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  • What Is a Sheffield Record Power Scan 150 Used For: Complete Guide
  • What Is a Sheffield Record Power Scan 150 Used For: Complete Guide

    February 20, 2025 by
    What Is a Sheffield Record Power Scan 150 Used For: Complete Guide
    Lewis Calvert
    What Is a Sheffield Record Power Scan 150 Used For: Complete Guide

    The Record Power Scan 150 is a compact 150 mm wet stone grinder. Workshops use it to sharpen chisels, plane blades, knives, scissors, and other edge tools.

    Quick factDetail
    ProductRecord Power Scan 150
    TypeWater-cooled wet stone grinder (bench-top sharpener)
    MakerRecord Power Ltd, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK (recordpower.co.uk)
    Stone size150 mm (6 in) class, per the model name and its machine class
    Main jobSharpening knives, chisels, plane blades, and edge tools (sold at estate auction as "Record Power Scan 150 Knife/Chisel Sharpener")
    AvailabilityDiscontinued — no longer listed on Record Power's site; turns up occasionally on the used market (no live eBay UK listings at last check, Oct 2026)
    NotA document or paper scanner (more on this myth below)
    Sharpening a tool on a grinding wheel — the same slow, controlled grinding a wet stone grinder does
    Slow, controlled grinding puts a keen edge on steel without burning it. Photo by Maksim Zinchenko on Unsplash.

    What Is the Record Power Scan 150, Exactly?

    • It is a bench-top wet grinding machine from Record Power Ltd. The woodworking machinery maker sits at Barlborough Links, Chesterfield — in the Sheffield city region. (Record Power company details)
    • The "150" in the name points to its 150 mm (6-inch) grindstone. That puts it at the compact end of the wet grinder family.
    • A water trough keeps the stone's lower half wet while it turns. Slow speed plus water stops edges overheating. Fine Woodworking confirms these wheels "won't burn any edges". (Fine Woodworking sharpening comparison)
    • Record Power sold it as a knife and chisel sharpener for home workshops. (Estate sale listing: "Record Power Scan 150 Knife/Chisel Sharpener")
    • The model is now discontinued. Record Power's current sharpening range centres on the WG200 (8") and WG250 (10") wet stone systems. (Record Power site search)
    Quick myth-bust: the "Scan" in Scan 150 has nothing to do with document scanners. A few low-quality sites describe it as a duplex ADF paper scanner. That is simply wrong. It sharpens steel, not paper. If you arrived here holding a stack of documents, you have the wrong machine — and our sympathies.

    Who Should Use One?

    • Woodworkers who sharpen bench chisels and plane irons on a regular basis.
    • Home cooks who want properly sharp kitchen knives without paying a sharpening service.
    • Tool restorers bringing car-boot and auction finds back to life.
    • Cautious beginners who fear ruining a tool's temper on a screaming-fast dry grinder. (Water-cooled wheels remove that risk — see the Fine Woodworking note above.)
    • Small workshops where a compact 150 mm machine fits the bench better than a full-size system.

    What Can You Sharpen With the Scan 150?

    • Bench chisels — the classic job. Reset the bevel, then refine the edge.
    • Plane irons (plane blades) — makers of this machine class list plane blades explicitly. (Scantool: "sharpening of knives, scissors, plane blades, wood working tools")
    • Kitchen knives — this grinder class handles "kitchen knives, scissors, meat cleavers, axes and lawn mower blades". (ManoMano owner reviews, Record Power WG200)
    • Pocket and craft knives — same technique as kitchen knives, on a smaller blade.
    • Scissors — listed by the Danish maker of this machine class. (Scantool)
    • Axes and hatchets — go slow, keep the angle steady, let the stone do the work. (ManoMano reviews)
    • Carving gouges — curved edges need a rolling motion; practice on an old gouge first.
    • Garden tools — shears, secateurs, and mower blades all take an edge from a wet stone. (ManoMano: "lawn mower blades"; Machinery House: WG250 "useful for... gardening tools")
    • Woodturning tools — possible with care. One owner sharpens "turning tools" alongside joinery chisels and plane irons. (ManoMano reviews)
    Vintage woodworking tools hanging on a workshop wall
    Chisels, plane irons, and knives all answer to the same wet stone. Photo by Minh Đức on Unsplash.

