Tormek Grading Stone Hack for under 3 Buckaroos!

Tormek grading stones are a must no mater what wet grinder you buy. But at $30+ it is a big percentage increase if you went with a budget brand. so Ive been looking at an alternative to try. Watch and we can see together.

[@thoward4051]

I began using the HF stones for grading the SG-250 after my Tormek truing tool decided to become "harmonic" and the vibrations led to significant chipping on the edge of my pricey Tormek stone. Not wanting to destroy my Tormek grading stone (SP-650), I quickly put the HF sharpening stone I had available to work in an effort to level of the surface of the SG-250. Pleased with the results, I continued using the HF stone for grading purposes, and haven't been disappointed. The SP-650 is, as of today, around $37, so the math is pretty simple. Thanks again to PG for sharing his knowledge and skills!

[@pfmcdermott1]

Your comment at the end on the cost resonated with me. No doubt the tormek is nicer. But as I’ve gotten older, and seemingly poorer as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate I can get more done with the cheap tool I have than the expensive tool I can’t afford/never buy. If this were my trade or I were an expert, sure, one would put their money there, but I’m using this to sharpen plane blades for cheap furniture I’m making out of construction lumber. Basically, many years will pass until I surpass my tools. Until then, I get more experience and enjoyment from the tools I can afford today than the ones I don’t have. Edit: grammar

[@JamesCouch777]

Exactly! I have just as much fun for a fraction of the price.

[@chrisj4564]

On this recommendation, I picked up a HF sharpening stone. The Wen stone wore through the fine side of the sharpening stone like it was made of butter. The coarse side simply glazed the Wen stone. I bought a Triton grading stone on Amazon for around $12 (USD) and it works well.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

As a rule of thumb you can use water on a fresh oilstone and the reverse but never water on a previously oiled stone. so if you have a new un-oiled oil stone it should work. But the key is a cheap stone. This stone I used from Harbor freight is the same stone sold at most hardware stores.

[@davidosullivan3432]

mine grading stone wore out also i now use a rough diamond sharping plate that i use for flatting Japanese water stones works great..thanks for tips

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I damaged my diamond plate. It removed some of the alloy that traps the diamonds. Thankfully I only use my plate for flattening stones as well.

[@eCitizen1]

Thanks for this review. I've decided to get the $140 one now that I see how well it works.

[@RodgerMyers]

Hi , nice video ( s ) . You give great advice !!! I have a Tormek I bought in 2007 . I watched a recent video from Tormek and they suggest holding the grading stone in line with the stone ( 90 degrees from how you hold it ) . I only sharpen for myself and friends , but have bought many sharpening systems. The 1x30 belt grinders from Horrible Frieght are very quick and easy to sharpen ( I have 2 , 1 for grit belts and 1 for the leather belt ) . I added the surgi sharp angle guide and an having a surgi guide drilled so j can use it for the leather wheel. I don't sharpen often or long enough to feel satisfied with my striping . I subscribed and looking forward to catching up on your vids and watching the new .

[@RodgerMyers]

Having the Surgi guides drilled and tapped to use on a leather belt was a waste of time and money 😔

[@stefanzeh4623]

I would like to buy exactly these machines, but you can't get them anywhere in Germany. How much does it cost in the USA? 250mm/10""?

[@zezoss9308]

is that a chinese machine? i am gonna buy one similar of that from Alibabaa...have any ideas about chinese quality??..and when can i buy japanese wheel stone (except Tormek ones, it is expensive)....finally, when i have to use benchstone to clean the wheelstone - is it after each sharpening knife? after rach 5 knives sharpening...-..... how many grits in that stone? i am really embarrassed by many questions...sorry,, God bless you Sir

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

It is Chinese. Japanese wet grinders spin horizontal not vertical.

[@FIGUEIRINHA]

I have one like the rikon Model 82-100 (another clone with differente name) and it does not include the extra stone to change the grit. got one inexpensive 200 x 1000 stone and work well to me

[@cholololo6913]

planning to buy the one you have mentioned, but there is no youtube reviews about it, how about the performance? Are you OK with the purchase? Thanks.

