Replies

1. 
   creekwood | Oct 20, 2005 03:20am | #1

   I don't have one, but may I ask how you like the Woodmaster? I've seen one in action, and was impressed.

1. 
   BUCSRET | Oct 20, 2005 04:58am | #2

   I just got it a few weeks ago used. I really like it a lot. It has a lot of functionality and is very well designed. Has a 5 HP motor turning the massive cutterhead and a separate motor for the feed.I like the customer supprt, even though it is used I have asked for and recieved books on starting a molding business and 2 DVD's on how to operate it and how to make curved molding.I spent 4 hours on Sat. turning out sample of molding. Required me setting it up 8 times with different cutters. Very easy. The guy i got it from gave me all the goodies he had bought for it. Extra cutterhead for the planer, extra small cutterhead for 3" molding, a sanding drum, 20 sets of knives, extra planer blades...all for 800.00sorry, im gloating....

1. 
   creekwood | Oct 20, 2005 02:18pm | #7

   Yea, rub it in about the price, lol. I've been looking at one for some time now, but I'm afraid it will cost more than that. But I do have a need, and it seems like it could fit that need. Why did the guy get rid of it? Not enough use?

1. 
   BUCSRET | Oct 20, 2005 05:22pm | #8

   Actually, he sold me a brand new 3hp Delta shaper and dust collector for $800.00 as well and a Rigid jointer for $150He lost 2 fingers in his table saw and lost intrest in woodworking. That is why he sold everything. I really made our. But, before his accident he had a molding business with the Woodmaster. He said he was making a killing. So, I just started advertising as "Heritage Molding", hoping to gerenerate some money to justify all the money i spent on woodworking goodies. I am really impressed with the machines many useses. OH...I forgot to mention he also threw in 2 gang saw blades. I can really turn out a lot of material in no time. If you were in Phoenix, I would demo it for you.

1. 
   creekwood | Oct 20, 2005 08:16pm | #10

   Man, you're killin' me with these deals! Thanks for the offer to see it, but FL is a little too far. I've seen one in use as a planer, speed turned down to a crawl, and some highly figured curly maple came through as smooth as a baby's bottom. Real impressive. But the molding aspect makes me think, too.

   Good luck, and tell us how you do with the molding business.

2. 
   BUCSRET | Oct 20, 2005 11:05pm | #11

   I'm hoping to get that first call soon. I have been told that once you get the first molding job that it takes off from there. I only want to do it part time and operate with as little overhead as possbile out of the garage. You would be surprised how easy it is to use this machine. I'll let you know

2. 
   Quartersawn | Oct 22, 2005 01:01am | #13

   I do not have a Tormek but probably would have bought one in the past if I had the money at the time.  It is a good system, but I will never buy one now that I have my waterstones.  My major argument against the Tormek is that it is an expensive sharpening system.  It requires a major investment and also consumes cutting tools because it is aggressive.  Water stones provide a superior edge and minimize the loss of tool steel.  FWW magazine compared all sharpening methods and found the Tormek to be somewhere in the middle of the pack for providing a useable tool cutting edge.  The best reason for owning a Tormek would be in a production situation where sharpening was an ongoing need; day in, day out.  It also is not a particularly fast sytem, however, but it takes some of the tedium out of sharpening.  Perhaps woodturning tools would be an application where Tormek might really be superior, because of all the unusual profiles and angles on the tools.

   I would love to have one around, but my money would go elsewhere if I was faced with buying one (new).

1. 
   DennisS | Oct 22, 2005 04:52am | #14

   I have to agree, Quartersawn, the Tormek really comes into its own with respect to sharpening turning tools. When I started turning a few years ago I had nothing but an old arbor with a salvaged washing machine motor as a sharpening "system" along with a few tired old oil stones. Faced with a purchas of something to sharpen turning gouges, I opted for the Tormek. It really does speed up the process and helps preserve the profile of turning tools.But as you say, it is indeed agressive. A fact brought home to me when I bought a new 3/8" bowl gouge in order to put a different grind on it for different uses. The new one, same brand, same (original)size, was almost two inches longer than my old one that's only about three years old.I tend to go a little lighter on the pressure anymore when sharpening gouges on that thing!

