I’ve been dabbling in turning for the last few years. Nothing too serious. Realizing that sharp tools are of course a necessity, I’m looking to update my sharpening kit for my turning tools. I’ve been using my little low speed 6″ grinder, to sharpen the tools and sandpaper to touch up the edge a little. The grinder is off in a corner away from the lathe, and not really convenient for the turning setup.
What I’d like to do is update the grinder with a large 8″ model, and either dedicate it to the lathe, or at least move it closer. For sharpening (as a beginner) is low speed beneficial? How about the width of the wheel?
I’ve always used a bit of sandpaper wrapped around a dowel to take off the burr after grinding. Recently I took a class and the instructor said not to worry about it as it will be knocked of at first contact with the wood. Your thoughts?
What would you say is the basic sharpening kit for turning tools?
Buster
Replies
While you will find an 8” grinder nice a 6” is completely serviceable. I would suggest using a jig system developed by Oneway (a Canadian Company) called the Wolverine in tandem with their Vari Grind Jig. I have also included plans to build this jig yourself in an attachment. My settings for either jig are in the second attachment. You have had a teacher which has reiterated one of the great myths of turning thereby reinforcing a factoid. That is that turning tools are fine straight off the grinder. While it makes little difference with bowl gouges (and scrapers are purposely left with a burr for it is the burr that does the work) spindle tools benefit enormously from some sort of honing. Sand paper as you are doing is o.k. but I get the best result from a buffer. My book The Lathe Book but Taunton Press goes into sharpening in great detail.
With best regards,
Ernie Conover
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