Sharpener-Confused, Overloaded with Info-Can't Decide

We have sold several of the Worksharps. I have had very positive feedback on them. I don't know about the rest, except Tormek, which is obviouly not an option.

if you get a warm and fuzzy feeling when you are sharpening something- it's most likely because you just cut yourself… the warm feeling is blood…. pay attention to your actions

I personally just picked up the Scheppach 2000 which is similar to the Grizzly (same mfg) 8" web grinder which is the smaller version of the 10" you mentioned. I picked it up used, otherwise I would have gone with the 10" grizzly, the price different for the extra width and wheel size is more than worth it.

the difference between the wet grinder and the worksharp and the reason I chose a wet grinder is so that I can get a hollow grind on the bevels, which makes honing easier.

We sharpened 300+ saw blades last week…warm and fuzzy never came to mind.

Regards, Tired

I did a revue on the Work sharp shortly after I purchased it.

http://lumberjocks.com/boboswin/blog/2399

http://lumberjocks.com/boboswin/blog/2417

Bob

I use the Workshop for the front edge of my tools but use scary sharp to lap the backs and to do my skew chisels. I've had great luck with it but just can not seem to get the backs where I want them with the Worksharp I'm even using a foot switch to start it for back lapping….just won't work got me. Maybe others will have comments regarding using the WS on the backs.

I use the WS on the fronts and backs. I haven't had any issues yet. If you need to sharpen anything wider than 2" then its free hand or buy a new jig they have for like 75 bucks or something. I am very pleased with this system. You also have the option to micro bevel, achieveing the same as a hollow grind as far as sharpening times.

I have the 3000 and it vastly improved my ability to sharpen plane irons and chisels. I am not sure whether it would be useful for knives. The only way I can see it being used for this application is to free hand sharpen them from the top. I have never had a lot of success with this.

For larger plane irons WS does make an accessory tool rest that allows them to be sharpened from the top but I doubt if it would work for knives.

the worksharp is indeed a good unit, and I haven't heard any complaints about it (generally speaking). I think between all the options its the most suitable for turning tools as well.

but a thing to keep in mind when comparing microbevel to hollow grind is that the difference is not so much in the sharpening times (more honing times really) but the fact that hollow grind lets you hone the blade freehand to get that mirror finish whereas a microbevel you still need to rely on a jig.

until now all my blades have microbevels on them as I was using the scary sharp method with the Veritas MK-II. which works great, but when you need to run through several blades tends to take up some time- esp. when you need to fix nicked blades.

Purp, Point taken, I have never used a hollow grind so I don't know much about it. I do use the WS for my pocket knives, but wouldn't trust my free hand skill on anything important.

Just got the Worksharp and am wondering why I didn't get one sooner. I love it.

I have a worksharp. It may have some limitations. The main point of it is… if you look at the dvd of how to do it, anyone can get a nice sharp chisel without much knowledge of how. Put it in the machine and manipulate it in the steps that it tells you and you'll have a good usable very sharp edge. It's sort of for people who need sharp tools but aren't really into the sharpening process as a hobby.

I have asked this question a couple places now, and the WS has been hands down the one with comments about how easy it was to get sharp edges on tools.

For some dumb reason I was really wanting to hear this about the Grizzly but only a few people have stated anything about this tool. Although it was all positive except for the replacement wheel being a piece of junk.

I just don't want to buy one and then end up wishing I had purchased a different one is the reason for the question.

I think this has to do more with marketing than product quality. WS really pushes their product as this is one of their main and ONLY products, whereas Grizzly has products from here to eternity, and the wet sharpener is not really their flagship product- doesn't mean it's not good, only that news of it's existence reaches less people than the WS does. to be honest - I never heard of it either until yesterday when I specifically searched grizzly's site for wet sharpeners to get an idea of pricing comparisons before I picked mine up.

but as you can see -the WS gets good reviews, and works well, I think it all boils down to which feature would you rather cry about not having more than which feature you need more… lol.

both machines will have wear and tear, the Grizz you'll have to true and eventually (after a long long time) replace the wheel, whereas the WS you'll have to replace the sand papers…

I have the grizzly 10" wet sharpener and its great. I preferr the wet sharpening and all the optional accessories. I like the idea of keeping the metal cool. I used to do all sharpening by hand. But with the wet grinder I acheive in 5 min. what used to take 30 min. with the wet stones. It's also nice to sharpen lathe tools, but you'll have to buy the holder.

I just wont to thank all of you who replied. I am a beginner, on sharpening. I think I have the knifes down pat. but just starting in my gouges, and chisels. I have just started learning how to carve. and I feel , shaping, and,sharpening is the first thing a carver needs to know. sooo. it has been a long process. I finally got my small gouges, and chisels done, and the v tool was the hardest. but now just got some big girl gouges. so I am looking into this also. thanks to all.
Evie

I have used the Tormek but have never got my chisels and turning tools as sharp as I have with the WS3000. Best purchase I ever made.

For the money go with worksharp