Thread: Wet Grinder $39???

Hi Linelefty,
I have a carbatec $39 adjustable tool rest thingo. It's ok. I have been going free hand
with chisels including turning chisels.

Because of the felt wheel I am going to relocate the machine-turn it around so the felt wheel is spinning away from me for honing.

When this is done I will (may) make a new mount for the tool rest and may make some tools to fit it for common chisels I use.

The GMC, cos it has reduction gearbox the oxide wheel is at right angle to the main high speed wheel. This means it wil have to be mounted on a corner of my bench.

As for tool rests, it seems to me that with practice free hand is fine. Heard others on this forum say similar. It seems that keeping the tool sharp with regular hits on the wheels is the go.

cheers,
conwood

Conwood,

I dont think that's really what I'm after. I'm looking for a grinder to give me precie repeatable gemotry for initial bevel shaping in cabinetry chisels and plane blades rather than sharpening turning tools................So i dont think freehand is for me.

I tried one from a local builders supply its a bit noisy & theres not many places to rest a chisel, I took it back.
I use a zears model with aluminum adjustable rests & the wheel reverses direction too replacement stones are cheap under $10 without sh for my zears.

LineLefty. I think that machine is more for hollow grinding knives for butchers or chefs etc. The slow rotation and water stop the blade from burning. There is no reason why you couldn't sharpen wood working tools but you will need patience as it will be a slow job. As far as a guide goes I'm sure you would be able to improvise as the wheel is not going to tear metal off the tool. I've never seen one before but it reminds me of the old stone wheel that butchers used eons ago and I guess that as far as quality goes, you get what you pay for.
First job for me tomorrow is to hit Mitre 10 and see if I can get one as both my sons are chefs. For that price one can afford to give it a go.

As a self confesed GMC cheap crap tool lover, i bought the combo grinder 6 months ago. had it 29 days, and used up my 30 day cash back offer and took it back. dont waste ur time, it stinks

Originally Posted by NewLou

Lou thats one of them color blind tests isnt it. i seen a web site devoted to them. if you can see the number 9 in it you arnt color blind. if you cant see it , you are

Originally Posted by GC

Still really haven't answered the question.
Is the stone crap?
Does it spin to slow?
Is the engine not powerful enough?
Is it fragile?
Have you used one?

GC

Stone is crap - it wears uneaven like its made out of soap stone

spins way to slow and you find your self pushing hard just to speed things up

The worst part is the right angle gearing mechanism realy stinks it has so much wobble that couldnt be fixed after taking the wheel and caseing of. when the wheel spins it also moves slightly side to side, no good with an uneaven wheel

The tool rest is not a tool rest:confused: its a silly series of steps like the side profile of stairs. it dosnt make sence.

All in all a very badly thought out grinder and worth about $6.25 in my humble opinion

Linelefty`s original $39 grinder would be good for the kitchen though

That bad eh!, maybe I'll give it a miss then.

Lefty

I bought an (ever lower than GMC) XU1 bench grinder ($20) plus a $39 Carbatec tool rest. Replace the wheels with 1 x white alox @ $20 and 1 x felt wheel @ $25.

Works fine. My only problem, specifically on chisels, is having to quench often. No worries with plane irons.

I did need to bodgy up the alox wheel to fit the spindle, but no big deal. I use the original fine grind wheel as a dresser.

I've got a gmc wet dry grinder and made a tool rest for it and it works fine. Now I have sharp, even unburnt chisels. Maybe Caliban just lucky.
Or else they aren't all as bad as each other.

Attie, you don't need a grinder to sharpen your (and sons) "chefs" knives.
I use a couple of water stones I got from Carba-tec. They are used on all my knives with a straight blade - Global, universal, lautterjung etc. and they give a brilliant edge in no time at all, just a touch up with a good steel and away I go.
I found water stones are the best and far out perform any other stones or those silly sharpening systems that all the knife and cook shops sell.
For price carbatec is much better than king of knives or any one else selling other brands like gobal.
And the best part is I can use them on chisel and plane blades too.

Originally Posted by felixe

Attie, you don't need a grinder to sharpen your (and sons) "chefs" knives.
I use a couple of water stones I got from Carba-tec. They are used on all my knives with a straight blade - Global, universal, lautterjung etc. and they give a brilliant edge in no time at all, just a touch up with a good steel and away I go.
I found water stones are the best and far out perform any other stones or those silly sharpening systems that all the knife and cook shops sell.
For price carbatec is much better than king of knives or any one else selling other brands like gobal.
And the best part is I can use them on chisel and plane blades too.

Hey Felix, I'll be down your way in a couple of weeks. You have some good brands there. I have a couple of butchers knives the boys gave me, that's what I wanted to stone for, I'm not allowed to touch their good knives. Number 2 son works at "Chancellor Resort", Hope harbour, he has switched to "Kasumi" knives and gets them from "Black Pearl Epicure" in Brisbane. Kasumi have their own water stones, one being a 250/1000 grit combo, the other a 2000/6000 grit combo. You are spot on about the water stones, by far the best way to sharpen a chefs knife. Where abouts would I find carba-tec, I'll go and check them out.

Hi Attie,
Here is the address for Carbatec Brisbane.

40 Harries Rd, Coorparoo, Qld., 4151
Phone - (07) 3397 2577 Fax - (07) 3397 2785
Email - [email protected]
TRADING HOURS -
8:00am - 5:00pm Monday to Friday
8:00am - 12:00pm SaturdayORDERING: 1800 658 111

To get there from the city go out on the freeway over the river as if you were going to the Gold Coast, then take the 1st left hand turnoff over the Brisbane river and head to the GABBA, this puts you on Stanley street. Keep going along Stanley street thru 3 ( I think) sets of lights and keep on heading up over the hill. Take Stanley street all the way to Cavendish road, by now you have gone thru the lights over the hill along a bit and down around a sweeping Rhand and Left hand curve which puts you on a dual lane road, this then takes you along to the "big" intersection at Cavendish road - look for the school on the Left hand side BUT turn right. Now, go up cavendish road and over the train line - are you still with me?
After the train line head to the lights at the next intersection but just before turn right and head along past the back of Havery Norman (used to be Megamart/Myer) at the other side of this street you will see Coles and this intersection is Harries road, turn right and head down to the blue building. You are there - Congratulations!:eek:

Kasumi sounds very japanese, I assume they are the ubeaut knives that are laminated steel and very very sharp?
Carbatec sell there own imported version but are not much cheaper than black pearl which is suprising as everything at black pearl is usually outrageously priced (no trade discount).
You could try the kitchen warehouse at Logan if you head to the coast (Gold), they are just past Logan Hyperdome I saw some there recently, or Executive chef Merivale street South Brisbane opposite the TAFE have stuff as well. Check with Carbatec on availability of stones before you go as they always seem to have sold lots and variety can be sparse. However carbatec sell king brand stones which are a lot thicker and wider for the money, I also have one of the naturally quarried chinese waterstones and it is bloody fantastic for a razor edge but it does take time.