Another County heard from
Hi,
I have the Jet---A present from my son, Glenn. I had purchased a Jet through a post on Saw Mill Creek. The guy took my money and did not send me the sharpener. I found out that he was also scamming Knickers and people working with ceramics.
Anyway I decided the heck with it and figured I would never own a slow wet machine. That's where Glenn stepped in. When I opened a box he gave me a couple months later and saw the contents I was so shook up that I doubt that I said anything intelligent. Dang it all---I'm going to keep that kid!
Anyway, in my shopping I had five people tell me they preferred the Jet to the Tormek, however they all said that the Tormek gouge jig was superior to the Jet.
The set-up works fine. However a big, HOWEVER that is, You still have to line the chisel, gouge, whatever up by looking across the unit to see where light leaks through between the tool and the stone, then re-adjust, re-adjust, etc. You can do the blacken the end of the tool and see where the bevel gets bright with a trial run, re-blacken, re-try, re-adjust, etc. routine instead if you prefer.
In either case, you can do that routine a heck of a lot cheaper with many hand units.
If you need to do any regrinding, it takes forever!!! I use the Wolverine to reshape or remove a nick; then I go to the Slow Speed Wet Jet.
If the tool is flat, like a chisel or plane iron, I use the WorkSharp 3000. It is a bazillion times faster and more accurate than the wet systems. The WorkSharp also does a much better job. If I sharpen a chisel, use it, then come back to it 3 months later, I can have it sharpened at the EXACT same angle and polished in about 90 seconds.
At 90 seconds with the other systems, I don't even have the tool fastened to the jig, let alone properly aligned.
Oh yes, Jet said to dry the unit after each use to prevent rust. That's why you are not supposed to need stainless steel nuts and washers. That sounds good in print or over the telephone. Reality Check: If I dry off the wet unit the stone will still be wet weeks later and that wet stone is what is against the nut and washers speeding rust.
Surprisingly I do not have a rust problem with tools even though I am about six miles from the Pacific Ocean...except with screws on an inexpensive 4 x 36 belt sander, and the handle on a HF machinest's vise. However, my Slow Speed nut and washers have rusted like they were years old...They are not one year old yet.
The Slow Speed is quiet and runs smoothly. The two Tormeks I have encountered are no quieter nor are they any smoother. I will just have to find a source for stainless steel nuts and washers. The shaft is doing fine.
Glenn made a great jig for sharpening gouges on the WorkSharp 3000. The jig is made from a small piece of hardwood scrap and a machine screw or knob. That is the good news. The bad news is that you need a separate jig for each class of tools. By "class of tools" I mean that one jig will do your half and three-quarter inch gouges...But you will need another for the three-eighths and down, etc.
Enjoy,
Jim