    How Wet Sharpening Works

    1. Fill the trough so the stone's lower edge sits in water.
    2. Switch on. The stone turns slowly — roughly 90–250 rpm in this machine class. (Scantool SCANSLIB 150 spec: 200 rpm)
    3. Rest the tool on the guide at your chosen bevel angle.
    4. The wet stone grinds a fresh bevel. Water carries the swarf away.
    5. The edge stays cool, so the steel keeps its temper and hardness. (Fine Woodworking)
    6. Finish with light passes. Strop or hone by hand if you chase extra keenness.
    Sharpening a tool on a workshop grinding machine
    Water plus a slow wheel: the whole secret of wet sharpening. Photo by Khadija Yousaf on Unsplash.

    Scan 150 Specifications — What's Actually Verified

    Record Power no longer publishes the Scan 150 spec sheet. Here is an honest split. Verified facts come first, then typical figures for 150 mm wet grinders of its class.

    Verified facts:

    • Model: Scan 150, from Record Power Ltd. (Estate auction listing)
    • Machine type: water-cooled wet stone grinder, sold as a knife and chisel sharpener. (Estate listing; eBay search page: "Record Scan 150 Wet Stone Grinder")
    • Nominal stone diameter: 150 mm (6 in), per the model name and machine class.
    • Status: discontinued; absent from Record Power's current catalogue. (Record Power site search returns no Scan 150)

    Typical 150 mm class figures (context only — not the official Scan 150 sheet):

    SpecTypical figureSource
    Grinding wheel152 × 40 mmScantool SCANSLIB 150
    Wheel speed~200 rpmScantool SCANSLIB 150
    Motor~90 WScantool SCANSLIB 150
    Footprint~330 × 200 mmScantool SCANSLIB 150
    Weight~5 kgScantool SCANSLIB 150

    Wet Grinding vs Dry Grinding

    Wet stone grinder (Scan 150 class)Dry bench grinder
    Wheel speed~90–250 rpm~2,850 rpm (typical 150 mm bench grinder, B&Q)
    HeatWater keeps the edge cool; temper stays intact (Fine Woodworking)Can blue and soften edges in seconds
    FinishFine and controlledCoarse; built for fast stock removal
    Best forSharpening and refining bevelsShaping, repairing damaged edges
    MessWater and stone slurrySparks and metal dust
    NoiseLow humNoticeably louder
    Grinding wheel speed: wet stone vs dry bench grinder Revolutions per minute (rpm) — logarithmic scale Scantool SCANSLIB 150 150 mm wet stone 200 rpm Record Power WG200 200 mm wet stone 150–250 rpm Typical 150 mm dry bench grinder 2,850 rpm 50 100 1,000 5,000 rpm Sources: Scantool Group (scantool.dk), Record Power WG200 spec via shop.consumables.com, B&Q/diy.com bench grinder listing.
    Wheel speed comparison (log scale). Sources: Scantool Group, Record Power WG200 spec, B&Q bench grinder listing.

    What the Scan 150 Can't Do

    • It will not reshape a battered lawnmower blade in thirty seconds. Slow wheels trade speed for control.
    • It will not scan your documents. (Yes, twice. The internet clearly needs it twice.)
    • It will not turn a complete beginner into a master sharpener overnight. Angle control still takes practice.
    • Its small stone dishes faster than a 200 mm+ wheel. Dress the stone flat to keep bevels true. This machine class normally ships with a diamond truing tool for that job. (Record Power WG200 ships with a diamond truing tool)
    • It is not a production machine. It suits a home workshop, not a commercial sharpening round.

