I have a Tormek T8 and tried to same some money and bought two Wen wet sharpeners for my tool sharpening business. When I turned both Wen's on it sounded like the were going to blow up. There were other problems so I sent them both back and bought another Tormek T8. I appreciated you taking the time to review a cheaper unit. I can say without a doubt you get what you pay for and there are no Tormek killers in my opinion.
Tip from a guy who found out the hard way: I never leave the stone in contact with water in less the wheel is turning, accidentally left it in to long, the stone was no longer round. So whenever I stop it, I lower the water tray. And that sharpie trick is good, however, you can use it while the stone is dry and machine is off. Just turn it a bit by hand, you’ll still se if the sharpie disappears.
It was still round just heavy one side where the water soaked in update i was a grinder using coolant for 25 yrs so i hope someone doesnt try to correct me because you will be wrong
I got one those Maximum sharpeners myself on sale at Canadian Tire and I like it. I have used it for sharpening chisels and plane blades and it does a fine job. I go to diamond stones and water stones to put the final edge on the better chisels, but the machine does a great job on the primary bevel and reprofiling. I can't afford a Tormek, so I'm very happy with this purchase. Had it a couple of months now. The big trick is getting the angle right with the guide and keeping the edge square across the blade, especially important on the plane blades. Still learning. Haven't done a knife or scissors with it yet, but that's coming. One suggestion: drop a couple of small magnets in the water reservoir to gather the metal waste so it doesn't build up on the wheel (probably is more of an issue with chisels and planes blades because you are removing more metal, unless you are reprofiling a knife shape). It is said that you can dress the wheel to get it to a finer grit. Gonna check into doing that.
Hey I have one of these knock-offs (The WEN model which I did a review on)! They're decent. Thanks for putting this out there. The Tormek Dressing tool is a must have for these to true up those wheels. I also modified the jig to work better with aggressive drop point knives. I will say it can be hard to sharpen knives without a sharpening choil... without messing up the plunges.
Red Beard Ops I just mentioned to Jeremy he needs to check out your video on your Wen but I forgot to use your new channel name 😂. I really want to duplicate your set up. I’ll probably still finish up with my edge pro but maybe not always.
@@e.t.preppin7084 Lol, Jeremy's stuff rocks! I'm happy he tried out that model. I still use the modified jig, but I have ditched the laser guide for most of my sharpening. I find that's it hasn't been necessary with a little practice.
I know this is old but I’m looking to get one of these. I also thought about the knives without a choil. I assume the actual tormek would be the same. Also what did you do to the jig to make it better. I’m going to try and find your video but if you have any other input it would be appreciated.
Tormek accessories work great. There is the WM-200 angle gauge to determine your angle and the stone setter which allows you to freshen the stone or use the fine side to get a finer finish for finer work. Red Beard Ops did a review on the WEN sharpener version and he showed a few great accessories as well as a knife clamp modification that you may find interesting.
I have the Wen. It’s a good little system. I press diamond grit stones on the main wheel to adjust the grit of the main wheel up to 1000 grit. I also change the strop wheel for 3 different pastes.
Have the same one when also does a set of jigs with the long jig and short jig as well as another one or two I think for scissors or something for around $50
@@ttonAb2 I have the Grizzly version and it comes with a stone that has a coarse side and fine side and is supposed to dress the stone as such. Seems odd to me too but it works. I doubt you could get it to 1000 with a diamond stone though.
@13:06 FYI - The way to use the strop to get both sides if you're doing more than a 6" blade is to reverse the direction of the spin and just stand on the other side. That way the handle is again on the outside of the spindle and it's not rotating toward you.
The rest(where you place your work) is changeable so you can position yourself on the otherside of the machine rather then actually reverse the spinning of the wheel
I have been using a knockoff tormek for some years now and it works fine for my chisels and knives at home. I still keep my stones around for a quick touch up though. For 120 euro I have no regrets buying it.
Man, I can't tell you how good it is to hear another knifemaker was frustrated with sharpening, because that's exactly how it is for me. I love the entire process and then I dread the sharpening because it frustrates the hell out of me. I'm getting decent results with paper wheels now, but I'm going to keep an eye on these in the future.,
I got the WEN about 6 months ago because I was super interested in this type of knife sharpening. It was so terrible. Cheap plastic and cheap parts. You could just feel that it was a "copy" version of the Tormek. I even got the wen starter jig set up. The knife jig (the one you are using in the video) was so poorly made that the "clamp screws were too long to flip the knife to do the other side. It started griding the plastic off the tightener. So i had to go to the hardware store and just buy a flat bolt. Eventually I forked up the money get the Tormek t8 and couldnt be happier. Obviously you get what you pay for and the T8 is amazing. My question is did you get the angle guide and figure out how to match that? thats the hardest part for me. Thanks
A tip from my time using a Tormek (second to none) for matching an angle, instead of checking it under power you can just turn the stone by hand to see if it i removing the sharpie mark. Less likely to facet your edge.
Brilliant! I use a sharpie all the time for filling Frets on Instruments like Guitars, enables us to see the high vs low frets. BUT I would not have considered what you suggest.
Cheers Jeremy. I bought a similar one today after seeing this last night. I take all my bushcraft and hunting knives to 800g on waterstones before stropping, but as you know, it's a real ball ache if you're doing a batch and establishing that secondary bevel. I'm hoping I can just whip off some material before taking it to the hand stones. Thanks again, you may have just saved me a full day a week. Literally.
