Tormek Sharpening Advise Sought

[Russ Hewitt]

First, I hate dull tools. I never do anything small, so I just invested in a Tormek T-7 sharpening system with the Woodturning and Handtool bundles. I am thinking about doing some sharpening for other people to offset some of my expenses. What do you think a fair price would be to sharpen the average turning tool? I am just learning, so it takes me a little bit longer. I can sharpen most tools and 15 to 20 minutes. I am sure that I will be able to do it in 5 to 10 minutes after I get some experience. I will say that you will have a hard time finding a better sharpening job than one made on this machine. It is that good.

 

[JimB]

I really don't think you will find turners who will hire you to sharpen their HSS turning tools. When i turn I sharpen my tools many times per hour or even much more depending on what I am doing. I may even touch them up after just a few minutes of turning. This includes when making pens. There are some extremely hard woods when making a pen I would sharpen twice.

I don't know any turners who use HSS who don't sharpen very frequently. Part of turning is learning to sharpen.

 

[KenV]

You are unlikely to get much turning tool business -- but there is always an opening for sharpening knives for commercial kitchens

 

[Russ Hewitt]

I was not thinking so much about Woodturning tools as other types of wood work such as joiners, planers and hand planes as well as cutlery and high dollar drill bits.

 

[JimB]

I was not thinking so much about Woodturning tools as other types of wood work such as joiners, planers and hand planes as well as cutlery and high dollar drill bits.

That makes more sense but your original post asked specifically about turning tools.

 

[low_48]

I pay less tha $20 for 3, 12" planer blades sharpened. That is a precision machine ground procedure, with all three blades done at the same time. All three exactly the same height. Not something you will be able to match on a Tormek. I can't see a Tormek being a money making machine since they really seem slow to me.

 

[scotirish]

I have both the slow speed grinder and the Tormek system. With the slow speed grinder I can sharpen the tool on about 30 to 60 seconds. To do the same tool on the wet grinder it takes a much longer time. I usually only sharpen the skew and scrapers on the Tormek as it is a much sharper edge and cleaner face.
Just my two cents worth. :biggrin::biggrin:
Ron