Just came up from the basement where I’ve spent the past 2 hours swearing at my Delta “Sharpening Center” (model 23-710). No matter what you do, you can’t get that thing to sharpen at 90 degrees; it pulls out of square when you tighten the height adjustment. The wet wheel vibrates and wobbles. The rest for the dry wheel is too light to use.
I wrote to Delta and am waiting for a reply. I can’t see much sense in trying to get a new one since it will probable be the same. I was thinking of trying to mount the rest directly on the bench or some other configuration that can be adjusted. Does anyone else own one of these beasts, or have some ideas for a tune-up/overhaul?
Jeff
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> ...Does anyone else own one of these beasts,
I bought one thinking I could use the wet wheel to put a flat grind on my skew chisels. What a joke. I don't know what they think people are supposed to sharpen on that wheel but certainly nothing make out of any kind of steel. I do get some use out of the white (alum. oxide -?-) wheel. I use it to sharpen my lawnmower blade and machete. I can see no use for the wet wheel at all.
When I got interested in turning I didn't have anything in the way of sharpening stuff so I bit the bullet and bought the Tormek. There may well be other systems out there as good as or perhaps better than the Tormek, but the Delta is not, in my book, one of them!
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Hi Jeff
My buddy has one of these Beasts in our work trailor, it is great for rough grinding but it has a horid vibration problem and I just dont like the feel of it. It acts and feels cheap. Not for the fine stuff. IMO. Rick
Rick and all,
Thanks for the feed back! Delta has yet to respond to my complaints. Somehow, I really didn't think they would.
I think I've figured out a way to mount some sturdy tool holders directly on the bench top (2" oak) and get around the problems that way. Do you know if there is another source of wet wheels for that particular machine? The wet wheel vibration seems to come from the wheel itself, which is fitted on a stamped plate. (Try removing the wet wheel and see if the vibrations don't disappear.) If one could have a plate made that's well balanced, I'd think that would do the job. It would then be just a matter of fitting it with a good wheel.
Jeff
You are not alone, my friend. I made the mistake of buying one of them and went through hell with it. I took the first one back to the store, and let them watch it wobble it's way off the counter. We opened three more new ones and ran them until we found the one that shook the least. At the time, I did not know about the Tormek system. I use the delta for sharpening lawn mower blades and cheap knives. I will own a Tormek very shortly, as I have no intention of ruing my good chisels and turning tools on the Delta. That thing needs a major redesign. Sorry to give you the bad news, but I guess you already knew.
I was sold on the Tormek after watching the demo at a wood show. They guy took a screwdriver and hammer and bashed up the edge of a chisel. Within a minute, or so, he had it ground, honed and polished so that it would shave the hair off your arm!
It is pricey, especially some of the jigs, but it works great!
Mike
Buy a Tormek. More money, but you get what you pay for.
Mike
Mike,
I'd love a Tormek, but I'm still waiting for one with all the bells and whistles to go on sale for around $200. Don't worry, I'm not holding my breath.
Jeff
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