Use a standard leather stropping pad with green compound after the machine strop, it just finishes an edge off nicely (10 year Tormek T7 pro sharpener here in Scotland)
Good video! I'm always learning something new. I bought a tormek t8 and yes it was a pretty penny and hard to swallow the cost but what a machine!!! Probably never get my money back in my lifetime but don't care as I never have a full know again and only takes a few minutes not hours.
I started with sharpening before I got into making knives. I’ve used my edge pro for many years and love the system. No heat worries but kinda difficult to start a brand new edge on a new knife without say breaking the 90’s on my grinder. Have done it without but too much work and stone wear. The tool clamp that came with your machine looks like it would be good for clamping chisels. 👍
I've been using a Tormek T-7 for several years and I'm very pleased with it's functionality and the sharpening outcomes. However, the big problem with wet grinders in general is the cumulative time it takes to sharpen a single knife (setup, sharpen, breakdown, cleanup). There's nothing quick about it. If you're sharpening several knives it's likely worth the time, but if you're sharpening only one or two you'll be happier using something else (like a belt grinder). It all comes down to personal preference and the time you wish to invest, but I'll just say that I like wet grinders...sometimes.
I use to make knives, for only few month, and sharpening is always and still a mission.... It makes me seriously think to get one of those bad boys. A big thanks for this useful and accurate test video. Best regards from France my friend.
Hi Jeremy. I bought the Wen, it came with 2 knife holders one big and one small, like the one you paid 40 dollars for. It also came with the knife holder you can't figure out how it holds a knife because that one is for an axe. When running the 10" 220 wheel I found out that you should run it in reverse so the water goes up into the blade. Its also good to put a magnet in the water tank. The Wen came with a plastic angel gage that has lots of different angles, works good. I have a video on it you can check out. I got to warn you I'm not as good as you on making videos. I just do it for fun. Keep up the great work. You are very good.
Great video... thanks. About loose clothing, I have a friend who got his sleeve caught in the drill press while knife-making and it snapped his wrist. He won't go near that drill press any more. Be careful.
Have you considered buying a real Tormek? Yeah they are expensive but they have addressed just about every issue you bring up in this video, and are just a genuinely good experience to use. Like having the water trough depth adjust, a default two grit stone, a decently reliable angle gauge, less clearance issues, ect... I got my T8 last year, and now use it for most of my sharpening, I only use my Wicked Edge for super fine polishing now. I got the Hand Tools package and have found some of the jigs super useful, I did not know how much my belt sander axe edges were lacking until I sharpened one on the Tormek with the ax jig. And the extra long knife jig is great for mounting really large chopping knives, even FFG ones. Also on the Tormek you can take the stone or strop off really fast with no tools to give you all the clearance you need for long blades. I very highly recommend the real Tormek.
Does the Tormek still use a friction drive onto the strop wheel. These knock offs mostly have a bevel gear in the housing, usually one steel and the other nylon.
allanpennington There is a rubber wheel under the the strop wheel that is the friction drive train. It supplies a lot of force, I’ve yet to run into a situation where I don’t have all the power I want.
@@randomguy3281 you'll run into a problem when the rubber hardens up. Everyone always does. It's a crap design. Although Tormek does use stainless steel shafting. These knocks offs don't. So the shaft rusts in the knock offs. Least it is what I've heard.
Can't tell you how much I can relate to your Sharpening story of being a beginner and it sux. I am that guy right now. I live in Canada (Vancouver Island) I am knocking out some decent knives, but when I go to the stones i tend to actually set myself back days. I totally suck at sharpening. When this thing goes on sale next time at Crappy Tire, I am getting it !!. Thanks for the review. Since this was some time ago have you ever found out if the Tormek stones fit it ?? This would be huge
I have read over 100 comments in this video. The question about Tormek wheels being compatible has been posed many times. But not one comment has said either 'Yes' or 'No'. The only relevant reply was that a LARGE portion of the cost of the Tormek is in the wheel itself, as well as the tools you're likely to buy for the knock-off. I just priced some Tormek stuff (grader ($33), angle meter ($30), truing tool ($100), Tormek wheel ($215 to $400), and perhaps a jig or two). So, there's some truth to that statement.
As a Tormek owner this was interesting to watch, I have no regrets in my investment I just wish the accessories were more reasonably priced. But the most distracting thing in the video is that I’m not getting enough of a view of the bicycle hanging in the background to identify it.
I like your video, good basic instructions. I have Tormeks first sharpening system called super grind it came out in 2000. Well back in 2016 we flooded in Baton Rouge so my tormek went under, I just got it going again after cleaning it and oiling the motor for a week (motor shaft was rusted in place) it started running. Saved $300.00 for new motor. What you have is identical to tormeks. There is not much to them except the tool holders.
I have a Tormek that I paid around $900 for with all the attachments. Its an awesome machine and has paid for itself may times over. ( i had a sharpening business for many years) If this is only around $200 its well worth the price. Tormek did give me lifetime replacement on the wheel though.
as a home cook (not a knife maker), a cheap belt sander with 1000 and 5000 grit belts and angle guide are doing sharpening job good enough. After a couple of passes on each side with each belt (total of 4 passes on each side), bevel is usually not even warm. And belt sander is very versatile tool for home project. As a knife maker.........I guess dedicated sharpening tool like this or Tormek is better option than all-around belt sander. I was curious how these knock off would work so thanks for the info!
