The Tormek Grinder

If, like me, you use traditional hand tools you know howone, but imagine that getting the cutting angle right was
important it is to sharpen them. The more work you doa bit of a problem, especially when smoking a pipe with
using your own motive force and wits the more youa 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. Thethe appropriate cutting angle for the blade. The stone
razor-edge that you are trying to create quicklygets worn but can be levelled and brought back to
overheats, goes blue and the steel loses its temper. It'spristine condition with a diamond truing tool, one of the
too late to dip it in water, the damage is done. Theattachments.
water was there to prevent this from happening notProbably the best feature of the Tormek is the range
for remedying the damage. The temper (hardness) ofof jigs that can be used with it; axe heads, scissors,
the edge is lost and can only be replaced by carefuland 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 machineisland 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 theup 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 treadleoperated stone, while smoking a pipe and saying
operated, often running in a water bath. I've never used"cheese".