Tormek’s new T7 is the newest in a distinct widely acclaimed sharpening systems. The grinder is well-crafted and will require years of hard use. The system includes a squaring jig, this holds your blades automatically squared to the grinding wheel. Chisels and plane blades are attached with their backs flat against a big reference surface, this then prevents rocking or tipping after the jig is tightened down. Included with the device is Tormek’s new truing and dressing Tool TT-50.
The TT-50 is Tormek’s latest stone truing tool and will make getting a flat parallel surface a simple and quick task. The truing and dressing tool is available in the T7 vijayalakshmi grinder sharpening system and if like me you’ve a youthful Tormek system you can also use the TT-50 on the existing Universal Support, but creating the cut is more difficult. However Tormek advise one to retrofit the newest Universal Support with Micro Adjust.
The Tormek T7 system includes a slow running speed which will provide you with full control over your blades which are being ground. The lower running speed and heavy wheel also reduces noise and vibration, giving an easier grind and so a sharper blade.
Because the grinding and sharpening system utilizes water cooling (wet grinding – the grinding wheel rotates in a tray of water), there is no risk of overheating or burning the edges of one’s blades and drawing the temper from them. Honing and polishing is carried on another leather honing wheel. The leather honing wheel must be lubricated with a grinding paste.
The T7 sharpening system isn’t cheap, however for the professional woodworker the time savings over living of the product will make it significantly more than worth while your can purchase, for the amateur woodworker it could be overkill, but when you have the cash it’s a really nice bit of kit, and should last you for decades reliving hours and hours of tedious sharpening.