Woodcraft Slow Speed Grinder/Mistake?
Good Morning…
I went to Woodcraft yesterday and bought a slow speed grinder. I do not turn, so I could not see buying the Jet system. I also bought a pink 8″ wheel 120 grit to try to reduce heat. Also bought a diamond dresser. Took it all home and found out that the tools rests are good paper weights….maybe. Now I need a tool rest. Looked online and found the Veritas. Looks like a good tool rest.
Woodcraft Slow Speed Grinder – $95.00
Pink Wheel 120 grit – $30.00
Diamond Dresser – $15.00
Veritas Grinder Jig – $55.00
Total of $195.00 without tax. Now I ask this….for just putting a bevel on my chisels and plane blades, did I make a mistake by speeding $200 for the grinder and accessories when I could have bought the Jet Slow Speed Grinder for $300? I’m pretty sure Woodcraft would take it all back if I wanted the Jet since I just bought all that “stuff” last night. What do you guys/forestgirl think??
Jeff
Replies
"Now I ask this....for just putting a bevel on my chisels and plane blades, did I make a mistake by speeding $200 for the grinder..."
Yes. Get your money back and buy 2 combination waterstones, dinner and a tank of gas for the same $200.
Mumda,
I have all the Norton Waterstones, I just need to put a hollow bevel on the chisels and plane blades. I use the stones after I put the bevel on them. Does that change your thoughts?
Jeff
Yes.
Mumda,
Could I have your thoughts?
Ummm...you changed my thoughts when you explained you wanted a hollow bevel. I never used a hollow bevel so I'm assuming you're on the right track with wanting a grinder.
I have been sharpening my planes and chisels for many years, and have never used a grinding anything, unless I had a severe nick in a blade. In a normal sharpening procedure, you shouldn't need a grinding wheel.
I don't own the Jet grinder so I can't comment on it but I have owned the Tormek for the past five years and absolutley love it. I have the whole gammot of accessories I need and paid a bunch of money for them but when i need to sharpen my turning chisels, the jig makes it a snap. I've heard that the Jet is a clone to the Tormek but I'm not sure how true that is. For the extra money, I'm not too sure you would be disappointed.
Woodman,
That grinder comes with white aluminum oxide wheels of 80 and 120 grit doesn't it? Why did you get the pink wheel? That's $95 for all the grinder you need.
The diamond dresser is a must-have.
You don't need any more tool rest than your own practiced hands. Holding the tool at a constant ange against the wheel is a matter of a little practice, just like holding a hollow ground tool on the honing stone. You can do it. Once the tool has a hollow grind. it's mush easier. The exact angle is not critical. Close to 25 or 30 degrees will do it.
You can build a tool rest as good as the veritas with no trouble. There are lots of plans for such floating around or just look at the Veritas for the basic design.
My point is that you could have gotten all the grinding equipment you really need for a little over $100.
On the other hand, you now have very good equipment that will take care of your sharpening needs for the rest of your life and it only cost you $200. Don't give in to buyer's remorce. If you want to use a tool rest, do it. The Veritas is the best of the bunch. Very shortly, you'll get comfortable with all of it and be able to reliably grind your tools in a minute or so and be back cutting wood. Which is what it's all about.
Rich
Woody,
Good luck if you decide to return the stuff at Woodcraft. I tried to return some items a while back and they tried to refuse to give me a refund. Some items were opened and some were not. One item was barely used (kreg pocket hole jig, made 4 holes and decided it wasn't for me.) When I pointed out to the cranky old ba$!ard that if I had bought the items from the catalog, I would have given a full refund, no questions asked, he insisted on calling the store owner at home. Well, the store owner wasn't too happy either, so I told the clerk to let the owner know I regularly drop $300-$400 at a time in the store and I wouldn't be back. I was reluctantly given a refund. Hope you don't run into the same problems I did.
Lee
I have no connection to Woodcraft, but I have had many experiences just the opposite to yours. Your store is, obviously, a franchise store. Don't settle for that kind of treatment. Call or email their headquarters and you'll find good customer service.
Jimma,
You're absolutely right, it's a franchise. They did (albeit reluctantly) give me a refund, so now I only shop there in person if there is something I need desperately and don't want to wait a week for it to arrive UPS.
Lee
I use a six inch $55.00 Delta high speed grinder with a 60 grit white wheel and a my grandfathers hard white Arkansas oil stone. That is ALL one needs to produce a shaving edge on any chisel or plane iron, period. The rest of that crap is just designed to take your cash.
"That is ALL one needs to produce a shaving edge on any chisel or plane iron, period"
Uh, yeah.
But now Woodman is going to slit his wrists!
Rich
If you just need to grind a bevel, one of those $15 sharpening jigs with a roller on the back and a belt sander do a great job quickly. You would have trouble overheating the blade as your fingers will get hot before you can damage the blade.
Don't despair. You'll love the way that pink stone treats your tools. Unless, of course, your experience has soured you on the whole package. Although I have had a Tormek for a long time, I still turn to the 8-inch grinder for faster shaping. There is a learning curve to it, but it does what it's intended to do and will put a hollow grind on your chisels and plane irons if that's what you want. It's also useful for a whole lot of other jobs around the shop, too. As for the money -- well, I didn't get drill bits with my drill press, either, but I did know it was coming. Ask someone who knows how to use it to give you a demo of the grinder. Maybe one of the guys where you bought it? That's how I learned to use one long before getting the Tormek.
I've used a Makita wet grinder for about 12 years. One of the best "machines" in my shop. Also, why ask ForestGirl? Is she the grinding expert?
DJK
why ask ForestGirl? Is she the grinding expert?
I think the joke was that she's the only woman on Knots, hence the line:
"What do you guys/forestgirl think??"
Just proper etiquette boys, just proper etiquette.
Jeff
"...she's the only woman on Knots...." Not! But I do appreciate the inclusiveness of his question. ;-)forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
DJ,
He asked "guys/forestgirl." He was being polite and being inclusive. No agenda beyond that would be my guess.
There are/have been other ladies on Knots, but their handle doesn't ecessarily make it obvious that you are addressing a female. (they probably have a reason for that.)
Alan - planesaw
I have a delta 8" grinder variable speed I run on the low range and with open grit wheels you can dry grind your tools with out blueing them if your carefull. your right the tool rests on all these grinders are useless and I use the whole family of grinding tools from lee valley veritas the tool rest for the grinder is excellent along with the angle grinding jig and honing guide.
The cheapest item there is the most important .
I don't think you went wrong. I have the same grinder (no pink wheel) and it works great for sharpening. I am also a wood turner so purchased the wolverine system. You may want to look at it for a rest. I also have the veritas - but think the wolverine is better. The veritas is made out of aluminum and does flex some - the wolverine is steel and solid.
my opinion would be to exchange for the precision granite block, and various grits of wet/dry paper - for the scary sharp method, and maybe a leather stropping wheel they sell at WC.
of course you can also use your grinder for sharpening your lawn mower blades too.
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