Thanks, I have been thinking of getting one of these myself. They go on sale here in Olds quite often. I do wonder, maybe try your paper sharpening disk on this tool. If possible swap out the strop wheel and put the paper wheel on. Of course, it would sharpen more slowly but the slower speed would also create less heat, I assume.
I've used the Tormek sharpener, mostly on scissors, would sharpen scissors shaving sharp, was tougher to do knives, there is a small learning curve, but the unit works wonderfully!
So could you replace the strop-wheel with one (mdf, paper etc) the same diameter as the stone and use the guide rail as well for stopping? Just a thought Thank You
As FanteFinn mentioned it's a good idea to not leave the wheel standing still in water because it looses its roundness. A difference i could see between that one in the video and the t-8 is that there is no micro adjustment for the arms height which i find very useful. Don't know if that little adjustment is worth several hundred bucks though. =)
I didn't know that you shouldn't let the wheel stand and water. Thanks. I wonder if the micro adjustable support arm is another Tormec accessory that it would be worthwhile buying, assuming it would fit.
I had trouble sharpening knives for ever. I used stones but it took me long to get it right. I ordered an 80$ belt sander on amazon. with 15$ worth of belts up to 1000 grit. Also a leather belt off of etsy. Best money I ever spent. 5-10 minutes and a knife is a razor.
Would you say this works better sharpening then the razor sharp edgemakig system you made a video about awhile ago that you got from canadian knife making supplies? Trying to see which one I should invest in
I would say the razor sharp but::: (this is a big but) you can overheat the blades, like visibly change it’s colour, on the paper wheels. They work really well and fast, but can destroy a knife just as quickly if you’re not paying close attention. The worse this water cooled machine would do is give it a terrible grind requiring it to be re-profiled. 👍
While in a machine shop class (community college) we had to cut the sleeves off of our coveralls so that they came no lower than our elbows. Rotary equipment you shouldn't have long sleeves.
i run it the other direction. i also work from the other side. you can then move that guide bar to the front when your done establishing a burr and use it for a guide while stroping. I've been using this type of sharpener since 2009. mine is made by JET (discontinued item) I have three of them.
You could make up an MDF wheel and apply a piece of leather to it. You could make it the same diameter of the grinder to increase the blade length capacity.
Fascinating review. I know nothing about this system but from what I observed, the clamp system that came with your unit would work if you'd mount the bar on the other side (horizontally instead of the default vertically that you were using)
I have the Tormek T-8 and it comes with a grading tool, micro adjustment on the tool rest, a truing tool, and a tool to know the specific angle of your bevel...all key components to making the machine worth it.
@@1pcfred The T8 costs about 500$ not 900$.. and the extras it comes with cost about 180$ separat. So thats 320$ for the machine alone. Worth every penny. All the clones om the market are really poor made, from materials , axel, bearings, plastic etc etc. Sharpen some tools for Friends and family you easy get your money back. A great investment Tormek!
I got the same machine and something I noticed is you can spend more time on the strop and get your knives razor sharp. I’m worried a bit about wearing it out but I’ve been using it to polish the edges and they come out great. They pass the paper test, the grape test and the tomato test. I do think a finer wheel would be much better though.
I had my eye on a new tormek, but because of buget i went for the king canada. It is exactly like the one you have. I used a 1/2" x13 die on the rods for the knife holder. The Tormek has a thread on theirs.That way its easier to adjust the knife angle. If i was smart i would have uesd a finer thread's on mine. It's a bit of a learning curve, but it works.
Placement on the stone determines the bevel angle of the edge, the rest of the adjustments determine the plane of the edge. The Tormek gauge takes into account both. When its correct you feel like you are cutting off a lobe of the wheel. Everyone references the Tormek, by the time you start buying everything to make it a better you could have bought a Tormek with a 7 year warranty. They are expensive but if you use them professionally, not as much as your time or using dull tools.
Great timing, I was just talking about this with a friend to sharpen scissors, currently using an edge pro with a home made scissors guide, but I’ve got to do like 10 pairs per week and quickly putting a toothy edge on consistently would be a great time saver
The Wen knock off you linked to in the description does not appear to have the reversible switch? Are you sure its the same machine you showed in this video?
I noticed that your leather wheel seems to do quite a bit of wobbling, but the grinding wheel seems to be steady. I have a Tormek that I inherited and the grinding wheel wobbles, but the leather wheel is steady. Is that the case with your grinding wheel that it is steady? Any idea why mine wouldn't be?
I mentioned this on the Old instagram there, that I love this machine for setting an edge on a new knife because it’s water cooled, and then from this machine onto a 400G stone/ then strop (higher progression for kitchen knives). I struggled with sharpening - like most - and now I am finally getting there👍. I have my machine on a crudely built swivel top also, so I can quickly spin the machine around. Great vid as always Jer👍👊
To me, setting the initial edge is why mine sits in a corner. It takes toooooo long! Now setting the edge with a 120 and then going to this is worth trying.
Walt Edwards Walt, that doesn’t bother me, at about between 10000’ths and 5000ths on the edge after heat treat it puts it on just fine, I don’t seem to notice it taking too long.
That’s why the leather wheel is smaller so you can do a bigger blade. When using the leather wheel go to the other side of the machine and reverse the direction of the wheel. If that makes sense. Great video tho.
