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Thread: Tormek v jet

  1. #1
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    Default Tormek v jet

    i was just wondering if anyone is using the Jet slow speed wet sharpener
    and whether it can compete with the Tormek.

    there is a 200 dollar differance in price at Rockler. Gegories dont have price on theres (dont you just hate that).

    is it worth paying the extra

    km

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  3. #2
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    Default

    no worries found this quite indepth review

    http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews...ekcomparo.html

    umm if the link gets removed and you want to read it just pm me

    km

  4. #3
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    I suggest you have a look around a little more, I hardly think that, that is an unbiased assessment... most of these guys use the tool for a day, write a review and we just assume that they are experts and their (often) superficial assessments are taken as gospel. I think you have to be careful and critical of some of these reviews, a lot of the time the incentive to write the article is tightly linked to getting to keep the tool afterwards. There are exceptions of course and some of the guys that write reviews from this forum fall into this category.

    Most user reports on the internet regarding the Jet suggest that although it is an ok machine its build quality and certain components are no match for the Tormek. The motor is underpowered, the stone is not as good and wears more quickly and there can be problems with the standard tool guide. The variable speed is a gimmick according to those who have used it, the grinder is pretty much useless unless it is ran at full speed. This does make a lot of sense, what is the value in variable speed built into a slow speed wetstone grinder? Now if someone did this for a dry grinder that could be a step forward.

    You are best to check all this for yourself on some of the american sites, they have obviously had the Jet for a lot longer than it has been available in Australia.

    Personally in the past I thought that these grinders were a waste of money, they seem very pricy for what you get... That was until I spoke to the guy from my sharpening service. He has had his for around 10 years and has been using it commercially. He has gone through 3 large stones and the motor is still running beautifully. There is no rust on his machine and he often has it running for the whole day. The tormek is the gold standard in wetstone sharpeners, it will really take a lot to convince me otherwise.

    I can see why machines like the little sheppach or the triton can be attractive at their price as they in many ways represent good value. On the other hand I am uncertain about the Jet as the price is starting to approach that of the Tormek 2006 which most shops are clearing out.

    Around a month or two ago I bought the T7 and I am very happy with it. It does what its meant to do and does it out of the box without having to fiddle for days. I think this is one of those cases where you DO get what you pay for. From a cynic, I am now a convert.

    If the budget goes that far go for the Tormek, if it doesn't it maybe worth waiting for a little longer!

    regards

    Marios
    You can never have enough planes, that is why Mr Stanley invented the 1/2s

  5. #4
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    Default

    Hello,

    I have tried out both as new, too.

    The speed adjustment for stone wear compensation in JET is not for compensating the stone wear, it is there to offer just faster results. It can also turn the workshop into a "House of Flying Daggers", but I'd still go for JET over Tormek.

    Tormek is resilient, though. I own a blue hammer laqcuered Tormek SA-250, from the era Tormek had no such name it has today. This one is about 15 years old, with 200W motor. It has not so many tweaks as nowadays they have. But the motor works like new, and that friction transmission is still getting the grip and delivering the power into wheels. But it has not been in daily use, more like in monthly use.

    In every commercial wet grinder I have tried out, the RPM is way too slow to get results for wider blades fast enough. I understand why, some narrow/hollow chisel edge will easily dig in the stone when sharpened against the stone and not taking care and concentrating on it. Wet grinder manufacturers know that, and that's why those revolutions are so slow. High speed RPM should be used exclusively for wider or at least for flat bevel blades. But Just guess how many guys would slow down the wheel for narrow/hollow chisels. I think none.

    kippis,

    sumu
    Last edited by sumu; 19th May 2008 at 11:37 PM. Reason: Editing grammar, again... but I'm improving :)

  6. #5
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    Default

    thanks for the comments guys

    ok id like to trow the Triton sharpener in the mix too. what is the differance with the high end machinces and the triton i watched Stus video and the triton seems to do a good job.
    is it just the quality of the components in the machines or somthing else im missing ie are the tools sharper when sharpened on a high end machine?

    km

  7. #6
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    Hello,

    No experience on Triton brand, but some on the equally priced Scheppach wet grinder. The stone was not that good, nor the polishing wheel, but did the job (for there were no good sandpaper nor good waterstones available at the moment, won't do that mistake again ).

    But for the latter part of your question, quality matters absolutely. A powered wet grinder is supposed to take your part of muscle work and leave you only to concentrate on shaping and sharpening the edge. If the frame wobbles, is too lightweight or motor or coupling does not maintain rpm, you'll have actually more than a double amount of work in your hands. It is like two guys would be holding the same blade at the same time when trying to sharpen it on a stone.

    On stone quality, according to my own experience in making usable waterstones from scratch, you can make a stone-shaped object with ease. But if you want more consistency and logical performance embedded in the stone, the more time and effort it takes, although you would use exactly the same raw materials in similar mixing ratios and use same molds and process equipment. For example the way and method how you fill the mold evenly so that also the compound packing density in the mold cavity at that stage (before actual compacting) is consistent, is a time-consuming trick. An indication of a good stone, waterstone or wet grinder stone, is also that it is a bit more expensive. It has to be.

    On sharpening jigs, same thing, quality-wise. First of all, they should not be complicated. Then I'd say those wet grinder jigs should have small fitting tolerances so that they do not vibrate, shake or wobble.

    kippis,

    sumu

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