    Safety Basics

    • Wear eye protection. Every time. No exceptions.
    • Keep water in the trough, not on the electrics. Do not overfill.
    • Unplug the machine before adjusting guides or truing the stone.
    • Hold tools firmly on the rest. Never force an edge into the stone.
    • Let the wheel stop fully before you walk away or change setup.

    Care and Maintenance

    • Change murky water before each session. Dried slurry shortens stone life.
    • True the wheel when it dishes or glazes. A flat stone grinds true bevels.
    • Dry off the machine after each use. Rusts quickly in a wet workshop.
    • Keep guides and jigs dry; oil them if they are made from plain steel.
    • Test the drive for any sign of wobble or strange noise prior to every use. Spot defects soon.
    • Interested in troubleshooting your own machinery? Our step-by-step repair process will introduce you to the troubleshooting mentality that applies to any machine

    Purchasing a Used Scan 150

    • Check the grinding stone for cracks, chipping, and deep dishing. The cracked stone should be rejected.
    • Test spin the stone wheel manually (while the power is unplugged). See if there is any wobbling, grinding or tight bearings.
    • Check the water trough for cracks. Hard to find spare troughs for a discontinued machine.
    • Inquire about jigs and guides. Hard to get spare ones.
    • Compare with new. Record Power's current 8" wet stone system, the WG200-PK/A, sells for £139.99. (Record Power) Do not pay nostalgia prices above that without good reason.
    • Set an eBay alert instead of hunting daily. A live check of eBay UK (Oct 2026) found zero current "Record Scan 150" listings. Save the search and turn on email alerts. (eBay UK search page)

    The Modern Equivalent: Record Power WG200 and WG250

    Want the same idea, brand new, with a warranty? Record Power's current wet stone range covers it.

    Hand tools arranged in a workshop rack
    Keep every edge in the rack sharp and every tool earns its place. Photo by Barn Images on Unsplash.
    • WG200-PK/A (8") — £139.99. 160 W motor, 150–250 rpm, 200 × 40 mm stone, 185 × 30 mm honing wheel. Ships with a diamond truing tool, straight-edge jig, support arm, stone grader, angle gauge, and angle finder. (Full WG200 specification)
    • WG250-PK/A (10") — £249.99. The bigger brother for larger tools and heavier use. (Record Power)
    • Third-party sellers mark up the successors. The same live check found the WG200 at £249.99 and the WG250-PK/A at £319.99. Both sit well above Record Power's own prices. Compare with the official store before you buy.
    • Adjustable torque sets the right pressure for each job. You can also lower the speed as the stone wears. (Record Power WG200 details)
    • Browse the current range at Record Power's official site.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is the Record Power Scan 150 a document scanner?
    No. It is a wet stone grinder for sharpening edge tools. The "Scan" name confuses search engines and a few thin content sites — not the machine's fault.
    What is the Scan 150 used for?
    It sharpens chisels, plane blades, kitchen knives, scissors, axes, carving tools, and garden tools. Anything with an edge suits its cool, controlled grind.
    Can it sharpen lawn mower blades?
    Yes. Owners of this grinder class sharpen mower blades, axes, and cleavers on it. Take light passes and keep the blade moving. (ManoMano owner reviews)
    Is the Scan 150 still made?
    No. It is discontinued and absent from Record Power's catalogue. Buy secondhand, or buy the modern WG200 instead. (Record Power site search)
    Wet grinder or dry grinder for chisels?
    Wet for sharpening; dry for reshaping. Use the slow water-cooled wheel to put the edge on. Reach for a dry grinder only for fast, heavy metal removal. (Fine Woodworking sharpening comparison)
    Do I need special jigs?
    A basic angle guide and tool rest handle most jobs. No big accessory investment needed. (Scantool: "angle guide and special designed tool rest... no extra investment")

    Keep Reading on GMRU

    • General Knowledge — browse the full archive of guides and explainers.
    • Into diagnosing and fixing your own gear? See How to Fix Erratic Readings from Aquarite Salt Board. Its fault-finding mindset suits workshop machines too.


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