The Tormek and the Skew...

[L33]

Does anyone on here have a Tormek with a standard wheel...and have trouble sharpening a skew? I bought a slew a couple of years back from Axminster. Can't remember off the top of my head but I think it was Diamec or something like that. I couldn't get it sharp...or shaped...in fact, the Tormek wasn't taking metal off the tool. My other tools were OK...slow...but ok.

So I took the skew to Axminster...you can pay a few quid for them to sharpen tools. After 30 mins on their Tormek they gave up and put it on a high speed grinder and then went back to the Tormek to try to sharpen it. To be honest, the Tormek didn't really alter the high speed grind.

I've recently tried sharpening the skew on my Tormek and nothing...it just has no affect on the tool...it's like the tool is made of unsharpenable metal!

Wondered if this was a common problem, and also wondered if anybody has the same set up and has a skew that sharpens no problem...because if so...id be interested in the skew make so that I could buy one and hopefully have a working skew once more :)

 

[Phil Dart]

I can't talk kowledgably about the Tormek, nor your particular make of skew, but if one won't sharpen the other it sounds very much like the metal of the skew is tempered differently. Does it hold its edge for an unusually long time or does it go blunt just as quickly as any other tool?

 

[wm460]

I have a Tormek and a variety of skews from different makers, most of them pommy brands plus an Aussie P&N in sizes from 1" to 1/2" and have not ha any problems with them.

 

[Terry Q]

Can you have the tool tested for hardness? I have some homemade scrapers that are Rockwell 70. I only use my CBN wheels on them. For skews I also use the CBN (because it's faster) then hone for max sharpness. Can you dress the edge with a diamond hone?

 

[Dalboy]

I only ever use a grinder of any kind on the skew to reshape and a diamond stone to give an edge when it starts to feel as if it is not cutting properly. I only have the standard hss tools so whether this would work on yours you would need to try to see.

 

[Vic Perrin]

I have a Number of Skews by various manufacturers (not yours) and the Tormek sharpens them with no problem whatsoever

 

[L33]

I think Axminster were surprised how hard the metal is...it sharpens hand chisels really easy and has no problem reshaping them either. I'm guessing it's because the metal is different. I may just bin the skew and buy a softer metal...whilst the skew I have certainly held its sharpness for some time, it's just not worth the hassle trying to re sharpen it. At one point it was on the wheel for 3 hours and nothing...I dressed the stone several times too to see if that helped but it didn't. I'm just wondering if I've somehow altered the metal makeup somehow when initially trying to sharpen it. I was going to consider the different stone Tormek have but I'm pretty sure that's the stone Axminster had and that had no affect either.

Time for a change me thinks :)

 

[AllenN]

I have three skews and sharpen them all on a Tormek with no problem, one with a curved grind the others straight. Mine are Sorby and Henry Taylor. Have not tried to sharpen an Axminster but it does sound like it may be a hardness problem.

 

[Penpal]

The colour of the sparks can be a guide to hardness, it would seem in your case a cbn wheel will be necessary. My feeling is to put it aside, the cost of a CBN for this tool would be too high.

Peter.

 

[clement]

I use de Robert Sorby's ProEdge for my skews, it goes faster than on the Tormek, for gouges I use both of them.

 

[wm460]

I'm guessing it's because the metal is different. I may just bin the skew

Dont do that you may find out what it is one day.

 

[Penpal]

Never heard of rejection using Tormek before. Your Wunderkinder Chisel is of great value when you learn to tame it. I grind mine freehand and never hone, I like the idea of honing though it has merit. Before a session I grind all the chisels I am going to use, counted about fifteen with the mini ones. I have developed favourites in the Skews, amazing the differences in them.

Peter.

 

[L33]

I'm actually considering sending Tormek the skew to see what they think. I think even they might be surprised. Even their best stone has no effect. Little disappointing when you spend a lot on a grinder specifically for turning tools...and it can't sharpen them. But it could just be the skew. I'll be honest, fast grinders with sparks flying off scare me a little so the Tormek is great as it's slow and sparkless...but I can see times when a fast grinder is necessary. I think sending the skew to Tormek could be interesting...

 

[21William]

If you're going to bin it send it my way, I'll pay the postage!

 

[wm460]

If you're going to bin it send it my way, I'll pay the postage!

Be interested in what you find.
Wonder if it is Hardened S/Steel?

 

[hawkeyefxr]

I have a Tormek and yes it's slow, they are not as aggressive as a ordinary grinder but they are a lot kinder to tools as they are water cooled. It sounds like your skew is very hard, when you get it sharp it should last a lot longer.
Do you know any body with a green wheel, they are for tungsten carbide bits and should have no trouble with your skew