I am continuing to setup my shop here in my new place. When I had the auction at the old place I sold the bench grinder I had. It was a cheap Craftsman wanna be. I got $35 for it. I think I paid $25 years ago. I have always had my eye on the Tormek sharpening system. It turns out some a elderly fella is headed for the nursing home, he's got breathing issues - big time. I know his boys well. Charlie always had good tools and took good care of everything. He has a Tormek Model Supergrind 2000. It has all the standard attachments plus it has the attachment to sharpen planer and jointer knives and the one to sharpen an axe. The new comparable model is about $900. Charlie Jr. told me today he would sell me the Tormek for $500. I got to let him know by Monday because that's when the Auctioneer is coming out to make a list. If I want it for $500 Charlie told the boys to sell it to me. In others words, I've got first crack. I am putting this out on this forum to see if anyone has some experience with a Tormek and if they think $500 is a fair price. I believe it is. I did some searching on the internet and all parts new and old are compatible with this Model. Boy, do I have things that need sharpening. This site got me sharpening my own chain saw blades thanks in part by the Firewood Bandit. I am really please how that has turned out and I am getting better at it all the time. So, I looking for some feedback.
Shawn, That is what I am doing now and why I am asking. Because I can buy the Grizzly one that is German made without $150 worth of attachments on sale for $159 right now. So, I would have a little over $300 in a comparable Grizzly. My decision is if the Tormek that much better. The other two guys that I talked to today that have one said they are glad they spent the money. Hell, I spent a little over $100 to sharpen my chain saw blades and it is way better than hand sharpening and I would never go back, since now I see how sharp I can get a chain saw compared to by hand sharpening.
Can't say that the Grizz is any better or worse than the tormac but by the time you buy all the attachments for the grizz you are at or above the $500 mark ( don't forget shipping costs) Been quite a while since I looked at the tormac, big deal when first introduced, What I can't remember is if there are different grits for the stone available and the second part is how much for a replacement stone. same questions apply to Grizz.
Chris, Thanks for the input. Your point is exactly what I have realized today when I started checking prices of the Grizzly - similar sharpener. The thing is I might have to do some for hire sharpening.
For hire sharpening is what I do- on a very large scale so something like these are ( for me ) only for some really odd specialty item. Never bought either one as it would be used so seldom with a 1/2 dozen tool/cutter grinders in the shop. plus most of what I see is carbide edged and these will not work for that material.
that seems a little steep unless it comes with a lot of accys. i paid about 700.00 for the tool and the master accy. pack ( i got employee discount and bought it on tax free day ) e few years ago . it is a good machine 90 rpm and you must keep in in a warm space because of the waterstone ( my shop is in the garage and dont heat it when i dont have to ) freezing . so i hardly ever used it and a friend is selling it on ebay for me , i have used one in a classroom where i used to teach some wookworking classes and it is a very good tool. if i was looking today for one i would as others have said check into the grizzly or jet and save some money.
Got a call a few minutes ago and my friend Charlie's son is going to keep the Tormek sharpening system. Oh well, no big deal. It wasn't a killer deal anyway.
Hello, This is dredging up an old topic that is no longer pertinent to its original question. Being a new member, I hope not to ruffle any feathers. I do own an old Supergrind model (green square frame), purchased through EBay. The Tormek system is a great unit. They are pricey but are worth the price. Beware of clones, not saying they won't work, but there are quality differences. If purchasing a used unit, one needs to extremely careful an well informed in regard to what to check for. I speak from experience. I bought without seeing the unit, bad move. If I had it to do over, I would purchase new. A good used one can be found, but they need to be inspected carefully.
