| If, like me, you use traditional hand tools you know how | | | | one, but imagine that getting the cutting angle right was |
| important it is to sharpen them. The more work you do | | | | a bit of a problem, especially when smoking a pipe with |
| using your own motive force and wits the more you | | | | a silver cap on it and trying to look cool for a sepia |
| become aware of the value of a sharp chisel or saw. | | | | print. |
| A conventional grinder, seen in engineering workshops, | | | | The Tormek is set up with a jig for helping you to get |
| is not ideal for sharpening woodworking tools. The | | | | the appropriate cutting angle for the blade. The stone |
| razor-edge that you are trying to create quickly | | | | gets worn but can be levelled and brought back to |
| overheats, goes blue and the steel loses its temper. It's | | | | pristine condition with a diamond truing tool, one of the |
| too late to dip it in water, the damage is done. The | | | | attachments. |
| water was there to prevent this from happening not | | | | Probably the best feature of the Tormek is the range |
| for remedying the damage. The temper (hardness) of | | | | of jigs that can be used with it; axe heads, scissors, |
| the edge is lost and can only be replaced by careful | | | | and planer blades are amongst the items that make |
| heating to the correct temperature. | | | | life easy. The one I wouldn't be without on a desert |
| The Tormek is a slow running water-cooled machine | | | | island with a live three-pin socket is for gouges and |
| that comes in two sizes and is far better for this job. | | | | turning cutters. Once you've remembered which way |
| When you come to think of it, it is very similar to the | | | | up it goes, it effortlessly gives you a perfect machined |
| ones the old joiners used; large sandstone wheel, | | | | edge on a gouge. Try doing that on an old, hand |
| sometimes turned by hand, sometimes treadle | | | | operated stone, while smoking a pipe and saying |
| operated, often running in a water bath. I've never used | | | | "cheese". |