Thread: Mitchell Engineering Food Equipment

Seems the goods. 16.5 kg seems pretty hefty. How’s that way up against the others. Might indicate build quality. Do other sharpening jigs fit?

That is surprisingly cheap compared to the tormec machines. It looks to be solid enough and if chefs and meat workers use it then it must get the job done. It looks to be better built than the Sheppach I have. As said already you need to investigate what jigs can be fitted to it.
Regards
John

Looks like a fairly standard China made Tormek knockoff. I was having a look at these awhile back, they're on ebay and Total Tools and Timbecon. I got hands on with the Scheppach and Total Tools ones, they feel pretty solid and the support arm didn't wobble.

In the end I didn't buy one as I didn't want a trough of water around my tools. It'd only be a matter of time until I spilled it all over a cast iron table or plane. Instead I got a grinder and just free hand hollow grind with a good tool rest, then finish on diamond plates then a strop.

The price on the MEFE is pretty good, my only concern with buying online would be the quality control lottery it entails. Also I know the MEFE says it has a knife holder included but that looks like the 'standard' plane iron/chisel holder you get with the other branded machines. Which is good if you're buying this for tool sharpening but maybe not ideal for your butchers knives.

Edit: If you do buy this, the Timbecon jigs should work and I believe the Scheppach jigs also fit, but the Scheppach tend to be dearer for no obvious reason.

Originally Posted by Alkahestic

Looks like a fairly standard China made Tormek knockoff. I was having a look at these awhile back, they're on ebay and Total Tools and Timbecon. I got hands on with the Scheppach and Total Tools ones, they feel pretty solid and the support arm didn't wobble.

In the end I didn't buy one as I didn't want a trough of water around my tools. It'd only be a matter of time until I spilled it all over a cast iron table or plane. Instead I got a grinder and just free hand hollow grind with a good tool rest, then finish on diamond plates then a strop.

The price looks attractive as I paid about $400 online.

The price on the MEFE is pretty good, my only concern with buying online would be the quality control lottery it entails. Also I know the MEFE says it has a knife holder included but that looks like the 'standard' plane iron/chisel holder you get with the other branded machines. Which is good if you're buying this for tool sharpening but maybe not ideal for your butchers knives.

Edit: If you do buy this, the Timbecon jigs should work and I believe the Scheppach jigs also fit, but the Scheppach tend to be dearer for no obvious reason.

Agree generally with this.
I have the Triton one I bought last year. The Tormek jigs work well with it and will probably do so for all above.
The wheel on the Triton was a bit out of round an wobbled. Luckily I have a Tormek diamond truing jig that sorted it out but still has a little sideways wobble that doesn't matter that much.
So, unless you spend up big on the Tormek, allow for some fine tuning on the cheaper ones.
I think the reversing switch is an advantage I wish I had because you have to turn the whole thing around 180deg to switch from grind to hone. Tormek has a rotating base as an extra for about $80.
Mine has worked out well for plane blades.
Interested to hear Vic Tesolin from Veritas say he uses the Tormek now, in preference to stones.

The price seems attractive as I paid about $400 for mine thinking it would be better quality than the cheaper ones maybe it was - maybe not!