T7 the big kid on the block? Not any more.

Tormek have released the T8 grinder for the ultimate in sharpening.  Available in Australia in July 2016.

While the changes over the T7 are probably not enough to make all T7 owners want to run out to get one, if you are in the market for a new grinder, the T8 is definitely worth considering.

They are currently available on pre-order from Ideal Tools.

The changes include a repositionable water trough, useful for the changing dimensions as the grinding wheel wears (of course, you have to do a fair bit of grinding to wear the wheel away!  Mine is still pretty close to original dimensions.  There again, if I used it more, I’d have sharper tools too.  Doh!)

The body is now cast zinc, and the drive wheel is also zinc.

The body is enclosed, and there is better splash and run-off management (and that is a good thing – I get quite a river happening after a long sharpening session!)

While many still struggle with the whole concept of a wet stone grinder costing north of a $1000, for those who have been able to justify the expenditure, there is no question about just how good the machine is in achieving its purpose in life.  Ultimate sharpness.

More detail can be found on the Tormek website

SSYTC032 Tormek T7

Late Night Antics

It’s late, I’m tired, but cannot sleep because it is just too hot.  Which is ironic seeing as I’m about to head over  to a country where the night temp is not 30+C, but -10C

Being late, I didn’t want to disturb the neighbours, so it was a chance to try out the new Tormek T7 that arrived yesterday from Carroll’s Woodcraft Supplies.  If all else fails, sharpen!

I was also really, really curious to get to know just how the Tormek (at $1100) would compare to the Triton/Scheppach ($200), especially given the wheel on the Tormek alone is $300!

Tormek for some Sharpening

Even at this early stage, after dressing the wheel (and having the machine) and sharpening a couple of chisels, the machine excels.  It is hard to pin down just what it is that is making the difference.  The tool holder (for chisels) doesn’t skew the chisel off at an angle if you get the pressure uneven.  It is cast and machined, not folded metal.  There are stops on the arm so your tool doesn’t fall off the wheel.  There is a micro-adjuster on the arm, that really does make a difference.

The honing wheel isn’t oscillating widely from side to side (there is a little, but not as disturbing).

The large waterbath doesn’t pour water everywhere (there is a decent capture area.  And on and on – all little differences in themselves that add up to a massive difference at the tip of the chisel.

I was able to get (with care) a decent edge on the old watercooled grinder.  The degree of sharpness off the Tormek takes that to another level.

Chisel

Hard to see,  but the first chisel now has a stunning mirror finish, front and back.  The handplane blade that I did (HSS) just before this one is scary-sharp (and no, I don’t mean the technique of using lots of grades of sandpaper).

The wheel is wide, and can be changed from 220 grit to 1000 grit with the provided stone grader.  The wheel can also be machined true with the provided dressing tool – this does need to be done with the wheel before first using it out of the box, but at least you have everything in the box that you need to get the grinder up and running.

I’ll be talking a lot more about this grinder/sharpener, including the upgrades to the T7 that have occurred, but my first impression of the T7 comes back to that old adage “you get what you pay for”.  In spades.

Episode 41 Wetstone Jigs and Stone Dressing

Episode 41 Wetstone Jigs and Stone Dressing

The wetstone sharpeners are just one part of the system – the jigs that are available make it a very versatile machine.  This video covers both some of the jigs that are available, as well as dressing the stone, so it is flat and parallel to the jig support arm.