Grind Great Bevels for Less

I’ve owned a Tormek S-2000—an earlier version of the company’s T-7 model—for years and I’d be lost without it. While advertised as a one-stop sharpening system, I actually use mine for a single task, grinding a bevel.

 

Though you can do the job quickly on a standard grinder, you run the risk of burning the cutting edge and producing uneven, scalloped bevels. But with its slow-running, water-cooled wheel and easily adjusted tool holder, the Tormek is the perfect tool for safely grinding an accurate bevel on edge tools.

 

The downside to the Tormek T-7 has always been its high price. The good news is that a new version of its smaller and less expensive brother, the T-4, works just as well. The T-4 has an 8-in. wheel (the T-7 has a 10-in. wheel), a plastic stand, and a slightly less powerful motor. In use, I didn’t notice the difference

in motors, but the smaller footprint made the T-4 a little tippy. To stabilize the machine, I removed the rubber feet and clamped it to my bench. The company also offers a number of accessories for sharpening everything from turning tools to scissors to axes. If you plan on sticking to chisels and plane irons, you’ll need the diamond wheel dresser (TT-50, $90) and the square edge jig (SE-76, $60, shown at right).