My personal feeling is that anybody selling a Tormek to a turner is either not a turner or
working on commission. It just isn't appropriate for us. Turning a 1' diameter form at 250
rpm and we are cutting 785'/minute. That glass-like edge may even last several seconds.
I roughed out a sweet gum bowl(not my favorite wood but the log has been taking up space in
my garage) and reground at least 6 times because it was quick and easy and I knew that the
tool would cut better after it was ground. I'm using the Oneway mastercut gouges, btw.
Bill
In article m, "Mike Rinken" mwrinken at
gmail dot com says...
Bill Rubenstein wrote:
I bought the 7" Baldor from Amazon for $199.00.
Bill
In article ,
says...
Ditto to Bill and Rusty.
I uesed a Delta vertical wet wheel for about a year for all my
sharpening. I then took a class from John Jordan who showed me the
correct way to use a regular 3450 rpm grinder. I bought an 8" JET
the
next week and a Wolverine system. I drained the pond on the wet
wheel
and shelved it. I never looked back.
The additional benefit for having the fast wheel is that if you ever
go to someone else's shop or do a club demo, you will be ready to
grind in the most "difficult" situation - a fast, dry wheel.
As for grinders, Baldor is the standard, but pricy. Deltas can work,
but I've seen a number of them that vibrate excessively. You may end
up returning them for another or buying a wheel balancing system.
For
what it is worth, my JET 8" is heavy-rock solid with no vibration.
It
cost about $175. The 8" Baldor approaches $500.
Joe Fleming - San Diego
------------------------------------------------------
Bill Rubenstein wrote in message
.net...
And I agree with Rusty. Get a high-speed grinder (I use a 7"
Baldor) and the Oneway jig system. Then have someone show you how
to use them -- it will save you a lot of time and steel. The slow
speed grinder may help at first but as you get better at using it
it will become a frustration -- too slow -- and you will not grind
when you really should.
Also, for your primary bowl gouges, I like a removable handle which
comes off easily. That allows me to turn with a very heavy tool,
remove the handle quickly, and grind with just the light gouge so
that I can get the feel of what I'm doing.
Tormek is a waste of money for turners, I think. The Oneway
balancing kit is a really nice- to-have also.
Another thing, don't buy wheels which are too fine. For most of