I work out of two different workshops, one at home and the other in my shop on the High Street, and sharpening my tools is always a problem when I’m working at the shop. Space is at a premium there, so I tend to take two of everything and then bring them back home in the evening to re-sharpen them all….which is a pain in the neck. So, in the new year I will invest in a new system; but which one?
At the moment I have two bench grinders, one with CBN and the other with white stones. The CBN grinder has a cheap-and-cheerful gouge sharpener permanently fixed at one wheel, and a tilt-able platform at the other, so I manage to sharpen everything that I need to. The other grinder never gets used.
So here’s the dilemma. Do I start from scratch and get two new systems, or do I upgrade the grinders? Is the cost of a Tormek really justifiable? Does the Pro-Edge really live up to Sorby’s claims about how rugged it is? Then there’s the Sorby 447 Deluxe, and similarly, the Wolverine systems for use with bench grinders. Does a leather strop-wheel make much of a difference?
I’d appreciate some input from anyone with direct experience of any of these systems, especially if you run more than on system and can make reasoned comparisons.
Thanks in advance…Les