Tormek T-3 Water Cooled Sharpening System

Comments about Tormek T-3 Water Cooled Sharpening System :

Be absolutely sure to read and follow the instructional material. Set aside some time to dedicate using the system and get comfortable using it soon after buying it before using it on expensive cutting tools.

Comments about Tormek T-3 Water Cooled Sharpening System :

I am a full time custom furniture maker and have been using this for about three years now. I looked at these a number of times and decided to give it a go. I couldn't really see where I would use the bigger T7 so I opted to get the T3. After all I only intended to use it to speed up taking out a nick in a plane or chisel blade. I have found that I use this grinder a lot. It is slower than a bench grinder but that is not a real issue unless you want to sharpen turning tools. They really hype the ability to sharpen turning tools on this thing but I have used the wolverine and it is the better option for most users. Though I do have the fingernail grinding accessory and do like it. The best feature of this is the honing wheel. I usually only use the grinding side to reestablish a hollow grind on a blade. I then go to my 4000 grit bench wet stone then on to the 8000 and then back to the T3 to hone the edge. I would not recommend trying to go from the 1000 grit grinder straight to the honing. You will not get an edge that will stay sharp for long. Don't believe the videos that say otherwise. In the end I would say this is a quality tool for the hand tool wood worker. Well worth the price for the T3 but I wouldn't pay the price of the T7.

Comments about Tormek T-3 Water Cooled Sharpening System :

I was confused as to why the band aids were provided with a machine that hones, that is until I sharpened the first chisel and cut my thumb. I immediately realized the reason for the band aids. Thank you very much for providing them! That is an interesting way to show confidence in a fine product that your company has produced. Great product!

Comments about Tormek T-3 Water Cooled Sharpening System :

The Tormek T3 does everything the company says it does. I could not justify spending the money on the T7 but believed the product was a quality piece of equipment. The thing that swayed me from the Jet and the grizzly wet sharpener (which were less expensive) was they seemed kinda loud on a comparison video someone did. I am firm believer that something that is well made is smooth and quiet. So I spent a little more on the T3 thinking the quality would be there. Well it does what they say it does beautiful edges that you can repeat over and over. But my machine has a bad vibration hum and thats the only reason I did not give it 5 stars. I tried lubricating the main shaft and its still there. Its basically a simple concept and not a lot of moving parts but it might be because the housing is plastic and the tolerances are not the tightest I've seen. But overall the machine does the job I need it to do and maybe as the machine breaks in it will quiet down who knows. As long as everything is sharp thats whats most important. Hint; I know everyone has their own views on using oil on a strop or honing wheel and Tormek recommends oiling the honing wheel, but I would try it dry first you can always add the oil later. I'm sorry I did I think it ruins the wheel just my thought.

Comments about Tormek T-3 Water Cooled Sharpening System :

This was set up for an article review rather than a shop tool. The tool is great, not as good as the T-7, but very adequate for a casual woodworker. A good investment for me.