[@FIGUEIRINHA]

@@cholololo6913 I have many videos about it in my site kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKjTq6OZq7BorJY maybe they can help you with CC on, auto genetate captions and translate to english it's not a tormek but price is fair and work fine. some easy to do improvements are nice to make

[@durthvander]

Thank you! this is awesome, hope you have a video regarding jigs as the cost of the jigs is what is keeping me off the wet grinders

[@RodgerMyers]

Bought a group of jigs from home Depot ... Small and large knife holders , scissor jig and another jig for $50 . Wen sharpener was $108 delivered . I like it as much as I do my Tormek .

[@durthvander]

@@RodgerMyers 108$ delivered? Haven't seen in that range

[@RodgerMyers]

Was last year . Was not on sale .

[@chrisreeves8037]

Great information! question: Have you heard of anyone sharpening drill bits on the outside face of the stone?

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

No. And you can’t true it after it gets worn unevenly.

[@chrisreeves8037]

@@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER Appreciate it, good advice!

[@ngbc5342]

MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART!

[@DubJ3112000]

How many uses did you get out of the HF stone till you had to sand it again with the 500/1000 grit, or was it a one and done?

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I don’t know. I did have a Tormek grading stone. Once graded it lasted at least as long as needed to complete a cycle of sharpening. Personally I had two wet grinders running. And the stones were used at their natural grade.

[@DubJ3112000]

I meant the HF stone itself that you sanded. Did the sanded HF stone keep the same smooth texture from sanding, or did you find that you had to intermittenly use the sand paper trick on it after use? @@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER

[@chrishenning8829]

Diamond flattening plate works as well as coarse sandpaper held against the wheel with a flat block of wood. Just to dress the surface flat and remove metal particles from the wheel. If you use too fine of a grit you're dulling the grinding surface of your wheel

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I always find with sg250 the problem is the surface slopes to one side. Or actually out of round. Both of these need a trueing tool. It’s just too much material. Watch the trueing video

[@getreal3336]

I appreciate this video and all your expertise. Thank you and thumbs up! 👍

[@NineXTail]

How is it working after 3 years of used?

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I’m now running 2 wen. The drive design is better than Tormeks. But tormeks sg250 wheel is the best stone.

[@jasonbroom7147]

If sandpaper fixed your "smoothing" stone...wouldn't it also wet-sand your sharpening wheel to a finer grit?

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

You bet. Really I expect several items will work. The cheap diamond sharpening plates harbor freight has will set the stone to course but your suggestion will work to get a smooth stone It’s just needs to be done wet. Thx for the question.

[@TerrapinCreations666]

On a side note, I want to get the planer knife jig from Tormek (SVH-320) but the bars are 9cm apart and the holes on the Wen are 10cm apart, so I'll have to make an adaptor of some sort. I can't find one made for the Wen.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I don’t know why this spacing is different. Perhaps a patent?

[@nhojcam]

thank you for your video! so, what wheel specifically did you go with on the right side? i know you talked about getting rid of the leather wheel. thanks again.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Watch the Sharpening a knife in 1 minute video. The wen has one wheel. Tormek sj-250. Thx. Subscribe please. I’m almost at my goal!

[@poolpro92651]

A little more looking into this subject. I have read over on one of the knife enthusiast forum that some use Lansky coarse or fine diamond hone can be lightly touched to the wheel's surface to change the wheel from coarse to fine and vice versa. Have you ever tried this @P G ?

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I used a course diamond or cbn plate and the stone was able to wear away some metal that holds the grit. The tormek stone is soft and I guess can wear it more than the metal blades would ever wear it. I expect the Lansky would be the same problem. You can try an edge to test. Let me know.

[@alfonsocasillas7290]

You do great work where are you sharpen your knives now

[@bodiend8033]

Quote of day = "You're world is going to be Tormek, and you're be happy as pie, just a little poorer." 😄👍

[@alizarincrimson123]

Here is a question. You can get a 1000/4000 grade whetstone/waterstone for about $15. What is to stop you from grading the wheel from 1000 down to 4000 with that stone?

