Sharpening

[Phil Pascoe]

Sorry, but what's a fingernail grind in easy terms?

A grind the shape of a well manicured lady's fingernail.

 

[spiritburner]

Carbide tips can be honed with a diamond stone, normally across the top face but I see no reason why the sides can't be honed too.

makes sense, never bothered before as I always got them for "free" but now being retired from my own company. I will run out at some point so will give that a try as I can not offset them as a retiree any longer ! thanks for the tip.

 

[andrew_2]

Literally a grind that produces a gouge shaped like a finger with a rounded end & cutting edges on the sides rather than a square end (often call a conventional grind). Lots of names for the same thing eg. swept back, Irish, Ellsworth etc. Mainly for bowl gouges but sometimes for spindle gouges especially if they are made from a round bar.

Thanks Robbo!

And thanks Phil, that's a nice way of putting it!

 

[nod]

I'm sure I'm going to open a Pandora's box, but I'm new to turning. Just did a course with Yandles and used the Sorby Pro Edge extensively - very enjoyable and I just realised the value of always have a sharp tool.

Right now, I'm not sure I can justify the £450 although I am of the view of buy quality and you won't have to replace it in the future.

I've looked at the Sorby bench grinder jig, but that's about £150 plus the cost of grinding wheels is going to take me to close on £200 so wondered about one of these: Gouge Chisel Sharpening Jig for Wood Lathe Woodturning chisels for Bench Grinder : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science. Seems to have very good reviews and just wondered if anyone has used them?

Thanks!

I have had the Robert Sorby lasted with me few weeks, Then sold it. Very good idea but lots of work need to be Dunn before it comes up to match. Im wet grinding at the mo match better than the RS. But a bit slower. If you don't want to muck about get a Tormax T8 & there jigs & leather buffers. you want regret it its the way to go. But also consider diamond or cbn wheels with the tomax.

 

[Rodpr]

It is really not so difficult to make your own gouge sharpening jig (patterns available online). It doesn't have to involve metalworking! I think a Totmek type wet grinder is better suited to fine woodworking chisels and plane blades than lathe tools where a mirror finish and razor edge is not really needed and a quick tune up is more useful.

 

[Vulcan]

It is really not so difficult to make your own gouge sharpening jig (patterns available online). It doesn't have to involve metalworking! I think a Totmek type wet grinder is better suited to fine woodworking chisels and plane blades than lathe tools where a mirror finish and razor edge is not really needed and a quick tune up is more useful.

From what I’ve read a few times, wet grinders like the Tormek are too slow for general duty on turning tools.

 

[nod]

From what I’ve read a few times, wet grinders like the Tormek are too slow for general duty on turning tools.

guarantee
Depends on what stone you have on & what Finnish you want. I have used a 6" dry grind for all my irons much faster but does heat the metal Evan a little bit of heat no matter how meticulous I took it. In my retirement I got a cheep wet stone FB Market Place just to give it a go. Without a doubt the way to go. I know have a new record power wet stone with leather honing wheels & Tormek Jigs. The only improvement I think now to speed thins up is Diamond or CBN wheels. But must say the Tormek T8 with a 50 year guarantee Has got my tastebuds going.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

You don't appear to be speaking of turning tools, though.

 

[nod]

You don't appear to be speaking of turning tools, though.

All now Phil. Flat chisels. Plane irons. Lathe tools.

 

[Vulcan]

I got the impression years ago that even Tormek realised that removing chips or reshaping tools on a wet grinder can be very tedious. That’s why they introduced their guide setup for bench grinders, leaving the Tormek for just the final sharpening. I’m sure it works well, but you do need two machines.

A belt grinder may not be quite as good as a wet grinder for final sharpening but you can do all of it with just one machine. Unmatched is also the ability to run anything from 40 grit to over several thousand grit on the machine.

 

[mudman]

I got the impression years ago that even Tormek realised that removing chips or reshaping tools on a wet grinder can be very tedious. That’s why they introduced their guide setup for bench grinders, leaving the Tormek for just the final sharpening. I’m sure it works well, but you do need two machines.

A belt grinder may not be quite as good as a wet grinder for final sharpening but you can do all of it with just one machine. Unmatched is also the ability to run anything from 40 grit to over several thousand grit on the machine.

I bought my ProEdge recently and couldn't be more happy with it. Haven't tried turning tools yet but plane irons and chisels come up lovely.

 

[nod]

I bought my ProEdge recently and couldn't be more happy with it. Haven't tried turning tools yet but plane irons and chisels come up lovely.

Have you not got a bump in the middle of the grind mud

 

[mudman]

Have you not got a bump in the middle of the grind mud

Not sure what you mean by a bump, but the edges come out nice and even all along the edge.

 

[Vulcan]

Not sure what you mean by a bump, but the edges come out nice and even all along the edge.

Are you using a jig?

 

[Vulcan]

I was honing some small HSS cutters with an 800g belt on my Ultimate Edge the other day. The join in the belt was a bit of a nuisance but I turned the speed right down and it solved the issue. Sometimes I also get a better edge by running the belt in the opposite direction for some reason.

 

[nod]

Not sure what you mean by a bump, but the edges come out nice and even all along the edge.

if you put a straight edge on the grind lathe chisel > Tip = Cutting edge edge, To the heel.
or & on a flat chisel both ways from tip to heel & from left to right 1/2 way

 

[mudman]

Are you using a jig?

I use this for straight edges: https://www.turners-retreat.co.uk/proedge-premium-square-guide/p2833

 

[mudman]

if you put a straight edge on the grind lathe chisel > Tip = Cutting edge edge, To the heel.
or & on a flat chisel both ways from tip to heel & from left to right 1/2 way

Nope. If anything, it has straightened up some out of square grinds.

 

[pidgeonpost]

An interesting read as I'm just trying to revive my limited turning skills which inevitably means revisiting my even more limited skill at sharpening the tools. I have an elderly Electra Beckum bench grinder and the Axminster grinding jig below. Had them for years. Works ok for flat blades but was rarely used as my chisels and plane irons rarely warranted grinding. Since returning to a bit of turning I'm faced with grinding turning tools. Works OK with some tools, but gouges are very much 'work in progress'.

https://www.axminstertools.com/axmi...68I9b7DCshu-YhtL6pitX0Ti6_t4waWRoCqCYQAvD_BwE

 

[kinverkid]

An interesting read as I'm just trying to revive my limited turning skills which inevitably means revisiting my even more limited skill at sharpening the tools. I have an elderly Electra Beckum bench grinder and the Axminster grinding jig below. Had them for years. Works ok for flat blades but was rarely used as my chisels and plane irons rarely warranted grinding. Since returning to a bit of turning I'm faced with grinding turning tools. Works OK with some tools, but gouges are very much 'work in progress'.

https://www.axminstertools.com/axmi...68I9b7DCshu-YhtL6pitX0Ti6_t4waWRoCqCYQAvD_BwE

Wow! I have that jig from many years ago and occasionally use it (very occasionally). I don't know if I paid the equivalent of that price though (I'm too tight-fisted). I have bolted it to a square bar to fit my homemade Wolverine-type system.