Sharpening wheel

[enrico]

What are your suggestions for a sharpening wheel?

Apartment living for now so size/practicality is a focus. Mainly just looking for another tool to play with on some project knives. Not looking for anything heavy duty, I think I’ve seen the brand Tormek talked about before.

If its not practical to use in my current setting I’m still curious to hear your feedback on some smaller models.

Thanks

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Paging @MowgFace ...

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

What are your suggestions for a sharpening wheel?

Apartment living for now so size/practicality is a focus. Mainly just looking for another tool to play with on some project knives. Not looking for anything heavy duty, I think I’ve seen the brand Tormek talked about before.

If its not practical to use in my current setting I’m still curious to hear your feedback on some smaller models.

Thanks

Are you talking for general sharpening? If so, Tormek is a respected brand for sure but I wouldn't bother for casual home use. WEN makes a knock off that might be more approachable for just experimenting but I still think there isn't enough here to be worth it over just bench stones.

Now, a horizontal coarse wheel, that's something else.

 

[ethompson]

I just bought a horizontal wheel. Wheel report back in a few weeks

 

[enrico]

Are you talking for general sharpening? If so, Tormek is a respected brand for sure but I wouldn't bother for casual home use. WEN makes a knock off that might be more approachable for just experimenting but I still think there isn't enough here to be worth it over just bench stones.

Now, a horizontal coarse wheel, that's something else.

It’ll be for knives I can mess around with at work and probably just give away. I think I want to mess with a vertical wheel although I saw this a while ago and it piqued my interest. Not sure it can thin well though.

https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/...nife-sharpener-japan-us-volt-converter.65488/
Or

https://www.dictum.com/en/grinders/shinko-sharpening-machine-stone-included-716020

 

[MowgFace]

Paging @MowgFace ...

…Hello there!


I have this model, but I don’t have the 6000

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1958605474...v6_uHLWT1y&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Size scale:

600x300mm Hasegawa - Sits on the board with no overhang.

Munetoshi 210

 

[MowgFace]

Additional piece to the Shinko. The drain is in the back. Comes with a short rubber tube. Can get messy, and the short length can be inconvenient, but I haven’t yet gone to the hardware store to get a longer tube so,

The water tank is small too. Which needs frequent refilling. I had the thing out on my BBQ island with a gallon jug dripping on it a la JKI wheel.

 

[user 37848]

It’ll be for knives I can mess around with at work and probably just give away. I think I want to mess with a vertical wheel although I saw this a while ago and it piqued my interest. Not sure it can thin well though.

https://www.kitchenknifeforums.com/...nife-sharpener-japan-us-volt-converter.65488/
Or

https://www.dictum.com/en/grinders/shinko-sharpening-machine-stone-included-716020

With the Shinko sharpener

Pros:

• It can thin
• It sharpens well
• It goes both directions
• Its fun

Cons:

• Like @MowgFace mentioned, can get messy quick.
• IMO a lot to setup (including a converter), more convenient if you have a patio or backyard.
• From what I recall there's only 3 grits: 80, 1K, 6K. Major thinning eats up the 80 fast and you can only get a replacement stone on eBay from Japanese stores. So price, shipping & convenience is not in your favor. Prices might have gone down since 2020 though.

If you're planning on projects that need a lot of work done, and you do have the appropriate space for it, I'd suggest a 3x18 belt sander mounted upside down on a work table (and water bucket to cool with). Here's a project I did a few years back when I was relatively new to this forum:

ShiByphy Project

Of course its very loud. I guess a Makita brand is the quietest, but still loud. I now have a Chinese made 1x30 with a brushless motor to use for bigger projects. I'd rather use an upside down 3x18, but the Chinese sander variable speed and nice and quiet. I might sell it if you're interested as the new place I'm moving to doesn't really have a space for it. You can DM me.

Bottom line is, there's pros and cons to any of it.

 

[user 37848]

Also for the 3x18, you can put a rubber pad on the platen and make it mimic a vertical wheel somewhat

 

[MowgFace]

My Shinko did not require an inverter. YMMV

 

[ReiHamono]

Anyone making these wheel stones with hard diamond stones?

Sounds like that would solve a lot of the potential draw backs.

Love the idea and concept ie speed and ability to focus on control and shaping exclusively

 

[JustAnotherJoe]

Looks like you could just make a mount to accept lapidary disks like this one.
https://techdiamondtools.com/product/diamond-lap-disc/

 

[ReiHamono]

Great find!

 

[KasumiJLA]

I do own a shinko STD since 2 years and I bought it mainly for thinning. It's doable, but this machine is not made for that. The work surface is very small, turns too quickly, the stone glazes in less than two minutes which affects the cutting speed A LOT.

If you're looking to do a clean job and make a crisp and nice shinogi, I don't think you're going to be happy with the result that the shinko can give you. I would never dare thinning the knife of one of my customers with this machine.

But, in a sharpening context, it is super practical! Especially when I get blades that look more like a bread knife. The 180 wheel work fast and clean and I can definitely save 4x time than doing it on my shapton 120 or 220. I use it every week and I remain happy with my purchase, but only in a sharpening context.

 

[Luminaire]

I just bought a horizontal wheel. Wheel report back in a few weeks

Oooh what did you get?