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Not all stones are gradable. I’m presuming you’re talking about flat whetstones not round powered whetstones, correct? Either way the stones are made out of different materials and I don’t understand what materials give what quality but I’m just finishing up another video on the jet whetstone for the Tormek’s, or the jet water, stone, or the Wen. All those tools and take the same stones but I kind of had some surprising results I didn’t expect with the Jet stone . I’m thinking this video would be out in a week. watch it and this it won’t answer your question but it’ll open your eyes to how many variables that are in different stones. So if you’ve got a 1000 and you want to take it to 4000 all I can tell you is try But you gotta flatten it with something that’s closer to 4000 which could be the smooth side of the Tormek tool, but that may not be smooth enough. You do have to burnish it with something but what?anyway, that’s the only information I have on that. Watch for the video. Stay curious, I’ve tried many different ways to sharpen, lots of different wheels. It’s the best way to learn.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Sorry I misunderstood your question. I was on my morning hike and should have waited before replying. The Sg 250 can be graded to 1000g only (estimated). Its made from grit that can't go finer. I use the SJ250 stone as well (4000g) and I use the1000 grit side to grade it as Tormek says. its far smother that the Sg250 gets. The SJ 250 feels like smooth polished glass with water on it. it also lasts a very long time.

[@alizarincrimson123]

@@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER Thanks that answered my question.

[@thehobbyguy]

Pretty sure you can just get a block of wood and wrap either course or fine sandpaper to grade a stone that way too pal

[@robertmunguia250]

Can you change the wheel to a finer grit? Say 600g like the tormek 2.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Ive seen no specs on this but defiantly the stone's grit gets smoother when graded with the fine side of the grading stone. P.S. Ive been told the price has shot up double. Im thinking this is secondary sellers moving inventory at a high markup while wen has no inventory. Id expect the price to come back down as soon as the boat unloads. My trowel had so many needs I bought a second wen. 10,000 knives and no problems.

[@robertmunguia250]

@@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER yes, now it’s 259$ from 144$. Wow.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

@@robertmunguia250 I was lucky and bought my second just before the increase at $125. Id wait to buy. Call wen and ask for inventory update.

[@robertmunguia250]

@@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER ok I’ll do that Thanks!

[@RickDeevey]

Would you dress the stone without the water?

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

with! water helps reduce loading the grading stone.

[@TerrapinCreations666]

Great tip! I just bought the Wen for the very reasons you say at the end, lol Oh, and I subscribed!

[@EricBalcon]

Great video, thanks. The Wen machine cost as much than a tormek T4 these days. I'd rather take the tormek.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Here in US when is $140. And T4 cost $540. Wen is only a good choice if it’s 75% less.

[@richardschaffling9882]

Do they make the tool holder for sharpening woodturning tool

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I’ve called wen support asking about replacement parts. Which are available and cheap. During that call he said wen doesn’t make the jigs since others make them. $$ Check the other wet grinder manufacturers. Jet, grizzly etc... but tormek leads all in quality and design. It’s just painful to spend 1/2 what the wen tool costs for a jig.

[@richardschaffling9882]

P G thanks

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Thats quite the contraption. Thanks for the update

[@siefgridsack1212]

put a neodym magnet in the water - it will pull and collect a lot of the metal flakes after removing them.

[@lililililililili8667]

Does this trick work on the wheel that comes with the wen

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

the same.

[@jimclark6773]

Liked the video, but you mentioned how to reverse the motor. Do you have that video.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Next one up... but I did make a mistake , it’s a bench grinder, I sad grinder. Could mislead some. Subscribe so you get notified. Today or tomorrow.

[@Kennnyboy888]

That's really interesting. I wonder if flat DMT diamond bench stones will work grading the wheels?

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I damaged my xtra course. But a viewer said the cheap hf diamond plastic backed ones work. I suspect it has to do with the attachment process of the diamond vs CBN. I have not confirmed this yet. But neither will provide the fine grit. One viewer just uses fine wet dry sandpaper. My video is more of just one way to avoid the overpriced Tormek grader. But that said I do feel Tormek’s grader is the best.

[@Kennnyboy888]

@@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER seeing that I recently got a clone machine and I already own the DMT bench stones, I'll give them a try. If they don't work that well, I'll shell out the £25 for the Tormek grader.

[@robertmunguia250]

Is that a variable speed?

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

No but slightly faster than tormek with a turbo put on the tormek.

[@RodgerMyers]

Seen a video where they put a bushing on the Tormek motor to make the wheel turn faster ... Thinking that is called a Turbo after rereading PG's comment again

[@criterionx1377]

Was that you on forged in fire? They had a contestant who looked like you on one of their episodes.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

No, I don’t make knives

[@MrVinceb]

Have you tried threading the tool guide for micro adjustments similar to the former?

[@MrVinceb]

Tormek

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

No I haven’t. Remember I still have a tormek and if I need a jig I just use the tormek. To thread micro adjustments you have to thread a lot and re-plate the threads to hinder rust.

