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Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998

Grinding to a halt

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Grinding to a halt

#1

Grinding to a halt

David

>Hi -

I'm very new to lathe working, but finally managed to walk into a deal for a decent starter-lathe (fisch purchased from a guy who won it and didn't need it) and purchased a set of tools (a set of 5 from Sorby). I'm joining a local club, and a friend from that club has shown me a few of the basics so I can get started practising.

Thing is, the second you buy a lathe, you get to see behind the curtain, where you see mountains of cash for extra,must-have hardware. The curtain is revealed at about the same time you realize you need an effective and inexpensive way to sharpen tools, as you slide into the home base of "I'm out of cash".

I've got some diamond files, and they are kind of cutting it, but I realize I need to get a grinder. The picture I'm getting is to buy a slow grinder (1725ish RPM), white alumninum oxide wheel with grit between say 100 and 120, 8" diameter better than 6", with a tool rest and of course a guard. That's great, but now let's find it for less than $100.

I really need to find an economical way to do this without buying something that is junk and/or unsafe. Any advice?

Thanks -

David B.

Re: Grinding to a halt

#2

Re: Grinding to a halt

Robert Cox

>Woodcraft has that for $94.

$75 when on sale.

No kidding.

Re: Grinding to a halt

#3

Re: Grinding to a halt

Fred in NC

>A jig to properly grind the gouges is the most important to me. As a novice turner, I find it nearly impossible to grind properly without some kind of device to properly keep the angle. I use the Wolverine. There are plans for a homemade version in the web.

Re: Grinding to a halt

#4

Re: Grinding to a halt

John Lucas

>David

Make yourself a sanding disc to attach to the lathe and use that. I did that for a couple of years and it works. I still do it when I do demo's at schools. I have a sanding disc attached to my handwheel so I don't have to carry any extra stuff.

If you have a belt sander or strip sander, they work well also. there will be a learning curve to gettting a properly ground edge but everything has a learning curve.

Re: Grinding to a halt

#5

I agree with Fred

TD

>buy a fingernail grinding jig or make one. I would rather have a cheap 3450 rpm 6" grinder and a jig than to have a good 8" 1725 rpm grinder and no jig. Aluminum oxide 60 to 80 grit is nice but not essential. A light touch is essential.

TD

Re: Grinding to a halt

#6

Re: Grinding to a halt

Rob Ceraso

>Anyone know where to find the plans mentioned in the previous post?

Wolverine, Tru-Grind, etc. are all a bit out of my price range.

Re: Grinding to a halt

#7

Jig *LINK*

Fred in NC

>This is only one of severals.

Do a Google on "sharpening jig lathe tools" and you will get several.


Sharpening Jig

Re: Grinding to a halt

#8

Re: Try http://www.jeanmichel.org/

Al Crandall

>Click on woodturning jigs.

Re: Grinding to a halt

#9

Re: Grinding to a halt *LINK*

John Lucas

>I just found this one also. You can use all of these homemade jigs with a belts sander of disc sander if you set them up properly.


http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00115.asp

Re: Grinding to a halt

#10

Leo Van Der Loo

More than just grinding jigs *LINK*

Leo Van Der Loo

>Hi David

Darrell Feltmate has a website with a lot of info for making the grinding jigs and turning tools, and a lot of other ideas.

Have fun and take care

Leo V


http://aroundthewoods.com

Re: Grinding to a halt

#11

Re: Grinding to a halt

Barry Irby

>I bought the $89 grinder from Woodcraft and made a jig for it. I have one side diedicated to the gadget for the Ellsworth grind on the gouge. The other side has a home made version of the wolverine device. Both of mine are based on a piece of square steel tube I bought from Lowes for about $5 each and a few bits of scrap. Mine is sort of Tee shaped and has a set of blocks in the middle and at each end. The spread of the tee is right for the skews and the parting tool and roughing gouge sit in the center set. I slide the tube in and out to adjust the angle. (all simpler than it sounds.) I have marks on it for each tool. Takes seconds to change it.

You could make the same setup and attach it to the lathe. Get a stone or wheel and a mandrel. It would not be as convient as having a separate grinder, becasue you would have to remove whatever you were turning to sharpen, unless you set it up on the hand wheel.

Barry Irby.

Re: Grinding to a halt

#12

Re: Grinding to a halt

David

>I just wanted to drop a note to everyone to thank you for your input. I really appreciate it. I had a good feeling I would get helpful input and you folks did not disappoint. I may have to wait a little while to do it, but I think I'm going to go the Woodcraft grinder route. It has been suggested to me now by about 5 people. I'll tackle the jig afterward....

But that "Grinding to a halt" title - that was a pretty clever title if I do say so myself.

David B.

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