WEN BG4270T 10-Inch Water Cooled Wet Sharpening System and the TORMEK Stone Grader. Make an ADAPTER...

[BentonTool]

If you have a WEN® sharpener, or any of the multitude of other TORMEK® clones,
and you want to use the TORMEK® stone grader (TT-50 Truing and Dressing Tool),
you will soon discover that it does not work with the WEN®.


The TORMEK® Stone grader (TT-50 Truing and Dressing Tool):

So, I made an adapter out of a scrap of aluminum/aluminium that I happened to have on hand,
but you can just as easily make one out of wood or plastic, and it will serve just as well.
This is the adapter in the rough, prior to cutting to length and fitting the notch of the TORMEK®.


And completed... you will note some electrical tape positioned in the two outer holes.
This was added to improve the grip and fit onto the rest shaft.


And fitted into the notch on the right side of the TORMEK®:


I will later post a few pics of the adapter on the WEN® machine.

 

[Cabinetman]

Thanks Alex, would you mind do a pic of it on the machine so we can understand just how it goes? I do have an ulterior motive as I’ve just acquired a Delta wet grinder and it certainly will need truing up. Haven’t tried it Al all yet.
Edit , sorry missed your last sentence.

 

[Pete Maddex]

Thanks Alex, would you mind do a pic of it on the machine so we can understand just how it goes? I do have an ulterior motive as I’ve just acquired a Delta wet grinder and it certainly will need truing up. Haven’t tried it Al all yet.
Edit , sorry missed your last sentence.

View attachment 56096

I have one of those but with a different brand. I used a long masonry bit to true it up, just hold it in from the other side from the tool rest.

Pete

 

[BentonTool]

I have one of those but with a different brand. I used a long masonry bit to true it up, just hold it in from the other side from the tool rest.

Pete

I really like that idea, but I wonder if my hands could keep it from turning out-of-round.
My grip strength is noticeably less strong than in my youth.
In other words, I suspect I might follow the dips in the stone, even just a little.

 

[BentonTool]

This is the problem; with the TORMEK® truing tool/grader installed on the WEN®, the diamond nib does not reach the far end of the stone, as in the two pics below:



As an aside, I will further make note that the TORMEK® and JET® brands of tool rests do not fit the WEN® machine.

So, with the addition of the adapter, the TORMEK® tool is shifted laterally, allowing it to reach both sides of the stone.



And in closing, a small further modification to the design to allow it to reach further down as the stone wears.
A simple notch was cut into both ends:


For any of you thinking of going the route of the TORMEK®, WEN®, JET®, etc. style of wet grinder; I can only say that I really like it a lot.
IMHO, there is a significant learning curve involved, but with a little study, it gives very good results.
I especially like the versatility, and the repeatability. I am now grinding my carving tools and lathe chisels with very little waste of tool life and of my time. I have also successfully sharpened scissors and scrapers, etc.

The WEN® is cheap (but very good quality IMO). You might want to give it a go...

ADDENDUM: I purchased the WEN® grinder with the WEN® tool/jig assortment package (scissors attachment with platen, large & small knife jigs, and axe sharpening jig). They are of adequate quality. However, the WEN® chisel/plane blade jig that came with the machine is pure garbage...
I purchased the TORMEK® chisel/plane blade jig, and several other TORMEK® jigs. They are extremely well designed and made. They are worthwhile investments if you go this route.
IMO, the machines themselves are similar enough for most woodworkers that you need not spend five to ten times more for the machine. (Additionally, the WEN® has a forward/reverse switch, which is extremely handy.)
Spend your money where it counts; on the jigs...

Hopefully, I have not stirred a hornet's nest...

 

[Cabinetman]

Thanks Alex, lots of food for thought there.

I have one of those but with a different brand. I used a long masonry bit to true it up, just hold it in from the other side from the tool rest.

Pete

yes thanks, but like Alex I wonder if I could keep it from turning, but I will certainly give it a try.