I used to have a Tormek, but I sold it a few years ago and replaced it with a Pro-Edge. I've also got a fair bit of experience of using traditional grinding wheels in various workshops.
The Tormek jig system delivers accurate and repeatable results across a wide range of tools. But the main problem is that the Tormek is pretty slow, I tried upgrading to the "black" wheel for use with A2 steel, but it made hardly any difference. When I say slow, I mean S-L-O-W! A major re-grind on a thick A2 iron could easily take twenty minutes or more. Add in the extra time taken with grading and it's not really practical for a commercial environment.
This is my current sharpening set up.
A Pro-Edge for grinding, diamond stones for sharpening, "scary sharp" papers on a granite block for honing. I've no interest in debating different sharpening systems, but it's worth mentioning that you'll find something similar to this in many professional workshops.
I got the Pro-Edge because it's compatible with the main Tormek jigs that I used, but it can remove metal much, much faster.
Does it burn the tools? Well, unlike the Tormek, that's a
possibility. But in reality it's not a meaningful problem. The vast majority of grindings, apart from dealing with the occasional nicked edge, mean you don't actually grind to the very edge. You normally grind to within one mill of the edge, which means burning, on a wheel or on a belt, is simply not an issue. On the rare occasions when you need to grind right to the edge then I find the Pro-Edge runs a lot cooler than almost all grinding wheels, so with just a moderate amount of care the tool isn't blued. I once used a grinder in a workshop that had fitted it with a CBN wheel. That ran equally cool to the Pro-Edge, but I believe they had a few problems truing up the wheel (although once trued it ran perfectly with no need for subsequent attention) and of course high tech wheels like that are fairly expensive. I think a CBN grinder and a Pro-Edge are both viable alternatives, it really comes down to if you want a flat grind or a hollow grind, which in turn is pretty much a personal choice. I know excellent craftsmen in both camps, so whatever you choose you'll be in good company!
Belt changes on the Pro-Edge take under a minute, and give you a huge range of grits and materials. I tend to stick to a coarse ceramic belt, but very occasionally I'll use the tri-act belts which go to something like 3000 grit.
Another feature of the Pro-Edge is the excellent angle setting arrangement, the whole machine is particularly sturdy, but the angle setting arrangement is genuinely industrial quality and is built to withstand years of use and abuse in a commercial environment.
If you're ever in the South Hampshire/New Forest area and want to have a play with a Pro-Edge drop me a PM and you're welcome to drop by the workshop.
) which is built in the best traditions of 'old skool' British engineering...in fact the guys building them probably build Challenger tanks as well at the weekend :lol: 
