As a proud owner of a Tormek Sharpening System, we. The Tormek manual makes little mention. Recommended Tool Grinds for the Tormek Wet Sharpening System. The finest wet stone sharpening system available, the Tormek T-8 is rated for continuous use and has a vast array of specialty jigs available so you can quickly and.

Not long ago, I read that the Tormek slow speed grinder/sharpener called the “SuperGrind” was about to be duplicated by several manufacturers since the patent was about to expire. I don’t have any details about the patent expiration but that’s not the focus of this article. Instead, I’d rather discuss some of the similarities and differences between the original Tormek and the new Jet knock-off. I’ve owned a Tormek for many years and I’ve grown to appreciate the quality of the finished edge that I get when I use it. My stone has slowly diminished from 10” to 8” in diameter and I recently decided that it would only be a short time before a new stone would be needed.

After I found that replacement stones cost $125, I decided to see if there was an option to just sell the Tormek and get the Jet model. Jardinains 2 Full Setup Patch. With a quick check on the web.

I found that my Tormek was still worth $250. Since the new Jet sharpener is $299, so I decided it was worth a shot in light of the $125 replacement stone. For a brief time, both tools were in my shop so I decided it would be a good opportunity to write a brief article comparing the two.

First Glance The first thing you notice about the Jet is that it appears to be a bit beefier. This is due to a wider base, a more substantial handle, and a larger catch basin under the stone. The wider base is nice but I’ve never found the Tormek prone to tipping. The base on the Jet tool also has a small storage drawer that holds the stone grader, plane iron jig, and honing compound. An additional base is available which gives the tool an even wider stance and has a couple of extra drawers for storage. The Tormek handle is a tribute to the simplicity of the tool but it doesn’t have a comfortable or secure feel.

The on the Jet is attached on both sides and feels more secure, giving it a slight edge over the Tormek. It’s a small detail but one of many that I’ll mention as you read on. The water catch basin on the Jet is wider than the Tormek basin. It still doesn’t catch a significant part of the water when using the planer/jointer knife jig. Otherwise, it’s a useful improvement. One of nice things about the Jet is that the catch basin has two positions.

When the stone diameter gets too small to use the lower holding slot for the catch basin, you can move it up to a higher slot that allows more of the stone to sit in the water. My Tormek stone is well worn and the basin has to be nearly full for it to make a reasonable dip into the water. The second slot on the Jet is a convenient and thoughtful addition. The Jet basin also extends out over the back of the wheel and catches slightly more water coming downward off the stone.

One area of note: The Tormek basin holds 26 oz. Of water and the Jet only holds 21 oz. As a result, the Jet will require refilling more often. Two Notable Improvements Changes The Jet has two very significant improvements over the Tormek. The first is the addition of a speed control which allows the wheel to be adjusted from 90 to150 RPM.