Official Luthiers Forum!

I bought a Tormek off craigslist a couple of years ago and I love it except for one thing. It seems like the steps between the coarse dressed stone, the fine dressed stone, and the leather wheel are all a bit too big. I'm wondering if buying one of the 800 or 4000 grit water stones would be a worthwhile addition?

Anyone have one? Seems like the 800 would replace the the regular stone except for serious re-shaping and give a better finish before the leather wheel.

_________________
http://www.chassonguitars.com

I have one and only used the fine dressed stone. It works great. I think the coarse dressed stone only needs to be used for highly damaged blades.

_________________
Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

I have one and I have the stone that came with it. I would like to have a even coarser stone and a little faster speed. I pretty much use the thing for a wet grinder. I don't try to get a finished edge with it. I use a diamond and water stones for that. Much faster and a better edge.
Link

_________________
Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

Thanks for the replies.

It does work quite well for removing material.... whether changing a bevel angle or getting out a nick. And I can get an edge that will pop hairs off on any tool I've sharpened with it. I also use stones for touch ups between sharpenings but would like something for those in between times.

The stone that comes with it seems to keep a few sharp coarse grains after dressing it with the fine stone so even after a mirror polish on the leather, some lines remain. It also just takes more material off than I want when I'm trying to do more than a hone and less than a re-grind.

I'm pretty sure one of the water stones would be the ticket but I can't decide which one and I'd rather not buy both.

_________________
http://www.chassonguitars.com

Kent,
Are you talking a stone for the grinder or do you want a intermediate bench stone ?
L.

_________________
Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

check this link . Todd Stock did a demo at our open house last year and you can see this system in action. I bought on from this demo and use water stones to fine tune the edge. I love the system . It works .
http://bqtool.com/cart/index.php?cPath= ... 54cdddab21
look down the list of vids, you will see sharpening referenced

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Link, sorry I was unclear. Tormek now has a couple of water stone wheels you can put on the grinder. http://www.japanwoodworker.com/product. ... t_id=13268

In the Japan Woodworker catalogue, they have an 800 grit and 4000 grit (although the web site now only shows the 4000 so maybe it's a moot point).

Thanks John, but did you post the correct link? That's a link to end mills.

_________________
http://www.chassonguitars.com

Kent,
What Todd said and I think you will find it to be cumbersome to have to change wheels back and forth. If you hollow grind and hone by hand (which is what I do for large chisels and plan irons) you can grind with any wheel even if quite coarse. You just adjust the blade in the holder until the grinding is in the center of your two polished points. You don't grind all the way out to the edge, you leave a very, very small remainder of the last edge. That way you have minimal steel to remove and don't have any coarse grain scratches to deal with.
For smaller chisels , say less than about 1 1/4" I use the same cheapie sharpening jig that Todd uses. I don't even worry about my grinding angle. Anything around 20° to 25° works fine. I use the jig to get about 30° and go for it. With a small blade the first time you hone off of a grind you can go right to the 8000. You only need a very small polished bevel. As you resharpen you may need to start your honing with a 1200 as you can't position the blade precisely in the sharpening jig and the honed bevel will be getting bigger.
Link

_________________
Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

That's exactly it. I've been re-honing by hand but I'm not jigged up for it and it's hard to keep the edge after one or two honings.

I like the idea of sticking with the Tormek because I'm already jigged up for all the various tools, from plane irons to knives to short michi chisels and gouges. But I'll check out the videos later today and see if that can work better for me.

And I'll let you know how it works if I spring for the water stone.

Thanks for the help all!.

_________________
http://www.chassonguitars.com

thanks for posting the correct link Todd. I do use the japanese water stones and I also grabbed a set of diamond stones ,that I found make a great fret leveling tool also. A sharp chisel is a pleasure to use .

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I spent an evening with the grinder and water stones . I had a great time. I shaved hair off my leg to check how sharp. I had a bald leg when I finally finished. Smooth and baby soft . It is a pleasure to sharpen tools now and not a chore.

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I said I'd follow up if I ever got one of these and I did. http://www.japanwoodworker.com/product. ... t_id=13267

Love it. I touch up with 1 micron and .3 micron sanding film. http://www.japanwoodworker.com/dept.asp ... Woodworker

Fantastic edge that lasts longer than honing with the leather wheel.

_________________
http://www.chassonguitars.com