I've noticed that the steels I consider the best in my knives and chisels create very fine wire edges as I sharpen them - and I always sharpen using plain old muscle power on a regular stone. I strop the new edge to remove the wire edge - or straighten it??? With my kitchen knives the burr reappears with use, and I use a steel to "clear" it, but it comes back again and again on the knife. When it doesn't reappear, the knife needs to be sharpened. As regards pocket knifes, mine are sharpened to at least 1,000 grit and stropped to a polish. The blades stay sharp, and one the sheep's foot is often in use to mark wood in the shop. The clip point is generically used, but sharper is better - no struggle or sudden unintended slashing as the cut material yields.
instead of trying to get the burr off while kinda hangin your arm over the grinding stone, couldn't you turn the motor direction the other way and just stand on the other side, no?
no. you cant take burr of whit 220 grit. if you cut into soft pine it will get of. but you need to do the strapping or fine grit stone to get the edge.
@@johanandersson2165 I don't think anyone here mentioned taking of a burr with grinding stone dude. They were saying that he could spin leather strap wheel in other direction, and than aproach the same wheel from opposing side. Get it?
The device is very good. If I find it here, I will definitely buy it. To sharpen carpentry tools. Drill and .......... I hope you use it safely. Thanks for this video.
Judging by the sound when your grinding, that grinding wheel is a lot coarser than on a Tormek. A Tormek only operates in one direction and to strop, you work from the opposite side. Tormek have produced a mounting that allows easy swiveling of the machine if you don't want to just pick it up and turn it around. I've used a Tormek for over 20 years.
Absolutely spectacular editing! It's been a great pleasure seeing the content become even better over time. Big fan and always looking forward to the next video. Also that clamp looks like it might be better suited to sharpening chisels maybe.
I visited Stockholm a few weeks after Chernobyl accident (April, 1986). It was a joy being there. I stayed at a hostel that was an ancient, masted warship, moored to a deck in the harbor. Do you know the ship's name and/or history?. Also, is it still present in Stockholm? P.S. A waiter in Stockholm humored me about Chernobyl by asking me if I knew how to make 'Chicken Kiev' ANSWER: First, you preheat the city to 350 degrees.
I do a lot of sharping with my princess-auto version, and I found in between the grinding wheel and the hone take your edge and run it with the grain of some hard wood. It helps with the burr and makes the process a lot quicker and works better in my experience. also the Tormek dressing tool is a must have. I really like the videos though keep it up!
Hi y’all, I’m in the Niagara region and can’t find one of these anywhere. Nothing at Princess auto, Can tire or even on Amazon ( currently unavailable)..any tips?
accessories are widley available on aliexpress for a lot less money than tormek stuff, just have to wait for longer for delivery. To UK it takes about 3 to 4 weeks
I have t8 and all jigs for it I'm really pleased with it main reason for buying it was my woodworking chisels and kitchen knifes. Olso I got drill bit jig . Really happy with it . Now I can buy used drill bits next to nothing and have them better then when they where new. Because of double bevel. Buying tormek is not cheap you must be quality obsessed like me or justify your spending.
I have a Tormek T8 and tried to same some money and bought two Wen wet sharpeners for my tool sharpening business. When I turned both Wen's on it sounded like the were going to blow up. There were other problems so I sent them both back and bought another Tormek T8. I appreciated you taking the time to review a cheaper unit. I can say without a doubt you get what you pay for and there are no Tormek killers in my opinion.
Tip from a guy who found out the hard way: I never leave the stone in contact with water in less the wheel is turning, accidentally left it in to long, the stone was no longer round. So whenever I stop it, I lower the water tray. And that sharpie trick is good, however, you can use it while the stone is dry and machine is off. Just turn it a bit by hand, you’ll still se if the sharpie disappears.
i was going to buy one, thx for the advice. and is there more to know?
I did the same on a different wheel....Id empty the water and leave it on until dry.
(that ruined the wheel, permanently) - these are a little more expensive - so don't ruin them......
Great tip. Thank you.
It was still round just heavy one side where the water soaked in update i was a grinder using coolant for 25 yrs so i hope someone doesnt try to correct me because you will be wrong
I had to run my machine with a wheel dressing tool clamped for a long time to true the stone. Makes a huge difference
I got one those Maximum sharpeners myself on sale at Canadian Tire and I like it. I have used it for sharpening chisels and plane blades and it does a fine job. I go to diamond stones and water stones to put the final edge on the better chisels, but the machine does a great job on the primary bevel and reprofiling. I can't afford a Tormek, so I'm very happy with this purchase. Had it a couple of months now. The big trick is getting the angle right with the guide and keeping the edge square across the blade, especially important on the plane blades. Still learning. Haven't done a knife or scissors with it yet, but that's coming.
One suggestion: drop a couple of small magnets in the water reservoir to gather the metal waste so it doesn't build up on the wheel (probably is more of an issue with chisels and planes blades because you are removing more metal, unless you are reprofiling a knife shape). It is said that you can dress the wheel to get it to a finer grit. Gonna check into doing that.
Hey I have one of these knock-offs (The WEN model which I did a review on)! They're decent. Thanks for putting this out there. The Tormek Dressing tool is a must have for these to true up those wheels. I also modified the jig to work better with aggressive drop point knives. I will say it can be hard to sharpen knives without a sharpening choil... without messing up the plunges.
Red Beard Ops I just mentioned to Jeremy he needs to check out your video on your Wen but I forgot to use your new channel name 😂. I really want to duplicate your set up. I’ll probably still finish up with my edge pro but maybe not always.
