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Tormek Sharpening System – Getting Started


The Tormek water-cooled sharpening system has a well-deserved reputation for versatility, accuracy and ease of use. Its precise jig-guided control allows even a novice to consistently create proper edge geometry on a wide range of household and woodworking tools.


Sharpening a plane blade on the 220x aluminum oxide grindstone of a Tormek T-8 sharpening machine.

Set-Up


These main components of the Tormek sharpening machine require proper set-up before sharpening can begin.

  1. Prepare the stone with the stone grader to produce a surface of the desired grit (Photo 1).

  2. Prepare the leather honing wheel by oiling and applying Tormek’s honing compound (Photo 2). Veritas green honing compound also works.

  3. Install the universal support horizontally or vertically, depending on the jig used and tools to be sharpened (see the summary table and Photos 3 & 4). Mounted vertically, the universal support is for sharpening towards the edge, while a horizontal support position is for sharpening from the edge.

  4. Mount the tool to the appropriate grinding jig and set the proper angle (Photos 5-7).

Using the stone grader’s coarse side to restore the original 220x grit texture on a T-8 grindstone.

Photo 1 – The grindstone can be regraded to 220x or 1000x in 30 seconds or so.


Applying honing compound to the leather stropping wheel on a Tormek T-8 sharpening machine.

Photo 2 – Soften the leather with oil, then apply a thin bead of Tormek honing compound or touch a bar of Veritas honing compound to the turning wheel.


Tools Universal Support Position
General woodworking such as blades & chisels (except short chisels) Vertical
Truing grindstone Vertical
Woodturning such as spindle & bowl gouges (except scrapers) Horizontal
Woodcarving (except axes & scorps) Horizontal
Honing Horizontal
Carving knives & knives Vertical or Horizontal

Sharpening a chisel on a T-8 sharpening machine with the tool support set in the upright position .

Photo 3 – The tool support is mounted in an upright position when sharpening chisels and blades.


Sharpening a carving gouge on the T-8 with the tool support set in the horizontal position.

Photo 4 – When sharpening woodturning and woodcarving tools or using the leather wheel, install the tool support in the horizontal position.


A close-up of the scale stamped on the Tormek T-8 housing, used to gauge the grindstone diameter.

Photo 5 – Check the wheel size and use it to set the diameter compensator on the AngleMaster.


Using the angle-setter gauge to grind a chisel to a precise bevel angle on a T-8 sharpening machine.

Photo 6 – With the angle setter dialed to the desired angle, use the AngleMaster to position the universal support.


Sharpening a chisel on a T-8, showing the clearance between the grindstone and the square-end jig .

Photo 7 – Change the blade projection if the grinding jig bottoms out on the grindstone.

Discover More About Tormek Sharpening Systems

Using and maintaining Tormek sharpening systems.

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Using & Maintenance

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