[@stevewithnell911]

I threaded the guide bars on my Tormek clone it's hard work to cut the 12mm threads and then I made knurled wheels for the adjustment nuts...nothing special just cheap tap and die set and a small lathe.

[@FRANKY231182]

No sale for the Wen in Europa ?

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I wouldn't know. email wen You should be able to find info on google. Wen is a Chinese company. In USA they have a sales division perhaps elsewhere.

[@RonValdes]

Really good video

[@ared18t]

The Tormek stone grader looks just like a silicon carbide stone.

[@AlexanderMason1]

Sanding you sharpening stones won’t change the grit to make it coarser. The stone itself is made from a specific size grit material that is ground/crushed to that size and then pressed into a stone. The reason this works on the wen/tormek wheel is because it is made up of a coarser grit material. You can form a layer of finer grit at the top of your wheel by rubbing your stone (fine side) on it simply because it grinds down the coarse grit on the wheel to a finer grit. If you were to leave it long enough without using the stone to change the grit size, you would notice that it would eventually get coarse again.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Indeed. I use mine at it’s natural grit which is coarser than the coarse side of the grading stone delivers. And only change it for chisels.

[@jimmytrue1181]

Where can I buy this grading stone

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Any hardware store. I bought that one from harbor freight. It’s a sharpening stone

[@Edward-i5i]

Thanks for your video

[@lmt200ish]

Does a Tormek stone fit the wen? What about the guide bar? Thanks.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Yes. I have a sj -250 on mine. Plan to add an extra washer or two. It comes with a bar but I’m pretty sure Tormek fits it. I know for sure the tormek tools fit wens bar. Tormek’s bits and pieces are far better quality.

[@lmt200ish]

@@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER Thanks, I was thinking of putting two stones on the wen but from one of your vids it sounds like they would be in each others way.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Arbor on leather strip side is smaller. And yes they will be a problem. Look at my “knife sharpened in 1 minute “ video

[@donpanel9126]

Peter G TORMEK bar does not fit the Wen the spacing is different. I wanted to use the TORMEK bar as it is longer and is threaded internally on the end to accommodate the stop piece but no luck.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

When you say “stop piece” do you mean the micro adjustment nut?

[@user-wr6wo6vr8r]

I bought one of those stones many years ago when I first started learning how to sharpen and the edges chip really easily and both sides felt like the same grit

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Think of this solution just one of many options to avoid the more expensive options

[@prigs750]

Have you ever thought of flattening your trying stone on a course diamond stone. That's how I flatten my good water stones

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Not just flattening but changing the grit! from 250-1000grit

[@CaptDavesSportfishing]

gotta get a local blind person, and with all the money ya saved, take them out for a steak dinner. At the same time, I thought this may have been a little more scientific hack. But I have yet to handle either stone. I've had a dozen of those cheapy stones, and have a hard time with the fact, Tormek with their expensive wet stones would be using a cheapy grading stone with no special features about it. (scientific grit wise) but...then again, I'm not a guy with 12 yrs experience, and 53,000 knives sharpened. (gawd, how do ya count them? That's like me counting fish I've caught!) Thanks 👍 Read all the comments and learned a lot too. I too have a channel, (different topic) so I know that comments are where some real meat & potato's are.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Tormek's stone is better, hands down. Its a lot harder. But still they wear out. I was just demonstrating how you don't need to buy the expensive one if you think you will hardly use it. like tormeks 10" grinder vs Wens 10". Most guys are going to sharpen his kitchen knives once every couple months. Why buy pro grade? That's all this is about.

[@CaptDavesSportfishing]

@@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER yep just some EDC knives for me cleavers fillet knives stuff like that just got a new when machine an ordered the jigs for knives I'll see how she goes I appreciate your video I was just kind of starting a conversation about it that's all I learned a lot thanks. 100% agree. unless I went full monty into the sharpening world, Im down with a short cut, and can pick up 10 stones for the price of one. I like value.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

@@CaptDavesSportfishing I’ve been playing around with a new kinda unusual way to sharpen meat knives. Grind both sides on course. Then one edge do a micro bevel at 4000grit. Very light pass on leather with compound. Like 1-2 passes. This leaves a toothy micro serrated edge. It’s nothing you can see but it’s a ferocious slicer. It won’t push cut as well but fish skin loves it.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I’ve posted several videos when Covid started for something to do I think I did one showing this process. I took the how too videos down when I had 2 new sharpeners in my town start up using my videos. WTF! I wasn’t making that much with KZbin. That’s when I got all my subscribers. I can send you a link if your able to adapt my way to one that doesn’t take a $400. Tormek js250 Let me know

[@fbales]

Nice to know. Thanks.