@@e.t.preppin7084 Lol, Jeremy's stuff rocks! I'm happy he tried out that model. I still use the modified jig, but I have ditched the laser guide for most of my sharpening. I find that's it hasn't been necessary with a little practice.
I know this is old but I’m looking to get one of these. I also thought about the knives without a choil. I assume the actual tormek would be the same. Also what did you do to the jig to make it better. I’m going to try and find your video but if you have any other input it would be appreciated.
the Tormek angle guide plate jig thing is cool , it adjusts as the stone wears out...
That is cool 👍
Tormek accessories work great. There is the WM-200 angle gauge to determine your angle and the stone setter which allows you to freshen the stone or use the fine side to get a finer finish for finer work. Red Beard Ops did a review on the WEN sharpener version and he showed a few great accessories as well as a knife clamp modification that you may find interesting.
13:20.. 6" isnt the max length.. you can reverse it and strop on the other side
Came down here to say this 😂
Exact my thought...
Same.
Likewise
Yep
Your intro - with its montage and upbeat music - sums up pretty much how I feel when I’m heading to the workshop.
I have the Wen. It’s a good little system. I press diamond grit stones on the main wheel to adjust the grit of the main wheel up to 1000 grit. I also change the strop wheel for 3 different pastes.
Oh sweet, thank you for that info 👍
Have the same one when also does a set of jigs with the long jig and short jig as well as another one or two I think for scissors or something for around $50
how does pressing diamond grit stones on the main wheel adjust the grit?
@@ttonAb2 the dressing Stone re profiles the surface to finer or more course
@@ttonAb2 I have the Grizzly version and it comes with a stone that has a coarse side and fine side and is supposed to dress the stone as such. Seems odd to me too but it works. I doubt you could get it to 1000 with a diamond stone though.
@13:06 FYI - The way to use the strop to get both sides if you're doing more than a 6" blade is to reverse the direction of the spin and just stand on the other side. That way the handle is again on the outside of the spindle and it's not rotating toward you.
Came to comments to say this.
@@dragunov525 lol me too..
@marcagel how do you reverse the spin direction?
The rest(where you place your work) is changeable so you can position yourself on the otherside of the machine rather then actually reverse the spinning of the wheel
I'm a beginning knife maker, and I have a Tormek t4 and the Japanese wheel. It has upped my game and makes short work of sharpening
Diamonds and t4 30min/h t8 no time limits
I have been using a knockoff tormek for some years now and it works fine for my chisels and knives at home. I still keep my stones around for a quick touch up though. For 120 euro I have no regrets buying it.
So is there any verdict on using Tormek wheels on this Canadian Tire unit ?
Anyone knows if the tormek stones/wheels fit these machines? Or the Wen machine?
Man, I can't tell you how good it is to hear another knifemaker was frustrated with sharpening, because that's exactly how it is for me. I love the entire process and then I dread the sharpening because it frustrates the hell out of me. I'm getting decent results with paper wheels now, but I'm going to keep an eye on these in the future.,
I got the WEN about 6 months ago because I was super interested in this type of knife sharpening. It was so terrible. Cheap plastic and cheap parts. You could just feel that it was a "copy" version of the Tormek. I even got the wen starter jig set up. The knife jig (the one you are using in the video) was so poorly made that the "clamp screws were too long to flip the knife to do the other side. It started griding the plastic off the tightener. So i had to go to the hardware store and just buy a flat bolt. Eventually I forked up the money get the Tormek t8 and couldnt be happier. Obviously you get what you pay for and the T8 is amazing. My question is did you get the angle guide and figure out how to match that? thats the hardest part for me. Thanks
Your explanation is very good
Thank you, I appreciate the kind words👍
Excellent presentation. Very helpful. Thank you.
A tip from my time using a Tormek (second to none) for matching an angle, instead of checking it under power you can just turn the stone by hand to see if it i removing the sharpie mark. Less likely to facet your edge.
Brilliant! I use a sharpie all the time for filling Frets on Instruments like Guitars, enables us to see the high vs low frets. BUT I would not have considered what you suggest.
Wen puts the Tormek in the shade
Cheers Jeremy. I bought a similar one today after seeing this last night. I take all my bushcraft and hunting knives to 800g on waterstones before stropping, but as you know, it's a real ball ache if you're doing a batch and establishing that secondary bevel. I'm hoping I can just whip off some material before taking it to the hand stones. Thanks again, you may have just saved me a full day a week. Literally.
Use a standard leather stropping pad with green compound after the machine strop, it just finishes an edge off nicely (10 year Tormek T7 pro sharpener here in Scotland)
Good video! I'm always learning something new. I bought a tormek t8 and yes it was a pretty penny and hard to swallow the cost but what a machine!!! Probably never get my money back in my lifetime but don't care as I never have a full know again and only takes a few minutes not hours.
I started with sharpening before I got into making knives. I’ve used my edge pro for many years and love the system. No heat worries but kinda difficult to start a brand new edge on a new knife without say breaking the 90’s on my grinder. Have done it without but too much work and stone wear. The tool clamp that came with your machine looks like it would be good for clamping chisels. 👍
I've been using a Tormek T-7 for several years and I'm very pleased with it's functionality and the sharpening outcomes. However, the big problem with wet grinders in general is the cumulative time it takes to sharpen a single knife (setup, sharpen, breakdown, cleanup). There's nothing quick about it. If you're sharpening several knives it's likely worth the time, but if you're sharpening only one or two you'll be happier using something else (like a belt grinder). It all comes down to personal preference and the time you wish to invest, but I'll just say that I like wet grinders...sometimes.
good demonstration etc. Will the Tormek wheels fit the Detroit Sharpener
I use to make knives, for only few month, and sharpening is always and still a mission.... It makes me seriously think to get one of those bad boys.
