Rikon 8 Inch Wet Sharpener - Sharpening Kitchen Knives, Chisels & Plane Blades / Tormek Replacement?

Our kitchen knives were in serious need of some sharpening, so I started looking at these wet sharpeners. The well-known one is the Tormek system, but they were a bit out of my price range. I found this Rikon 8" wet sharpener for $165 and I picked up an actual Tormek knife jig to help me accomplish the task. Follow along and see if this will work as a Tormek replacement for you!
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[@StephenGoggin]

“Spill water everywhere”… Finally some instructions I can excel at… Thanks for another fun and informative video Bruce.

[@BruceAUlrich]

Ha ha. I’m really good at that part!

[@EthanCarterDesigns]

Looks like a pretty great system! Great information Bruce!

[@BruceAUlrich]

I’m pleased with it and knowing it’ll work well for sharpening. Thanks, Ethan!

[@brokenleadwoodworks]

Thank you for the review,Bruce! I am in the market and i think this is definitely a good choice.

[@BruceAUlrich]

It saves a few hundred dollars. I’m really glad I went for the Tormek brand knife jig. It’s great!

[@MCsCreations]

Pretty interesting tool indeed, Bruce! 😃 It seems to work great! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@BruceAUlrich]

I’m pretty happy with it

[@joelthoenen3733]

You should have a tool for "dressing" the stone that makes it completely flat in reference to the machine.

[@BruceAUlrich]

This machine does not come with that. You can buy one for the Tormek system, but the first wheel was pretty far out. Way out of tolerance for a new machine.

[@joelthoenen3733]

@@BruceAUlrich well yes. You have to buy the diamond honing tool seperate to dress the stone and make it flat. But like you said, it was outside of tolerances and I'm glad they made it right by sending a new stone.

[@GlennLaguna]

@@BruceAUlrich you could save money and buy the one Jet makes for its 10” wet grinder. It’s manual but it works.

[@customgrains]

Terrific video buddy!! Thanks for an honest feedback review Bruce!

[@BruceAUlrich]

Glad you found it useful. It has been nice to use on the knives and have them sharp again finally.

[@henrysara7716]

Thank you, honest review. It's very common procedure the use of shims on circular stones to balance the spinning.

[@BruceAUlrich]

Like concentric washers?

[@henrysara7716]

@@BruceAUlrichsome people call them axel sleeves.

[@BruceAUlrich]

Good to know! Thank you

[@panchobrown7562]

Thanks for sharing. Subscribed to your channel buddy

[@BruceAUlrich]

Thanks for that!

[@mcmathwoodworks]

Looks like a good sharpener for the price. That’s really cool that they sent you a replacement wheel to make things right! I like when companies do that sort of thing... shows some integrity! How long did it take to sharpen some of the rougher blades?

[@BruceAUlrich]

Even those roughest knives only took about 3 minutes a piece once I got the hang of it. Not bad.

[@cloudlog2659]

Appreciate the summary. Did the unit come with the adjustable bar? i.e. 7:19 minute marker

[@BruceAUlrich]

Yes, it came with that bar.

[@sj65gia]

What actually come in the box (as far as jigs) I am looking for knife, and chisels and maybe scissor. What size is the arbor for a CBN wheel? Do you use a buffer wheel?? Or just the leather strap wheel?? Thank you.

[@BruceAUlrich]

The only jigs that come with the grinder is the one that holds the chisels. You can buy many other ones that fit on it. I bought the knife one. I’m not sure of the arbor size on this one. I only use the strop wheel so far…& and hand strop.

[@emiliangeczi6267]

I just bought this same model and it has a similar amount of wobble. It sounds like you contacted Rikon and they sent you a replacement wheel? I'll try doing the same.

[@BruceAUlrich]

Yep. Their customer service was good. I have a friend who owns the same wet sharpener and his wheel was fine. 🤷‍♂️

[@michaelgettles3424]

Pull the wheel off and check the runout of the shaft with a dial indicator or just a bent wire then remount the wheel and check runout of both the side of the wheel as well as across the wheel face. Reference all measurements from the tool holder rod.

[@BruceAUlrich]

I did a bunch of those tests, even if I didn't show them.

[@Gator-357]

I would never have used that machine with the wobble in the wheel. I use the Worksharp Precision Adjust elite with Accusharp II 6" and Atoma 4" diamond stones as well as strops I made that I coat with diamond spray in 3, 1.5 and .5 micron grits in an aftermarket 4" to 6" stone holder in conjunction with a base table clamp and a knife clamp support. It handles everything very well. A friend of mine 3D printed a holder and guide for sharpening chisels and plane steels and another one for sharpening scissors so I can sharpen whatever needs sharpened to a hair splitting degree. It also makes it very easy to reprofile a new edge or fix and nicks or chips that may occur.

