Comments on: Work Sharp™ – The Wood Tool Sharpener http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/03/02/work-sharp%e2%84%a2-%e2%80%93-the-wood-tool-sharpener/ An online source of information for the connected woodworker. Fri, 06 Aug 2010 05:09:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Tony DiSanto http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/03/02/work-sharp%e2%84%a2-%e2%80%93-the-wood-tool-sharpener/comment-page-1/#comment-50723 Tony DiSanto Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:01:44 +0000 http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/03/02/work-sharp%e2%84%a2-%e2%80%93-the-wood-tool-sharpener/#comment-50723 I sure hope Rolf and Randy take the time to test this sharpener and provide us all with the unbiased test results. As for Rolf's comments,I do agree you should have supporting documentation before you make a claim, however the same is equally true for his comments-show me the data that the tool becomes dull quicker that if you sharpen with a wet water cooled. How much quicker? Qucker to be significant? Thanks, Tony I sure hope Rolf and Randy take the time to test this sharpener and provide us all with the unbiased test results. As for Rolf’s comments,I do agree you should have supporting documentation before you make a claim, however the same is equally true for his comments-show me the data that the tool becomes dull quicker that if you sharpen with a wet water cooled. How much quicker? Qucker to be significant?
Thanks,
Tony

]]> By: Randy Maxey http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/03/02/work-sharp%e2%84%a2-%e2%80%93-the-wood-tool-sharpener/comment-page-1/#comment-927 Randy Maxey Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:37:11 +0000 http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/03/02/work-sharp%e2%84%a2-%e2%80%93-the-wood-tool-sharpener/#comment-927 For those interested, a question was raised on WoodNet about the Work Sharp system. One of the factory reps responded and seemed willing to answer any questions. I have seen the Work Sharp system and was intrigued enough by the capability and price point that I can see it having a place in my shop. I have not yet had the chance to put it through its paces but as soon as I do, I'll post my thoughts. Here's the thread on WoodNet: <a target="_blank" title="WoodNet Forum page" href="http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=2795120&page=0&view=expanded&sb=5&o=1"><strong>Work Sharp Tool Sharpener" at Rockler for $199</strong></a> For those interested, a question was raised on WoodNet about the Work Sharp system. One of the factory reps responded and seemed willing to answer any questions.

I have seen the Work Sharp system and was intrigued enough by the capability and price point that I can see it having a place in my shop. I have not yet had the chance to put it through its paces but as soon as I do, I’ll post my thoughts.

Here’s the thread on WoodNet: Work Sharp Tool Sharpener” at Rockler for $199

]]> By: Rolf Weidelich http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/03/02/work-sharp%e2%84%a2-%e2%80%93-the-wood-tool-sharpener/comment-page-1/#comment-799 Rolf Weidelich Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:30:08 +0000 http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/03/02/work-sharp%e2%84%a2-%e2%80%93-the-wood-tool-sharpener/#comment-799 Clarification, I did not state that the discs on this machine was vitrified aluminum oxide, I said even aluminum oxide disks generate heat that can remove temper. Sand paper disks such as those used on this machine and the Lee Valley product have worse heat generating characteristics then vitrified aluminum oxide. Bottom line, nothing comes close to wet sharpening. This system can be sold with a claim that it sharpens very well, it is easy to use, it is cheaper, and creates less mess, but that the draw back is a slight loss of temper (restricted to a small amount of steel at the sharpened surface - does not damage temper in the entire tool) and that sharpening will be required more frequently than with the wet systems. I too was tempted to buy the Lee Valley system which is $410 CDN, versus $600+ CDN for the Tormek. Clarification, I did not state that the discs on this machine was vitrified aluminum oxide, I said even aluminum oxide disks generate heat that can remove temper. Sand paper disks such as those used on this machine and the Lee Valley product have worse heat generating characteristics then vitrified aluminum oxide. Bottom line, nothing comes close to wet sharpening. This system can be sold with a claim that it sharpens very well, it is easy to use, it is cheaper, and creates less mess, but that the draw back is a slight loss of temper (restricted to a small amount of steel at the sharpened surface – does not damage temper in the entire tool) and that sharpening will be required more frequently than with the wet systems. I too was tempted to buy the Lee Valley system which is $410 CDN, versus $600+ CDN for the Tormek.