A big thanks for this useful and accurate test video.
Best regards from France my friend.
And the thing you don't think you can sharpen a knife with, it is for chisels :)
Thanks for a very informative video.
You’re welcome. Thanks for watching! 👍
I picked one of these up on my way home! Excited to try it out!
Hi Jeremy.
I bought the Wen, it came with 2 knife holders one big and one small, like the one you paid 40 dollars for. It also came with the knife holder you can't figure out how it holds a knife because that one is for an axe. When running the 10" 220 wheel I found out that you should run it in reverse so the water goes up into the blade. Its also good to put a magnet in the water tank. The Wen came with a plastic angel gage that has lots of different angles, works good. I have a video on it you can check out. I got to warn you I'm not as good as you on making videos. I just do it for fun.
Keep up the great work. You are very good.
Found a video on this thing at last. Thought it was just me.the clamp may be good for a chisel but sucks for a knife lol. Thanks for posting.
The real test here is actually finding a phone book any more.
ROFL
I just got another one in the mail. Crazy 👍
Who cares about physical phone books anymore?
Argos catalogue bro 😎👍
I've asked that before. I'm like, where do these people find phone books anymore 😂
Great video... thanks. About loose clothing, I have a friend who got his sleeve caught in the drill press while knife-making and it snapped his wrist. He won't go near that drill press any more. Be careful.
Have you considered buying a real Tormek? Yeah they are expensive but they have addressed just about every issue you bring up in this video, and are just a genuinely good experience to use. Like having the water trough depth adjust, a default two grit stone, a decently reliable angle gauge, less clearance issues, ect...
I got my T8 last year, and now use it for most of my sharpening, I only use my Wicked Edge for super fine polishing now. I got the Hand Tools package and have found some of the jigs super useful, I did not know how much my belt sander axe edges were lacking until I sharpened one on the Tormek with the ax jig. And the extra long knife jig is great for mounting really large chopping knives, even FFG ones.
Also on the Tormek you can take the stone or strop off really fast with no tools to give you all the clearance you need for long blades.
I very highly recommend the real Tormek.
Does the Tormek still use a friction drive onto the strop wheel. These knock offs mostly have a bevel gear in the housing, usually one steel and the other nylon.
allanpennington There is a rubber wheel under the the strop wheel that is the friction drive train.
It supplies a lot of force, I’ve yet to run into a situation where I don’t have all the power I want.
@@randomguy3281 you'll run into a problem when the rubber hardens up. Everyone always does. It's a crap design. Although Tormek does use stainless steel shafting. These knocks offs don't. So the shaft rusts in the knock offs. Least it is what I've heard.
I have been thinking about these for awhile. I think I'll shell out some bucks for one. Thanks!
Can't tell you how much I can relate to your Sharpening story of being a beginner and it sux. I am that guy right now. I live in Canada (Vancouver Island) I am knocking out some decent knives, but when I go to the stones i tend to actually set myself back days. I totally suck at sharpening. When this thing goes on sale next time at Crappy Tire, I am getting it !!. Thanks for the review. Since this was some time ago have you ever found out if the Tormek stones fit it ?? This would be huge
I have read over 100 comments in this video. The question about Tormek wheels being compatible has been posed many times. But not one comment has said either 'Yes' or 'No'. The only relevant reply was that a LARGE portion of the cost of the Tormek is in the wheel itself, as well as the tools you're likely to buy for the knock-off. I just priced some Tormek stuff (grader ($33), angle meter ($30), truing tool ($100), Tormek wheel ($215 to $400), and perhaps a jig or two). So, there's some truth to that statement.
As a Tormek owner this was interesting to watch, I have no regrets in my investment I just wish the accessories were more reasonably priced. But the most distracting thing in the video is that I’m not getting enough of a view of the bicycle hanging in the background to identify it.
What method would you use to sharpen a billhook chopper ? I struggle getting it just right
Very nice job I really want one
I like your video, good basic instructions. I have Tormeks first sharpening system called super grind it came out in 2000. Well back in 2016 we flooded in Baton Rouge so my tormek went under, I just got it going again after cleaning it and oiling the motor for a week (motor shaft was rusted in place) it started running. Saved $300.00 for new motor. What you have is identical to tormeks. There is not much to them except the tool holders.
I have a Tormek that I paid around $900 for with all the attachments. Its an awesome machine and has paid for itself may times over. ( i had a sharpening business for many years) If this is only around $200 its well worth the price. Tormek did give me lifetime replacement on the wheel though.
you owned a shit sharpening business
as a home cook (not a knife maker), a cheap belt sander with 1000 and 5000 grit belts and angle guide are doing sharpening job good enough. After a couple of passes on each side with each belt (total of 4 passes on each side), bevel is usually not even warm. And belt sander is very versatile tool for home project. As a knife maker.........I guess dedicated sharpening tool like this or Tormek is better option than all-around belt sander. I was curious how these knock off would work so thanks for the info!
Does this come with a stone dresser? Also could you take a two sided flat stone and change the course grit to finer like you can on the tormek?
Always down to watch am in depth sharpening video.
Nice tool. how many revolutions per minute does the stone turn
Thanks, I have been thinking of getting one of these myself. They go on sale here in Olds quite often.
