tool question ( for Eric ?::--))

[jim in paris]

hello !

sharpening with a grinder :
i was wondering if you guys use a precision sharpening jig
or if you just do it with a visual approach ??

no problem with chisels but for the gouges , that's really difficult to do a clean job

any help or suggestions ?

jim

[Neff]

I use a 1" belt sander to sharpen gouges.  I have slowly reshaped the angle to whatever angle my tool rest is maxed out at.

[Spinningray]

Many serious wood turners swear by sharpening jigs. They are fast are repeatable. They will also cost you a bit of money. It is also recommended to have a diamond or carbide wheel dressing tool to condition the grind stone surface.

I use a visual approach to sharpening. I'm currently using a product called JoolTool. It is basically a variable speed motor mounted in a vertical orientation. The end of the motor shaft is stepped and tapered to accept plastic discs with a 3m abrasive pads adhered to the underside of the disc. The discs are slotted which allows you to see the surface of your tool as the metal is abraded away. It costs a bit of money too.

Become very good at sharpening.

[jim in paris]

thanx alan

that's all i wanted to hear
"Many serious wood turners swear by sharpening jigs. They are fast and repeatable"

ihave found a Sorby accessory around (70 E)
a kind of articulated tool rest to match different angles

i'll go for it as the common fund in our collective workshop (2painters+1 calligraph+1 stain glass) goes for half of the cost


i read a motto in an old woodturning issue
" life is too short to turn crappy wood"
it also works for sharpening 

jim

[Eric]

I also use the "by eye" method, and I use a combination belt/disc sander to sharpen most of my tools.  I say "most" because more and more I'm using tools with replaceable carbide cutters.....more expensive, but all of the time saved by not having to sharpen goes right back into extra turning time... 

[yollector]

Hi Jim,
I sharpen all my tools by eye.
Old tools ,old grinder , old Eyes.
Maby thats when all my turnings
are cockeyed.
Richy from Chico

[Watts' Tops]

I have found that my 8" by 48" belt sander works very well.  I can see what I am doing.  I find that I sharpen quite often however.  The carbide idea sounds great.

[robtsou]

I sharpen most of my tools by eye on a grinding wheel except for my bowl gouges.  For those I use my Wolverine jig with the vari-grind attachment.  The reason is, it's a complicated movement to do by hand and I can minimize the amount of steel I grind off before getting a good result (so my gouges last longer).

Rob

[the Earl of Whirl]

This is great information for future top makers who may be reading these wood turning threads.  Thanks!