Oneway Wolverine under Wen Wet Grinder (Tormek Clone)

[Edward Kerslake]

I already have a bench grinder with Norton wheels and a full oneway system that I like.

Has anyone mounted the wolverine system under one of the Tormek clones? Any tips or advice?
Thanks in advance

 

[Doug Freeman]

I use a Grizzly clone with tormek jigs. Havent tried to mount a wolverine base, but I dont think there is room under the water trough vertically, and I think the base on all the wet grinders extends too far under the trough to center the wolverine base under the wheel.

Doing “the opposite”, using the tormek bar (and jigs) with a bench grinder, does work - its what I do.

If you just want to use the varigrind jig with a wet grinder, Im sure there is a way to cobble something up to hold the tip of the jig in the right position, but you will need to diy I think.

 

[Edward Kerslake]

Doug, Thank you for your response.

I might have to cobble something together. The Wen version does look as if it has some clearance underneath the wheel. I can have a look at the Oneway base once the Wen arrives.
Has anyone had success moving from shaping (elsworth grind) on the Vari-Grind and then final work and subsequent touch up using the jigs for the Tormek? (they have a bowl gauge jig that might work)

 

[Mark Jundanian]

I don't think you will find that the grind you get from one apparatus can be exactly match to the grind on another jig.

 

[Edward Kerslake]

OK. I've managed to get the wolvering jig to work under the Tormek. I had to raise the pocket of the arm up by an inch, easily accomplished with a 'V' made of hard Plastic (Starboard). The diameter of the wheel does make a slight difference to the curve of the grind on the gouge, but not significantly so.
I bought the WEN wet grinder and I have to say I think it's actually great. Very little wobble and no need to true the stone. It worked very well out of the box.

The WEN wheel is (supposedly) not great with regard to longevity but when it wears out, I plan to replace it with an 8" Diamond 1200 grit wheel as I plan to continue doing rough shaping on the bench grinder with the Norton wheels i have installed there.

Here's some pics of the assembly so you can see what needs to be done...

I also added an insert to match the thread of the wen motor which allowed me to mount the Tormek strop wheels on the outboard side of the leather wheel. Works well

 

[Mike Novak]

Could you supply links to the parts you used to attach the Tormek stropping wheels?

I have had the Wen for about 3years. The stone is not great, but it will last a very long time because of the size. They say with a Tormek stone you can “grade” it for coarse or fine, but that doesn’t work on the Wen stone. I can grade it to fine, but to go back to coarse I need to dress the wheel.

I am going the opposite way from you. I have the Wen which works great for sharpening, but I need a better solution for shaping.

 

[Doug Freeman]

I have the Wen which works great for sharpening, but I need a better solution for shaping.

Wet grinders take all day to shape one tool. The Tormek BGM-100 is a bench mount with tool bar for using tormek jigs with a bench grinder. Thats the setup I use for shaping all gouges. There is another version that mounts around the wolverine bar for those that have those bases etc.

 

[Edward Kerslake]

Parts needed were easy. A reducing insert to allow the tormek stropping wheel spindle and a simple ball knob to fit on the end of the tormek spindle to mount the wheel.

I found the insert to be a smidge too long so a quick sand makes it flush with the end of the tormek spindle into which it is mounted

 

[Edward Kerslake]

Further testing. I borrowed the Tormek Bowl Jig and tried that instead of the Vari-Grind setup.
I fiddled for an hour or two trying to replicate the grinds I use (one traditional and one Ellsworth) and failed.
Went back to using the Wolverine and will stick with it.

I can't quite get the full extent of the Ellsworth grind, but I use an extremely long wing (not by design, just happened to make it overly long when first sharpening and never bothered to change it)

 

[robo hippy]

Since I only use platforms for sharpening, I don't really have much experience with the sharpening jigs, other than the Ellsworth jig, but I don't use swept back gouges at all any more. I did try the Tormek jig, and as near as I can tell, it does roll the tool more to the side than the Wolverine jig does. It does not roll enough to make a 'real' 40/40 grind though. To get the 40/40 grind, you have to roll till the flutes are at 90 degrees/sideways.

robo hippy