I do wonder, maybe try your paper sharpening disk on this tool. If possible swap out the strop wheel and put the paper wheel on. Of course, it would sharpen more slowly but the slower speed would also create less heat, I assume.
I've used the Tormek sharpener, mostly on scissors, would sharpen scissors shaving sharp, was tougher to do knives, there is a small learning curve, but the unit works wonderfully!
So could you replace the strop-wheel with one (mdf, paper etc) the same diameter as the stone and use the guide rail as well for stopping?
Just a thought
Thank You
Sure, why not?
Not practical.....as the stone wears out, the diameter changes.
Michael Lion'Art, you could but the surface speed would be faster and might be too hot. Worth a try, if you have a light touch.
where do you buy the tool to hold the knife?
Is there a way to get a some what bigger strop wheel?
As FanteFinn mentioned it's a good idea to not leave the wheel standing still in water because it looses its roundness. A difference i could see between that one in the video and the t-8 is that there is no micro adjustment for the arms height which i find very useful. Don't know if that little adjustment is worth several hundred bucks though. =)
I didn't know that you shouldn't let the wheel stand and water. Thanks.
I wonder if the micro adjustable support arm is another Tormec accessory that it would be worthwhile buying, assuming it would fit.
I had trouble sharpening knives for ever. I used stones but it took me long to get it right. I ordered an 80$ belt sander on amazon. with 15$ worth of belts up to 1000 grit. Also a leather belt off of etsy. Best money I ever spent. 5-10 minutes and a knife is a razor.
Which grinder is this?
Would you say this works better sharpening then the razor sharp edgemakig system you made a video about awhile ago that you got from canadian knife making supplies? Trying to see which one I should invest in
I would say the razor sharp but::: (this is a big but) you can overheat the blades, like visibly change it’s colour, on the paper wheels. They work really well and fast, but can destroy a knife just as quickly if you’re not paying close attention. The worse this water cooled machine would do is give it a terrible grind requiring it to be re-profiled. 👍
I suspect that the Tormek grading stone would be available as a separate accessory purchase. This would give you a second grit on the main stone.
It absolutely available from Tormek.
While in a machine shop class (community college) we had to cut the sleeves off of our coveralls so that they came no lower than our elbows. Rotary equipment you shouldn't have long sleeves.
i run it the other direction. i also work from the other side. you can then move that guide bar to the front when your done establishing a burr and use it for a guide while stroping. I've been using this type of sharpener since 2009. mine is made by JET (discontinued item) I have three of them.
Brother please tell me that you thought of stropping from the other side with wheels turning opposite way with longer knives
You could make up an MDF wheel and apply a piece of leather to it. You could make it the same diameter of the grinder to increase the blade length capacity.
Fascinating review. I know nothing about this system but from what I observed, the clamp system that came with your unit would work if you'd mount the bar on the other side (horizontally instead of the default vertically that you were using)
How would you go about using a larger knife on the leather wheel?
A very handy machine, I would like one for my wood working tools as well as knives. Tool Time Tuesdays are good too, keep 'em coming when you can.
SALUDOS DESDE PERU, SOY COCINERO Y ME GUSTO TU VIDEO, ES MUY ISTRUCTIVO.
I have the Tormek T-8 and it comes with a grading tool, micro adjustment on the tool rest, a truing tool, and a tool to know the specific angle of your bevel...all key components to making the machine worth it.
What you listed is not worth an additional $800.
@@1pcfred The T8 costs about 500$ not 900$.. and the extras it comes with cost about 180$ separat. So thats 320$ for the machine alone. Worth every penny. All the clones om the market are really poor made, from materials , axel, bearings, plastic etc etc. Sharpen some tools for Friends and family you easy get your money back. A great investment Tormek!
In the manual they recommend to oil the strop first
I got the same machine and something I noticed is you can spend more time on the strop and get your knives razor sharp. I’m worried a bit about wearing it out but I’ve been using it to polish the edges and they come out great. They pass the paper test, the grape test and the tomato test. I do think a finer wheel would be much better though.
You can make the wheel finer temporarily with a reasonably inexpensive grading stone.
I had my eye on a new tormek, but because of buget i went for the king canada. It is exactly like the one you have. I used a 1/2" x13 die on the rods for the knife holder. The Tormek has a thread on theirs.That way its easier to adjust the knife angle. If i was smart i would have uesd a finer thread's on mine. It's a bit of a learning curve, but it works.
Placement on the stone determines the bevel angle of the edge, the rest of the adjustments determine the plane of the edge. The Tormek gauge takes into account both. When its correct you feel like you are cutting off a lobe of the wheel. Everyone references the Tormek, by the time you start buying everything to make it a better you could have bought a Tormek with a 7 year warranty. They are expensive but if you use them professionally, not as much as your time or using dull tools.
Nice! You recommend paper wheel sharpening?
Maybe it's already mentioned but you can use a stone grader to get that stone finer.
Nice video. Good job
Thank you!
❤❤❤❤❤❤😮This machine is very beautiful and effortless
does this sharpen scissors ?
It could if you have the skill
Great timing, I was just talking about this with a friend to sharpen scissors, currently using an edge pro with a home made scissors guide, but I’ve got to do like 10 pairs per week and quickly putting a toothy edge on consistently would be a great time saver
If you can only have one for sharpening, would it be this or the mdf wheel system with slow speed grinder?
Can you strop with it with the grinding stone removed?
The Tormek accessories are great for the cheaper slow speed sharpeners. I use the Tormek one for planes and chisels.