3. 
   philip | Oct 22, 2005 09:39am | #15

   Buc, would you be kind enough to post a picture of your woodmaster.I am curious to know if it is the same as the Woodmaster range of shapers etc that were obtainable where I came from.Thanks.Philip Marcou

1. 
   BUCSRET | Oct 22, 2005 09:55pm | #18

   Send me your email address. [email protected]

2. 
   BUCSRET | Oct 22, 2005 09:57pm | #19

   Try thisHi I've uploaded a new photo album on Bebo. Click below to view. Please connect with me on Bebo as a friend to view one anothers Photos, White Boards, Blogs etc http://www.bebo.com/invitea/2024184a779024356bJohn

3. 
   BUCSRET | Oct 23, 2005 09:43pm | #20

   Did you see the pictures ?

1. 
   philip | Oct 23, 2005 10:52pm | #21

   Yes thanks- it is not what I had in mind, which was a range of woodworking machinery imported into South Africa at one time. Some of it was kind of Grizzly like-I bought a shaper, and am impressed with it to this day. I follow the Grizzly Wars with interest.Philip Marcou

2. 
   BrentS | Oct 20, 2005 05:01am | #3

   I've used the Tormek for years, though it does'nt see as much action as my waterstones. It performs as advertised. I got the complete line of jigs that were available at the time and have used them all. They've since come out with a jig for molding knives, but I'm not sure which knives it will work with.

   Here's a link with alot of info and even a forum devoted to Tormek.

    

   http://www.sharptoolsusa.com/index.php

    

   Brent

    

3. 
   DennisS | Oct 20, 2005 05:49am | #4

   I've got a Tormek but I didn't know, as Brent implied, that they had jigs for sharpening profiled cutters. It works really, really well on turning gouges and any straight edge tool, though. It's not the least bit slow, actually even with the wheel only turning at 90RPM.

1. 
   dukeone | Oct 20, 2005 05:54am | #5

   Tormek Owners: Any one have experience with the Japanese water stones for the Tormek? Might be useful for a finer finish. DukeKenneth Duke Masters
   The Bill of Rights
   December 15 1791
   NRA Endowment Member
   LEAA Life Member
   CRPA Member

1. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 21, 2005 08:43pm | #12

   I was wondering why I would need a water stone after shaprning on my Tormek? Geee just a pass or two and I breath and I hear the mircrobes
   scream as they pass in half across the edge???

   Edited 10/21/2005 1:44 pm by WillGeorge

1. 
   dukeone | Oct 22, 2005 04:24pm | #16

   Will: I was asking about Japanese water stone replacements for the original Tormek stone. Available at Japan Woodworker and others. DukeKenneth Duke Masters
   The Bill of Rights
   December 15 1791
   NRA Endowment Member
   LEAA Life Member
   CRPA Member

1. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 22, 2005 09:22pm | #17

   Woodcraft by me has them.. $110.00/165.00 or sohttp://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?DeptID=4030&FamilyID=1849

   Edited 10/22/2005 2:23 pm by WillGeorge

4. 
   Jeff | Oct 20, 2005 07:24am | #6

   I use my Tormek to hollow grind on chisels and plane irons.   I follow up with waterstones after the Tormek.  To expand its use,  I acquired additional jigs to sharpen a draw knife and jointer blades.  I find the Tormek ill suited for these types of tools, even with the jigs.  The jig isn't stable enough or cannot securely attach to the draw knife to get a consistent hollow grind on long edges.

   For the limited use my Tormek gets, I'd think I could've spent my money better elsewhere.

   Jeff

5. 
   JohnWW | Oct 20, 2005 06:26pm | #9

   The Tormek has a wide flat faced wheel meant primarily for plane blades and chisels, it can't be used to sharpen knives with a molding profile. 

   For a profiled knife you need a special grinder with a very thin wheel, about 1/16th inch thick, and a guide system that follows a Plexiglass profile of the knife.  Viel is one maker of these grinders that advertised for many years in FWW but they aren't in the current issue, but there are a number of other brands.  For the most part, profile grinders are industrial weight machines and moderately expensive.  Their real advantage isn't in resharpening but in their ability to create new knives in any pattern you can dream up.

   John W.