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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    193

    Default The Work Sharp WS3000 sharpening system

    Hi All,

    Just wondering if anyone has one of the Work Sharp WS3000 sharpening stations and what their thoughts are on it?

    From the videos I've been watching it looks like a pretty good machine but would be interested to hear from anyone who actually has it.

    Thanks

    Joel

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Little River
    Age
    77
    Posts
    1,205

    Default

    It really makes sharpening chisels a non event. I don't even use the micro bevel facility on it as I find a quick jab into the machine and the chisel is restored to sharp.

    I have added extra glass wheels to have more grits available but I find that I only use them when sharpening for the first time or fixing damage. My only regret is that plane blades won't fit into the chisel slot but they can be done with an extra accessory on top.

    The plastic wheel with the slots deflects under pressure to it can't be used in conjunction with the glass ones as the squareness of the grind alters.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
    Posts
    7,696

    Default

    I have one and it works and works well. The big issue it has is that if you only use the sharpening guide built into the body of the machine the tool runs on a single track and when the abrasive is used on that track that paper is effectively useless but the rest of the abrasive is still brand new. if you buy the accessory deck that WS sell then a sharpening guide can be used from the top and all the paper can be used. This deck can also be made, look up the video Stumpy Nubs made on Youtube, in fact I think he made a couple. Would I buy it again knowing what I know now? I don't think so as it has cobwebs on it and only gets used for flattening the backs of chisels and as I am not going to buy any more of those I should sell it. I do not use the paper that came with it having done what most owners have done and sourced diamond plates from Ebay. I do use it to flatten different things that are tool related but not necessarily wood working related.

    I would buy a half speed grinder and a CBN wheel before I bought a WS and a Tormek grinding rest with angle guide. Grind a hollow bevel and five minutes or less on stones or an abrasive of your choice will see equal results far quicker. Using this method you can touch up a blade in less than a minute and no guides are needed or necessary even for someone who has not free hand sharpened. The WS suffers by being slow, not a slow as a Tormek but a grinder will do in two minutes what a WS takes far longer to do.
    CHRIS

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    193

    Default

    Thanks for the info. I take it you are happy with it then!

    I went to buy one from Carbatec on weekend and walked out without it mainly because they started talking about the tormek and put a little doubt in my head..... I think I like the work sharp over the tormek system.

    Quote Originally Posted by Bohdan View Post
    It really makes sharpening chisels a non event. I don't even use the micro bevel facility on it as I find a quick jab into the machine and the chisel is restored to sharp.

    I have added extra glass wheels to have more grits available but I find that I only use them when sharpening for the first time or fixing damage. My only regret is that plane blades won't fit into the chisel slot but they can be done with an extra accessory on top.

    The plastic wheel with the slots deflects under pressure to it can't be used in conjunction with the glass ones as the squareness of the grind alters.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    193

    Default

    Good to know thanks Chris.

    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Parks View Post
    I have one and it works and works well. The big issue it has is that if you only use the sharpening guide built into the body of the machine the tool runs on a single track and when the abrasive is used on that track that paper is effectively useless but the rest of the abrasive is still brand new. if you buy the accessory deck that WS sell then a sharpening guide can be used from the top and all the paper can be used. This deck can also be made, look up the video Stumpy Nubs made on Youtube, in fact I think he made a couple. Would I buy it again knowing what I know now? I don't think so as it has cobwebs on it and only gets used for flattening the backs of chisels and as I am not going to buy any more of those I should sell it. I do not use the paper that came with it having done what most owners have done and sourced diamond plates from Ebay. I do use it to flatten different things that are tool related but not necessarily wood working related.

    I would buy a half speed grinder and a CBN wheel before I bought a WS and a Tormek grinding rest with angle guide. Grind a hollow bevel and five minutes or less on stones or an abrasive of your choice will see equal results far quicker. Using this method you can touch up a blade in less than a minute and no guides are needed or necessary even for someone who has not free hand sharpened. The WS suffers by being slow, not a slow as a Tormek but a grinder will do in two minutes what a WS takes far longer to do.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Hunter Valley
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,342

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jms_8087 View Post
    I went to buy one from Carbatec on weekend and walked out without it mainly because they started talking about the tormek and put a little doubt in my head..... I think I like the work sharp over the tormek system.
    My immediate thought when I saw this machine (from your link) was "Hang on, what about the Tormek" - I had a funny feeling the T8 was not a lot more than this machine (I was wrong), and whilst you do have to buy jigs for other things you want to sharpen, the advantage is you get to use it to sharpen pretty much anything, as opposed to sharpening only chisels.

    That said, I realised after looking the Tormek is about $1200 (and I didn't think it was so expensive, or didn't remember it being so).

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Perth, Australia
    Posts
    1,813

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Parks View Post
    I would buy a half speed grinder and a CBN wheel before I bought a WS and a Tormek grinding rest with angle guide. Grind a hollow bevel and five minutes or less on stones or an abrasive of your choice will see equal results far quicker. Using this method you can touch up a blade in less than a minute and no guides are needed or necessary even for someone who has not free hand sharpened. The WS suffers by being slow, not a slow as a Tormek but a grinder will do in two minutes what a WS takes far longer to do.
    Yep. Have a Vicmarc Slow Speed Grinder with 180g CBN wheel and Tormek jig and wouldn’t be without it now. Can hollow grind a blade in less than a minute and then quickly finish up on stones right after.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2018
    Location
    Austria
    Posts
    1

    Default

    I bought a worksharp 3000 a while ago and all my diamond plates water stones have gone into the cupboard. The amount of time the worksharp saved me I can't imagine to describe. I'm using mainly japanese chisels with a few European ones as well. The worksharp makes flattening the backs a breeze, although I use a granite surface plate with https://www.axminster.co.uk/hermes-s...-film-ax834464 to make sure the backs are really flat (I use some of the blue lapping fluid https://www.axminster.co.uk/trend-la...d-500ml-333710 (which seems to work well with the lapping film) afterwards. Grinding the bevel is a doddle with the work sharp as the angle is always the same. Finishing with 6000 grit micromesh disks should be enough for most people. The leather buffing disk i'm not so sure about. I have a feeling that it's soft enough to round over the edges a bit while giving a mirror finish. I think I'm going to try mdf for final honing or my very fine 12000 waterstone https://www.fine-tools.com/naniwa-chosera.html. A word of warning watch out for the metal dust produced by the coarser grits as it can build up on the rim of the machine and cause a fire hazard. A neodym magnet disk is enough to remove the metal dust and will remove most of it. I would also warn people not to jam the chisels hard into the paper as you will kill the temper of the chisel, a light touch is required with attention to the chisel temperature (the abrasive cuts very fast) It's not the cheapest tool in the world but the time savings are immense and once you've got your tools sharp just a light touch up is all that's needed. I would like to know if any knowledgeable members know if dry grinding Jap chisel a slow speed is bad for the temper. I don't like to get the metal more than slightly warm with plenty of water dunking in between grinding. I must say that this little machine opened my eyes a bit as to just how quick and easy sharpening is. The replacement abrasive is pricey but there are alternatives that are cheaper available although mainly in the coarser grits.
    Cheers

    Andrew

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