Glaser sharpening system

I consider the Glaser system kind of a collector's item.   I bought mine on EBay just to have it, and it is now hanging on my wall.  I'm also interested in seeing if others are still using this system, as I think Mr. Glaser came up with it, and everybody else's is derivative.

I have a wall of tool artifacts that don't get much or any use, but have some significance to me.  Most of them are from my dad, his dad, his dad, or my maternal grandfather.  I've written the history as I recall them from my dad so that my kids can pass the history down.  The only turning tool I have that might go in that display (but probably not) is a Dennis Stewart hook tool with a swivel head cutter.  I don't use it any longer because there are so many other tools that have taken the design to the next level.  

I have several Glaser tools that probably deserve recognition too.  When Jerry hit 90 or so, I bought "replacement" blades and tools in case I couldn't get them any longer.  They all still get regular use, however, except for the Bob Stockdale 9/16" spindle gouge (M4 steel - blue handle, if I recall correctly).  Never liked that tool, but it adds a splash of blue to my arsenal.  

Glaser made a line of bowl gouges with a deep V shaped flute as apposed the U shape that has become universal today.
I bought the V shape and have never been able to sharpen it to a shape I find useful and that jig maybe the only one that can.
 
Walta

Walt,  I sharpen the Glaser bowl gouges in three steps:  left wing, right wing and nose.  Since the node is so narrow, it is very difficult to grind a side bevel, then swing the tool through the nose quickly so as not to overgrind it.  I treat it as a small gouge with a light touch, then make the wings match.  Since I use my Glaser gouges for shear scraping, I grind the wings so that they are straight instead of convex.  I grind the nose angle to about 60 degrees and can use them for bottom feeders when needed.

within the last few days, Doug Thompson and Steve LaBlue (spelling?) have had a thread running about a few Glaser tools and the sharpening system. 

I don't think I've used, or stood in front of, a Glaser sharpening jig but those two seem to have a wealth of knowledge about them.  

If I can find the thread I'll post a link here.

I've never tried Jerry's sharpening stand (or whatever it is called), so I can't testify about how well or easily it works, but it's really huge. For the past 30 years I've been using versions of David Ellsworth's bowl gouge sharpening jig and it works great for my Glaser gouges as well. I believe the two jigs work similarly, with a pivoting tool holder suspended/supported at a particular height and relationship to the grinding wheel and that allows the tool to be swung the full 180° against the wheel. Here's how David's jig does it. I don't know how he arrived at the exact geometry, but I've never been able to duplicate the grind using a One-Way jig.

Can I pick up where I left off ? I haven't been able to post for many months.

Added later 02 min 08 s:

Let's see if things are working now. Are people watching Richard Raffan? I can't get enough of him! I can't tell you how much I've learned by just watching him.

walta wrote:

Glaser made a line of bowl gouges with a deep V shaped flute as apposed the U shape that has become universal today.

Walta

I don't think it would be accurate to say the the U shape has become universal.  Popular yes, but not universal.  Doug Thompson sells bowl gouges in both the U and V designs, but he highly recommends the V design to his customers who ask about the differences.

If any one profile has become dominant across the major gouge makers it would be the parabolic flute, although some makers have incorrectly called their V flutes parabolic (but not Doug Thompson who correctly calls his V flutes a V). 

If anything, the old U flute has become more of a dedicated gouge for the bottom inside of bowls and platters. 

Jerry Glaser is one of my woodturning heroes, as is also Roy Child from the UK. Jerry's major contribution was HSS gouges ground from round stock + his jig for sharpening his V fluted gouges. Roy's contribution was the parabolic flute. 

Here is an image of Jerry using his gouge sharpening jig...