Useful tool sharpener available from Aldi

Concerto

Concerto

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Ferrex Multifunctional Sharpener - ALDI UK
This tool looks very similar to a small diamond grinding tool I have on Concerto and have used a lot whilst stripping all the woodwork back to bare wood. The only difference is the price - this is 30% cheaper! Available instore tomorrow, so I am going to buy one for my workshop as it is great for grinding the correct angles on chisels and can sharpen drill bits and other tools.
 
Spirit (of Glenans) said:
Anyone know whether or not it's suitable for plane irons?
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Depends on what quality of cutting edge you want to achieve. I would certainly not want to sharpen my chisels and plane irons on it. It would be quite good for knives and twist drills but as the bevel on a chisel or plane iron is sharpened on the radius of the stone it will result in a slight hollowing of the bevel and there does not appear to be provision to hone/polish the backs. It does not say how course or fine the surface is.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
I hate to pour cold water on this item of which I have no experience, but I bought something similar from Lidl some time ago. I was disappointed when I got it assembled to find that the grinding materials were of poor quality and would not have been any use for grinding any tools that I valued. I am interested in this one but am not optimistic.
 
I've ordered one.
For 15 quid, it might suit me better than my wet/dry bench grinder which takes skill to get right, or the honing guide on wet/dry paper ,which takes time to do properly.
Give the chisels a quick sharpen more often, even if it's not quite an 'expert' edge?
Also, I have plenty of drill bits to sharpen!
 
I find mine ideal for starting the refurb process on old abused chisels that I've treated badly on jobs they weren't meant for. Then I finish off on the oil stone.
I wouldn't let it near my good chisels or plane irons though.
I never had much success using the drill sharpening tool but that's probably my inability to follow the instructions.
 
Hmm - I have one and I'm afraid I'm not impressed. It's not very accurate, I had difficulty getting the drill sharpener to work well(easier doing it by eye) and the chisel and plane iron sharpener fixture was again a bit floppy. The grinding wheel is very small and coarse, and gives a curved shape to the blade. Perhaps others will have a better experience but I will go back to using my honing guide on an oil stone with initial grinding by eye on the bench grinder.
 
I have the Lidl one and the jigs are pretty sloppy and the wheel corse. I tried few small drills on it (reason I bought it at €15..) but not impressed.

Likely I will try it again and get past it's problems.. But it is not getting my plane irons or chisels. Width of wheel is far too narrow. I don't xpect much for €15, but had hope that Lidl might come up with a good idea. Their kit is usually way better than the price suggests.
 
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The proper kit comes with a 3 figure price tag.
Unless you buy all the Tormek accessories, then it's 4 figures!
 
So, it's arrived.
On the plus side, the wheel looks to be diamond and does the job.
It's a neat little unit which can sit permanently on a shelf ready to go.
So no excuse to persevere with a tool that's ready for a sharpen.

On the minus side, the sliding carrier which should help me grind a plane iron straight is a bit slack and not ever so smooth.
The wheel is IMHO, maybe on the coarse side.
I don't think the narrow wheel should be an issue, because the work should pass right across it.

It's like a prototype of something that would be good value at £50.
 
Wing Mark said:
So, it's arrived.
On the plus side, the wheel looks to be diamond and does the job.
It's a neat little unit which can sit permanently on a shelf ready to go.
So no excuse to persevere with a tool that's ready for a sharpen.

On the minus side, the sliding carrier which should help me grind a plane iron straight is a bit slack and not ever so smooth.
The wheel is IMHO, maybe on the coarse side.
I don't think the narrow wheel should be an issue, because the work should pass right across it.

It's like a prototype of something that would be good value at £50.
Click to expand...
I have not unpacked mine yet, but the similar one I already have I used eletrical tape to take out the slack and it works a lot better.
 
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