Synopsis: It’s easy to be attracted by the host of machines on the market that promise to help make the task of sharpening tools faster, easier, and more accurate. These sharpening systems vary from horizontal sandpaper platters to water-cooled wheels. Some also include a dry, high-speed wheel for rapid grinding. Furniture maker Tim Albers tested seven systems on plane irons, chisels, turning tools and carving tools, evaluating each on ease of use and quality of cut. Systems reviewed include the Delta 23-710 and 23-700 Sharpening Centers, Makita 9820-2 Blade Sharpener, Scheppach TiGer 2000, Tormek SuperGrind 2006, Lap-Sharp LS-200, and Veritas Mk. II Power Sharpening System.

When I’m in the middle of a project, I hate to stop and sharpen my tools. Instead I find myself picking up another chisel or plane—even if it’s not ideal for the task at hand. Only after I have exhausted my supply of sharp chisels and plane irons will I dedicate time to sharpening, and at that point I typically have a day’s worth of tools to grind and hone. So naturally I was curious about the host of motorized systems on the market that promise to make sharpening not only faster and more convenient but also more accurate. The machines vary from horizontal sandpaper platters to water-cooled wheels. Some also include a dry, high-speed wheel for rapid grinding, but I excluded standard bench grinders from this review because they are not marketed as complete sharpening systems.

To evaluate the best edge each system could produce, I sharpened a plane iron on each one and installed it in a well-tuned handplane. I then compared—system to system—the quality of cut and ease of planing on figured maple, one of the more challenging woods. I did the same for chisels, comparing their ability to pare end grain cleanly. Last, I checked to see how these systems performed with turning tools, short blades, and carving tools.

I found that a few of these machines really are complete sharpening systems that can replace the bench grinder, sharpening stones (or sandpaper system), and grinding and honing jigs. Others work for grinding only; with these you’ll need to keep your honing tools.

A few machines stood out

The Veritas is my choice for the best overall machine. For sharpening chisels and plane blades, it generates results equal to those achieved with the finest sandpaper or waterstones, but it cuts the time significantly and makes the process much easier.

I didn’t choose one of the machines as the best value, because I still would recommend a bench grinder and sandpaper or stones as the least expensive option for an entire sharpening system. Just be sure to use a good honing guide.

If you want to upgrade your bench grinder only, the relatively inexpensive Delta 23-710 will flatten backs and grind bevels accurately with little chance of overheating the edges.

From Fine Woodworking #182

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