Official Luthiers Forum!

Anyone know anything about this wet grinder? Anyone have or used one to sharpen and hone? I got one for $75 and I'm debating as to return it or not.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=95236

It is a knock-off of the Tormex I've used for 5 years. My Tormex works well. Perhaps this will as well.

From my experience with Harbor Freight Tools, I would not consider any of their tools.

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

I have a few of their tools. Spindle sander, jointer planer, sanding station and mini mill which I have no problem with. The stuff that looks cheap usually pretty much is but there are a few good buys. That's what I'm trying to find out about this one.

Here's some threads and user reviews for ya.

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=29437

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=39956

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=39687

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

Thanks Wes, looks like it might work for me . But I'm still on the fence. Can't decide to go with the diamond stones like Todd uses or just hang on to this until sometime down the road.

You say you've already got it? Well unpack it already! That's the only way you're gonna know. If it doesn't work for you, HF will take it back, no questions asked.

I haven't really been tempted to go the power sharpening route, myself. A Lee Valley 2-sided waterstone and Veritas Mk II honing jig have pretty well spoiled me. Maybe one day, but I'm set for now.....

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

Yeah, I thought about doing that but I don't like to do that if I don't intend to keep it if you know what I mean. But if I do intend to keep it and the tool doesn't work or is of poor quality then I have no problem returning it. It's like I wouldn't want someone buying a guitar from me to use for a gig and then returning it after the gig when they had no intention to really buy it in the first place. When I opened the box and looked at it I had second thoughts as to if this was going to do what I wanted or not (get a really sharp edge on my chisels and planes) or would my money be better spent on some diamond stones or just stick with my sand paper and glass and guide.

wow....I don't know about all of you purely luthiers who would rarely damage the edge of a chisel, but for me, primarily a carpenter who now and again (ok, more than that) seems to find every hidden fastener while mortising and such, that is a deal...

I would think that unless you use that tool daily it will last for years...what I've found with a wheel ground chisel is that I always use a stone to give it a final edge...and this can be done a few times very easily because the chisel is hollow ground which means when you put it on a stone there are only 2 points of contact as opposed to the whole face of the bevel of the chisel...

I never expect a wheel to give a final edge, but it surely makes the process of getting damned close fairly easy...just make sure to let the wheel do the work and not press too hard as you will put grooves in it...I usually sharpen my smallest chisels first and work my way to the widest ones as I find this makes the stone last longer as the wider chisels tend to flatten the stone as they are being sharpened..

Hey Chris

I noticed that grinder the last time I was in HF,and wondered to myself just how good it would work. I have a Tormak and am just up the road form you. If you would like to try it out let me know. I do agree that I do not depend on the Tormak for the final edge. For that I use water stones.....
Hope it helps..

Jim

My experience with Harbor Freight is that if it has a motor on it , PASS. I know some of you may have gotten something from them that was OK but you still get what you pay for. The cost of a tool is an investment. Grizzly has something similar , but lets face it , you get what you pay for in the end.
Always buy the best tool you can afford , you won't regret that . You will regret buying something cheap , then have to but it again. Things like run out of the shaft and concentricity are not of high concern with HF as it is their goal to provide cheap tools. Metallurgical process are often compromised or not done at all. It may work in the beginning but as time passes things will wear.
Cheap is ok when it comes from a peep .
john hall
my 2 cents

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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

Although I agree with most of what you say and it is probably correct 90% of the time but there is 10% of the time it isn't. You certainly have to watch what you are buying at HF that's for sure but there are things there that are good buys. The mini mill and mini lathes are two examples. It's buyer beware for sure. But just because something cost a lot doesn't mean it good or the best also. For example look at those Festool tools, they sure are nicely designed and man I'd like to have that laminate router but come on $510. You do usually get what you pay for but is't nice when you can get a tool that does the job very well for $200 less.

I would go with quality first. If you really need the tool then get the well made one. Well made tools are a joy, junk tools are junk.

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

Doesn't HF sell stuff that they dredged off the bottom of the harbor?

After all you did say it is a "wet" grinder.....

Chris, I don't know a thing about their grinder, but, in this week's email coupons they send out it is on sale.

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/html/wk ... nsave.html