry grinder, so it's not really a selling point.

[James Jayko]

I haven't used a Tormek but it seems pretty great. That said, I think what I mean is that the jigs make it look super easy to use any grinder. Just saw Mike Farrington's video about his grinding station using a traditional grinder and Tormek jig...that seemed like the ability to get basically the same functionality (the functionality that I'd want, anyway) for a lot less money? Yes slow and you have to be more careful re heat, but I ain't in that big of a rush anyway. Or am I missing the point?

[Scott Bernstein]

It seems there as many sharpening kids, tools, machines, and techniques as there are blades to be sharpened. If one single method was the best for everyone, we'd all be using the same method...but obviously that is not the case.
I have tried a few different jigs and techniques before finally settling on the Tormek. I have found that at least for me, the Tormek does an amazing job quickly for everything I need to sharpen. I can use it for chisels, planes, kitchen knives, straight razors, pocket knives, and axes. There is little mess or cleanup other than filling it with water. Yes, it's expensive. Yes you can accomplish the same thing with more generic wheels and such. But Tormek does a great job of putting a whole system together. I use mostly the standard sharpening wheel, grading stone, and leather honing wheel. For really thin kitchen knives and my straight razor that I like to keep scary-sharp I can break out the Tormek Japanese stone. Works amazing. If I want to flatten the backs of my chisels I can either use the side of the Tormek diamond stone or I can just use my flat diamond plates, which I keep around for just that purpose.

[Edward Weber]

Very informative thread, thanks.
I don't know if it answered the OP's question or not but it answered many of mine.

[John Kananis]

I already mentioned I have and use one but I failed to mention that I use a 400 grit cbn wheel on mine. If I had to deal with filling and draining it, I would have sold it and made do.

[Kevin Jenness]

I guarantee there are things you can do on a Tormek that cannot be done on a regular bench grinder or sharpening stones.

What are they, besides grinding planer blades?

[andrew whicker]

I paid for mine with a job... I guess I could go either way on it at the end of the day. Most or all of the tools I buy make me money. This one, however, is pretty inefficient at money back.. maybe my most inefficient / worst purchase? But when I get a nick in a chisel or hand plane blade it is nice to have a machine to quickly re-bevel. I have a few Japanese stones that I use much more often for maintenance, but they would be a time suck if I had to fix a nick or gouge in a blade with hand pressure and a stone. So for me, it was a purchase to help me get past down time. Maybe I should go w/ dry grinding and sell it as many of you seem to do.

It works really well w/ my "cheap" chisels.. my first set of chisels for a birthday back when I was like 20? The ones with blue plastic handles.. can't remember the brand. They are softer than quality chisels and I use them for everything. They get nicks and gouges a lot from hitting 18g nails, etc. A quick re-sharpen / re-shape on the Tormek and that's good enough.

It also works well with kitchen knives

At some point, I'll have to get the jig to help w/ jointer blades.

[John Kananis]

Andrew, are you referring to the blue handled Marples? I still have my set of 4 (they were my first "real" chisels). The ones with the little white ring around the ferrule were made with very good steel and hold an edge well (I believe they were O1 but not 100% on that, maybe W1 but I don't think so) - I also like the length of the blades. The ones with the little black ring around the ferrule used much lower quality steel and don't really hold an edge.


I paid for mine with a job... I guess I could go either way on it at the end of the day. Most or all of the tools I buy make me money. This one, however, is pretty inefficient at money back.. maybe my most inefficient / worst purchase? But when I get a nick in a chisel or hand plane blade it is nice to have a machine to quickly re-bevel. I have a few Japanese stones that I use much more often for maintenance, but they would be a time suck if I had to fix a nick or gouge in a blade with hand pressure and a stone. So for me, it was a purchase to help me get past down time. Maybe I should go w/ dry grinding and sell it as many of you seem to do.

It works really well w/ my "cheap" chisels.. my first set of chisels for a birthday back when I was like 20? The ones with blue plastic handles.. can't remember the brand. They are softer than quality chisels and I use them for everything. They get nicks and gouges a lot from hitting 18g nails, etc. A quick re-sharpen / re-shape on the Tormek and that's good enough.

It also works well with kitchen knives

At some point, I'll have to get the jig to help w/ jointer blades.

[Andrew Hughes]

I guarantee there are things you can do on a Tormek that cannot be done on a regular bench grinder or sharpening stones.

What are they, besides grinding planer blades?

One advantage the Tormek has over regular bench grinding is tools can be ground away or in. The slow removal of steel using a stone is exactly what needed to grind v gouges for carvings especially small ones.
hollow grinding A2 plane blades is by far the best way to sharpen especially if a edge is heavily worn.
For wood turning a negative rake scraper for the cleaning up the bottom of a bowl can be done on a Tormek that’s different then a bench grinder. The tool is ground away and the little burr that’s left make a nice clean cutting edge.
Im on my second Tormek I wore out the 2000 model but repurposed it as a buffer.
Here’s some pics.

