The 23-700 incorporates a traditional dry-grinding wheel for initial grinding and a slow-speed wet-grinding wheel for finer work. The 10-in.-dia. wet wheel spins at an extraslow 70 rpm.

Tool backs must be flattened on the small usable side surface of the wet wheel, which is awkward. Backs and bevels ground on the 1,000-grit wet wheel must be further honed on sandpaper or stones to produce a truly sharp edge.

Grinding the bevel goes quickly if you use the dry wheel to establish the bevel, and refine the edge on the wet wheel. The tool rest for the wet wheel has drawbacks: It is easy to adjust and has a large working surface, but it is too large for short chisels and occasionally flexed during use.

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