Re: Which sharpening system
Lyn J. Mangiameli
>Jack, the least expensive but well functioning sharpening system depends a little on what you already have on hand.
If you already have a decent dry grinder and wheels (i.e, 6 inch or larger, aluminum oxide wheels), then one of the aftermarket or shop made jigging systems are a reasonable route to moderately priced sharpening system. I prefer the Woodcut TruGrind or Kelton Sharpening System (particularly the 2nd generation version which will soon be out) and I have discussed both of these briefly here before, and will be doing a full comparative review in a couple of months. The TruGrind is particularly versatile and compact in a single device, the Kelton is the most sturdy and has the best expansion capabilities I've found on any dry sharpening system.
If you already have a vertical belt sander, then this can offer an excellent foundation for a sharpening system through the addition a few shop made and adapted commercial jigs. A lot of experienced turners swear by such a system, and it is particularly easy and inexpensive to change between grit ranges but just substituting belts.
One of the most inexpensive systems I have seen has been to use sanding disks mounted to the lathe via a board and faceplate. Personally, I'm not fond of this idea as it ties up ones lathe, strews grit all around, and is difficult to set up jigging system for. Still, in a pinch, you can accomplish this for almost nothing more than the cost of a sanding disk.
But you may not need to count out the Tormek. If one adds up the cost of a new grinder, new wheels, and one of the jigging systems (Wolverine, TruGrind, Kelton) and compare it to the cost of a Tormek fitted only with the components one really needs for turning, the price is not necessarily as different as one might expect. What one needs for turning is the basic Tormek, the Tormek Multijig, the Tormek Univeral Gouge Jig, the Tormek Horizontal table, and an generic flat face T-handle diamond dresser. You don't need profile honing wheels, or even the stone dresser for woodturning, not many of the other things often included with their Woodturners package.
If you don't have anything right now, the most inexpensive system I can think of, that would be adequate for a variety of uses, is the cheap 6 inch Delta Grinder, a T-handle diamond dresser, a set of inexpensive white wheels and the TruGrind jig. Obviously there are a lot of steps up from there, but I have a system fitted up like this for the sharpening comparisons (deliberately to see how low one could go in price for a full function set up) and while not perfect, it really performs the necessary functions pretty well.