]]> By: Joel Hess http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/03/02/work-sharp%e2%84%a2-%e2%80%93-the-wood-tool-sharpener/comment-page-1/#comment-798 Joel Hess Tue, 06 Mar 2007 14:36:13 +0000 http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/03/02/work-sharp%e2%84%a2-%e2%80%93-the-wood-tool-sharpener/#comment-798 Rolf, First of all, let me stress that I'm a big fan of the water-cooled systems like Tormek. It's such a good system that I've never considered the "mess" to be a detriment. The truth is, I sharpen by hand and will continue to use diamond plates and leather strop as my method of choice. The WorkSharp system uses aluminum oxide sandpaper on a slow-speed wheel (580 rpm), not vitrified aluminum oxide grinding wheels, so it seems to me it would take some concentrated grinding to overheat a tool. That said, I think the air-flow portals and heat sinks could be a bit of overkill. But since this system is still priced less that most other powered sharpening systems, I don't see where that is a detraction. Plus, the plunge/pull technique, when used on well-tuned and slightly dull chisels and irons, is another deterrent to heat buildup. My post was not a review. I haven't used it yet, but I did watch the demonstration and it looks like it could be a good option for woodworkers who are looking for the next great thing in sharpening! I'll give you more of my opinion about the system when I get a chance to bring in my own slightly dull chisels and put it to the test. Thanks for your feedback. -Joel Rolf,

First of all, let me stress that I’m a big fan of the water-cooled systems like Tormek. It’s such a good system that I’ve never considered the “mess” to be a detriment. The truth is, I sharpen by hand and will continue to use diamond plates and leather strop as my method of choice.

The WorkSharp system uses aluminum oxide sandpaper on a slow-speed wheel (580 rpm), not vitrified aluminum oxide grinding wheels, so it seems to me it would take some concentrated grinding to overheat a tool. That said, I think the air-flow portals and heat sinks could be a bit of overkill. But since this system is still priced less that most other powered sharpening systems, I don’t see where that is a detraction.

Plus, the plunge/pull technique, when used on well-tuned and slightly dull chisels and irons, is another deterrent to heat buildup.

My post was not a review. I haven’t used it yet, but I did watch the demonstration and it looks like it could be a good option for woodworkers who are looking for the next great thing in sharpening! I’ll give you more of my opinion about the system when I get a chance to bring in my own slightly dull chisels and put it to the test.

Thanks for your feedback. -Joel

]]> By: Rolf Weidelich http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/03/02/work-sharp%e2%84%a2-%e2%80%93-the-wood-tool-sharpener/comment-page-1/#comment-793 Rolf Weidelich Tue, 06 Mar 2007 03:28:03 +0000 http://www.woodworkingonline.com/2007/03/02/work-sharp%e2%84%a2-%e2%80%93-the-wood-tool-sharpener/#comment-793 I find it interesting that people are willing to make claims such as "(featuring air flow portals and a series of heat sinks) to keep your cutting tools cool without the mess of a wet system" without doing any testing to varify the accuracy of the claim. Dry sharpening, even on a vitrified aluminum oxide wheel generates enough heat to change the properties of the sharpened tool. The loss of temper may be limited to a very small portion of the sharpened edge, but it still loses more than a wet stone resulting in the tool becoming "dull" more quickly. I was at the Toronto Home Workshop Show this past weekend and had a Lee Valley rep. tell me that their version of this same tool is as good as a wet sharpening system, such as a Tormek, and that "your finger will tell you it is getting too hot as you push down on the disk"! I find it interesting that people are willing to make claims such as “(featuring air flow portals and a series of heat sinks) to keep your cutting tools cool without the mess of a wet system” without doing any testing to varify the accuracy of the claim. Dry sharpening, even on a vitrified aluminum oxide wheel generates enough heat to change the properties of the sharpened tool. The loss of temper may be limited to a very small portion of the sharpened edge, but it still loses more than a wet stone resulting in the tool becoming “dull” more quickly. I was at the Toronto Home Workshop Show this past weekend and had a Lee Valley rep. tell me that their version of this same tool is as good as a wet sharpening system, such as a Tormek, and that “your finger will tell you it is getting too hot as you push down on the disk”!

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