The Wen knock off you linked to in the description does not appear to have the reversible switch? Are you sure its the same machine you showed in this video?
I noticed that your leather wheel seems to do quite a bit of wobbling, but the grinding wheel seems to be steady. I have a Tormek that I inherited and the grinding wheel wobbles, but the leather wheel is steady. Is that the case with your grinding wheel that it is steady? Any idea why mine wouldn't be?
I mentioned this on the Old instagram there, that I love this machine for setting an edge on a new knife because it’s water cooled, and then from this machine onto a 400G stone/ then strop (higher progression for kitchen knives). I struggled with sharpening - like most - and now I am finally getting there👍. I have my machine on a crudely built swivel top also, so I can quickly spin the machine around. Great vid as always Jer👍👊
To me, setting the initial edge is why mine sits in a corner. It takes toooooo long! Now setting the edge with a 120 and then going to this is worth trying.
Walt Edwards Walt, that doesn’t bother me, at about between 10000’ths and 5000ths on the edge after heat treat it puts it on just fine, I don’t seem to notice it taking too long.
You need to look into more TORMEK accessories.
That’s why the leather wheel is smaller so you can do a bigger blade. When using the leather wheel go to the other side of the machine and reverse the direction of the wheel. If that makes sense. Great video tho.
That makes sense. Thank you! 👍
Canadian pesos huh? That’s the language of the empire of dirt if I’m not mistaken.
The angle of the dangle...
Ave rules. All bow down in his presence. And the young chickadee.
It's Canuckistan eh... Ü
But...does she chooch?
Chinesium
I've noticed that the steels I consider the best in my knives and chisels create very fine wire edges as I sharpen them - and I always sharpen using plain old muscle power on a regular stone. I strop the new edge to remove the wire edge - or straighten it??? With my kitchen knives the burr reappears with use, and I use a steel to "clear" it, but it comes back again and again on the knife. When it doesn't reappear, the knife needs to be sharpened. As regards pocket knifes, mine are sharpened to at least 1,000 grit and stropped to a polish. The blades stay sharp, and one the sheep's foot is often in use to mark wood in the shop. The clip point is generically used, but sharper is better - no struggle or sudden unintended slashing as the cut material yields.
instead of trying to get the burr off while kinda hangin your arm over the grinding stone, couldn't you turn the motor direction the other way and just stand on the other side, no?
I thought exactly the same and you can sharpen knives longer than 6 inches. :)
Yep
no. you cant take burr of whit 220 grit. if you cut into soft pine it will get of. but you need to do the strapping or fine grit stone to get the edge.
I have this unit and I just turn it around on the bench. Way safer.
@@johanandersson2165 I don't think anyone here mentioned taking of a burr with grinding stone dude. They were saying that he could spin leather strap wheel in other direction, and than aproach the same wheel from opposing side. Get it?
How about using this for turning tools?
The device is very good. If I find it here, I will definitely buy it. To sharpen carpentry tools. Drill and .......... I hope you use it safely. Thanks for this video.
Judging by the sound when your grinding, that grinding wheel is a lot coarser than on a Tormek.
A Tormek only operates in one direction and to strop, you work from the opposite side. Tormek have produced a mounting that allows easy swiveling of the machine if you don't want to just pick it up and turn it around.
I've used a Tormek for over 20 years.
I watched another video on this grinder, and it sounded very smooth after he used a tool to true it.
Absolutely spectacular editing! It's been a great pleasure seeing the content become even better over time. Big fan and always looking forward to the next video. Also that clamp looks like it might be better suited to sharpening chisels maybe.
It is a chisel clamp
Great info, thx. They build them two hours by car west from me here in Stockholm in Sweden.
I visited Stockholm a few weeks after Chernobyl accident (April, 1986). It was a joy being there. I stayed at a hostel that was an ancient, masted warship, moored to a deck in the harbor. Do you know the ship's name and/or history?. Also, is it still present in Stockholm?
P.S. A waiter in Stockholm humored me about Chernobyl by asking me if I knew how to make 'Chicken Kiev' ANSWER: First, you preheat the city to 350 degrees.
What brand and model it is, it does not seem the web that it puts in the link. Thank you
WEN
I have a Tomsk and have for years I tried a number of different water wheels over the years but you get what you pay for
Can you remove the stone wheel to polish a longer blade?
I do a lot of sharping with my princess-auto version, and I found in between the grinding wheel and the hone take your edge and run it with the grain of some hard wood. It helps with the burr and makes the process a lot quicker and works better in my experience. also the Tormek dressing tool is a must have.
I really like the videos though keep it up!
Whats that blue knife sharpeners name?
A question. Tormek sells a stone grader that dresses the 220 grit stone like the one your using up to a 1000 grit. Can you use that on that stone?
That's a slick gadget ya got there.
Hi y’all, I’m in the Niagara region and can’t find one of these anywhere. Nothing at Princess auto, Can tire or even on Amazon ( currently unavailable)..any tips?
accessories are widley available on aliexpress for a lot less money than tormek stuff, just have to wait for longer for delivery. To UK it takes about 3 to 4 weeks
I have t8 and all jigs for it I'm really pleased with it main reason for buying it was my woodworking chisels and kitchen knifes. Olso I got drill bit jig . Really happy with it . Now I can buy used drill bits next to nothing and have them better then when they where new. Because of double bevel. Buying tormek is not cheap you must be quality obsessed like me or justify your spending.