Useful tool sharpener available from Aldi

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.
 
Anyone know whether or not it's suitable for plane irons?
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.
 
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.
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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