[@RodgerMyers]

Was told that grading the stone wheel with a ceramic rod make the wheel close to the Japanese wheel .

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I doubt it but I’ve never tried it. I’d expect the grit to revert back fast. I’ll try it and update this reply.

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Ok now I tried it and it seems to work. Can’t tell what grit it gets but with two grinder running one had sj250 the other sg250 graded with my 8000grit stone. It’s not exactly what you asked but feeling both stones at the same time they felt the same except for the sg250 has small pits you feel but that should no degrade the fineness of the stone.

[@700bond700]

the Dollar store sells the same stones.

[@acanadianwoodworker]

Its true, I bought one exactly like it at the dollar store the other day

[@HeavyTone66]

How is showing a cheaper version of the product a "hack"

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

If you disagree on the exact term description you can use it your way on your channels videos.

[@chetleonard169]

wouldn't a diamond sharpening plate serve better, It would remain flat

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I’ve damaged diamond plate before. Not the diamond but the metal that holds the diamond

[@pacificdune]

So, I spent $800 on my sharpening machine, and a new wheel costs $250 to $500. With jigs I’m looking at about $1500 investment. I use it to sharpen $100 chisels, $100 knives, $100 lathe tools, and $50 blades for $300 wood planes. Given the above, I guess this video is not really for me…. Lol. 😅

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I have the tormek grading stone. But this video is more for the people who can’t justify the $1000/1500 a tormek setup costs but still want a wet grinder to sharpen their stuff. And my videos describe how I sharpen in farmers markets where you have to sharpen items in 1-2 minutes still delivering consistently sharp blades.

[@bsimpson6204]

That 3 dollar stone might wear out very quickly, I know when I buy a cheap oil stone instead of an India stone them wear out very quickly. Still, at 3 dollars what’s not to like

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

I haven’t used it for a good test period. Might have a lot to not like. But for guys who could barely justify spending $144 how can you throw another $31 at it.

[@oliverwalton5191]

I have a Tormek and have been using a approx £15 India stone for the last year, I can't tell any difference in how well it grades the stone and it seems to last longer than the original grading stone.

[@MerchantNation]

This is my assumption and not based on knowledge of facts, but rather theory based on understanding of the individual components and how they are made. These are composite stones. The smooth and roughness should be set by the grit of the stone and how it was ground. The similarities of feel on the fresh stone I would assume are from the bonding agent used to form the stone composite. I would also assume the cheaper stone has more bonding and filler agents and less actual stone material resulting in shorter life and probably more inconsistent results over time when using to grind down another stone. But this may be so negligible that it doesn't actually matter. Anyone know the facts regarding manufacturing process of making these stones and could identify any negatives to the cheaper stones, short and long term?

[@trentsapp731]

Good ain't cheap and cheap ain't good, your money, personally I'd pay five times as much for swedish made vs chinese. Or more! My decision though. Sweden has a pretty impressive human rights record,,China, let's ask Hong Kong or Taiwan. Worth my money.

[@Stevieboy7]

I can guarantee you that the stone isn't made in Sweden.

[@trentsapp731]

@@Stevieboy7 I'll research on this and see if your guarantee is as good as china's..

[@Stevieboy7]

Trent Sapp for $3, I can literally run through 15 of them before it’s an issue. I don’t think even after 5300 knives he’s ran through more than a few.

[@MrGepper]

@@Stevieboy7 according to their website, all production is in Sweden.

[@SergeantExtreme]

@@Stevieboy7 How much money would you like to bet that the stone isn't made in Sweden? I have the packaging with me right here, and can upload a video showing the country of origin label. But before I do that, I would like to make some money off of your ignorance. So how much money would you bet against your "guarantee" that the stone isn't made in Sweden?

[@arjundusad9369]

Parcel pil..

[@ryewaldman2214]

you used abrasives to abrade the abrasives you use to abrade your abrasives?? hmmmmmmmm

[@FREEHAND.WETGRINDER]

Sorry it rubbed you the wrong way

[@GravityRoller]

Comment seemed a bit abrasive

[@hakanhugosson1519]

No god kvalitet!