[@BruceAUlrich]

That's quite the setup you have there.

[@JamesMadeKY]

So how does it do with pocket knives? I assume it'll be similar to the kitchen knives. Do you see using this once a week or once a month for your chisels/lathe tools? I think this will be something I would like to have in my shop.

[@BruceAUlrich]

To my knowledge, you wouldn’t use this on lathe tools. You can’t hook the common jigs for those to this. I’ll just do it on an as needed basis, I think. Definitely doing the chisels more often since I’ve out in the time to get a good bevel again. I’ve seen people sharpen by hand with pocket knives, but this jig should work for it also.

[@thechumpsbeendumped.7797]

Tormek make a lathe tool holder and I’m sure I’ve seen copies for sale too.

[@thechumpsbeendumped.7797]

Try connecting water tray first, then top up from a jug or bottle to save making a mess. I was skeptical at first but grading the stone is well worth it. Just get a cheap two sided stone and you’ll really notice the difference in sharpness.

[@BruceAUlrich]

Good thinking about how to not make a mess. I'll try that. I might need to try to grade the stone...sounds like it's worth it.

[@trq3000]

turn it on without the stone . if the shaft wobbles then you need new bearings for the shaft . if not then you need machined spacers only around the stone . interested to know what would it be

[@BruceAUlrich]

I tried it with the stone off...and there didn't seem to be much runout with the spindle, so that's why I contacted them about another stone. The new one seems to be running much more true.

[@trq3000]

ty for replaying anyway . I made my comment 2 min to the end just before you should the new stone . lol . tho I had a tip in mind ..the setup should give you a hollow grind on a chisel then go to whetstones . you will get amazing results @@BruceAUlrich

[@BruceAUlrich]

@@trq3000 ha ha...no worries. I always like comments about how to do stuff better.

[@K2gjbcfcvjbv]

So a tormek t8 copy?

[@BruceAUlrich]

I’m sure it’s not quite sure it does as good of a job, but it does a pretty good job.

[@pacificdune]

That wobble is awful for a new tool with a new wheel. Seems like the strop side also had a wobble. It is nice that they sent you a new wheel, but I don’t like the hassle. I ordered the Tormek T8, and there is zero wobble.

[@BruceAUlrich]

Yep, that’s why they replaced it

[@paulknowles9727]

Wow, not seen the entire vid yet, but that wobble is unacceptable surely? :O

[@BruceAUlrich]

Did it answer your question as you finished the video?

[@dominic6634]

wobble is pretty typical on all rikon stuff

[@BruceAUlrich]

Well, they corrected the problem

[@simonhouweling9771]

That is not a tormek killer. But engine sound reminds me of tomos moped engine sound. 😂

[@BruceAUlrich]

Ha ha

[@rickcimino5483]

165 versus 800.....plus it comes with stuff the Tormek doesn't. Seems like a no brainer. But, we always want the most expensive tools don't we?

[@BruceAUlrich]

ha ha...yes, it's like a disease

[@rickenglish6962]

When are you going to true up the stone ??? My god ! You got to be kidding me !

[@BruceAUlrich]

When are you going to watch the whole video? I swapped out the stone.

[@lindrake8315]

Save the trees. Stop using paper to check for sharpness. That's what your hairy arms are for.

[@BruceAUlrich]

Oh, give it a rest. This was used paper.

[@lindrake8315]

I have to use paper since I cant grow hair on my arms lol. Great video!! I really appreciate it.

[@BruceAUlrich]

Ha ha. Thanks

[@PianoBoy99]

@@BruceAUlrich I think he meant to say "save the trees (for woodworking)" 🙂

[@BruceAUlrich]

Ha ha. Maybe so

[@Traskanda]

Most stupid evaluation I have seen.if I got a whetstone that moves in all direction I would returned the machine to the seller .

[@BruceAUlrich]

They fixed the problem.

[@schleifjunkieshannsplag8635]

Tormek Replacement???? with this you can only convince people who have no idea about the material. simply said.... a joke

[@BruceAUlrich]

Ooooooookay.

[@KieuPho]

China mock up. Stay away from wobble wheel. If you don’t want it damages your good knifes. Get the Tormek T8. If you can afford

[@BruceAUlrich]

I already had the wheel replaced by Rikon. Works well!