[Kevin Jenness]

One advantage the Tormek has over regular bench grinding is tools can be ground away or in. The slow removal of steel using a stone is exactly what needed to grind v gouges for carvings especially small ones.
hollow grinding A2 plane blades is by far the best way to sharpen especially if a edge is heavily worn.
For wood turning a negative rake scraper for the cleaning up the bottom of a bowl can be done on a Tormek that’s different then a bench grinder. The tool is ground away and the little burr that’s left make a nice clean cutting edge.
Im on my second Tormek I wore out the 2000 model but repurposed it as a buffer.
Here’s some pics.

I do all those things using a light touch on a slow speed (1040rpm) grinder with a cbn wheel and a felt buffing wheel on another bench grinder. The Tormek is a good machine with high quality jigs that makes it impossible to burn an edge, but I am happy with bench grinders, bench stones, a strop and a few handheld slips and hones. To each his own. I will say my adoption of cbn wheels was a gamechanger.

[Andrew Hughes]

I felt like I should have been more clear about grinding away and into. Not to you Kevin I believe you understand.
This is for the one passing by and reading maybe not understanding. The Tormek has 2 tool rest one on top and one in the front the wheel turns away from the front rest unlike a bench grinder.
It’s my belief that more people would pursue wood carvings if they could keep carving tools sharp including small knives.
When I belonged to a woodcarving group this was the main problem.
Small v gouges are very difficult to sharpen if the edge gets damaged.
I don’t believe it can be resurrected on a cbn wheel. It’s something that needs to happen if a woodworker wants to carve woods harder then basswood or cotton wood bark.
Sharpening my wood carvings gouges was the main reason I bought my Tormek. I do use for kitchen knives and jointer knives.
Good Luck

[Derek Cohen]

If you are focussing on plane blades and bench chisels, and reasonably experienced, then an 8" half-speed bench grinder with an 180 grit CBN wheel is your better choice. Even more so if you use the Tormek BGM-100 tool rest with it. This is a fast working system with all the accuracy and flexibility of the slow Tormek.

https://i.postimg.cc/Jz529p6f/2.jpg (https://postimages.org/)

This system replaced a Tormek. The Tormek was the only game in town 15+ years ago. Then CBN wheels became better known outside turning circles, and the Tormek lost ground. Its only advantge was the tool rest, and they sell this as an accessory, so it is no longer a unique product. The irony is that Tormek went to CBN and Diamond wheels, but the reason for their slow grinding speed was that this was as fast as one could work when the wheel is immersed in water. Water is terrific for keeping down dust, and there is an advantage here when working in some environment. However, the CBN wheel is great at dust reduction. Adding a CBN wheel to a Tormek is missing the point, and still too much like lipstick on a pig.

Regards from Perth (currently hiking around Wellington, New Zealand)

Derek

[Andrew Hughes]

After seeing Derek’s setup that looks very interesting and appealing. Derek you always have nice setups
I realized something about the Tormek that’s not talked about.
The Tormek is superbly portable in less then one minute I can have all my attachments with the machine is my truck ready to go. I can do all the same precision sharpening that I do in my shop anywhere there’s a outlet.
I remember one Christmas I bought my 2000 unit to a Christmas party and sharpened up at least a dozen knives.
Last year i fixed a expensive shun chefs knife for my daughter in law. Her boyfriend at the time use it to chop pot stems and chipped the blade badly.
Careful deliberate precision I used the black stone on my Tormek with only minimal loss to the knife. These are the victories that earn the biggest points with my wife and in-laws.:)
Good Luck

[Kevin Jenness]

[QUOTE=Andrew Hughes;3311617It’s my belief that more people would pursue wood carvings if they could keep carving tools sharp including small knives.
When I belonged to a woodcarving group this was the main problem.
Small v gouges are very difficult to sharpen if the edge gets damaged.
I don’t believe it can be resurrected on a cbn wheel. It’s something that needs to happen if a woodworker wants to carve woods harder then basswood or cotton wood bark.
[/QUOTE]

It does take care but can be managed. I hold the tools at a right angle to the wheel face to get a flat grind, using a very light touch and following with a fine diamond stone on the outside and a slipstone on the inside before buffing. A 600# wheel helps to slow the action. Once the shape is established buffing should suffice to keep the carving tools sharp for a long time. I would say a Tormek has the advantage of slow speed so you can't screw up as fast, but no matter the process shaping small carving tools requires some finesse.