my Thompson gouge is getting too short

Re: my Thompson gouge is getting too short

robo hippy

Okay John, time to learn platform sharpening..... Hope to have my clip up next week some time...

robo hippy

Re: my Thompson gouge is getting too short

john Lucas

The Robo rest is still too wide. I can sharpen on platforms but I sure prefer my jigs, at least for the swept back wing gouges.

Re: my Thompson gouge is getting too short

Dick Hines

This is a good reason to use Doug's handles. I have a couple of his tools that are so short that I have ground a flat spot-on top is the tool. When I get done there will be nothing left but the round end

Re: my Thompson gouge is getting too short

Dennis in Southern Oregon

John I bet almost of that wear occurred before you got your CBN wheels!

Another way of getting more life is to reduce the the amount of projection from the jig. A 2.0 inch projection is often recommended but this can be reduced quite a bit with a bit of care. To keep the same bevel angle when changing projection, you will need to move the pivot rest forward a bit. The small change in the effective arm angle of the jig will have trivial effect as long as you continue to use the same projection for that tool. The practical limit is reached when the jig contacts the grinding wheel at some point in the sharpening process. Using the Oneway jig, I can use a projection as small as 1.5 inches for a 60 degree long sidegrind bowl gouge and a tad over 1 inch for a spindle gouge. This required me to grind off the front corners of the jig just a bit as can be seen in the second photo below.

Re: my Thompson gouge is getting too short

john Lucas

True. I use a 1 3/4" projection now. Many years ago I made some wooden jigs similar to what they call the Raptor today. They set the spacing from wheel to the V arm so you get the same exact grind each time. This reduced the amount of steel that I grind away a great deal.

One of the best things that every happened as far as grinding away steel was to look at my tools as consumables. You just naturally assume you will grind them down to nothing so might as well sharpen whenever it needs it. Because I sharpened more often I got better at sharpening and consequently ground away less steel each time.

This is the first bowl gouge I bought from Doug and it's my most used tool. I can't even tell you how many miles are on it. It was well worth the money when you divide the cost over the number of years I've used it.

Re: my Thompson gouge is getting too short

robo hippy

I did find out that I can do gouge wings on radius edge wheels by pushing around the edge, but you still have to roll the flutes over to about 90 degrees. With the hollowing tips, you don't roll, you just push. You use a bit more length of tool to do that one rather than if you just sweep the tool to the sides.

robo hippy

Re: my Thompson gouge is getting too short

john Lucas

I learned originally to sharpen the nose and then as you get to the wing slide the tool up stone. This is when I did all my sharpening on the tool rest. The other method is to swing the tool sideways, sharpen just the wing. then do the other side. Then go to the nose and as your grinding the nose blend it into the wings

Re: my Thompson gouge is getting too short

Bill Blasic

That is why I like the Vector Grinding Jig from JoHannes Michelsen for my bowl gouges. You can sharpen right up to the end of the flute.

Re: my Thompson gouge is getting too short *LINK*

john Lucas

I thought you extended the gouge 2" . At least that's what I remember when watching his video. I only extend my gouges 1 3/4" when using the Wolverine in my V arm. I can't remember how long the tool holder part of the Vector jig is. Probably about as long as my homemade versions.

On Thompson tools the flute doesn't go all the way down the shank. I think I put about 2" in the handle. I'll have to measure to see how much is left. The Wolverine jig is fairly long compared to my homemade Ellsworth jigs. In fact mine are shorter than the Ellsworth jig and a lot shorter than the Wolverine.

Here is Johannes video in case anyone is interested.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eleN0SfdeYU

Beth Ireland

Jorge Castañeda

John,

Have you ever witness Beth Ireland sharpening bowl gauges free hand? Amazing control and perfect sharpening in a fraction of the time we spend using sharpening jigs.

Re: Beth Ireland

john Lucas

that comes from many many years of production turning and the necessary sharpening. I'm pretty good at hand sharpening not as good as she is by any means. I taught a class at the Craft center one time and the previous instructor required all students to sharpen by hand. The tools were so screwed up I spent most of Sunday evening regrinding them to get them useful for my class.

I know it's good to learn to hand sharpen but most turners simply don't have the touch and would be much better served with a good jig of some sort. Even then they mess up the tools which is why I made my video on sharpening problems.