Do It Yourself Sharpening

[Richard Baker]

After many years of turning with home-made tools using HSS tool bits intended for metal turning, I finally bought an expensive bowl gouge to see what a “real†bowl gouge was like. Then had to make a jig (stick and a V-block) to sharpen it. Then bought a set of 3 not expensive gouges to learn how to do fingernail and/or Ellsworth grind. The “not expensive†gouges came with fingernail shape, but the flutes are too sharp to suit (included angle in plane perpendicular to the cutting edge is too small). I read that the included angle of Ellsworth grind is 60 degrees all around. Is that right?

So picture 005 shows the basic stuff. Note copy of Bill Boehme’s sketch of Ellsworth gouge attached to front of grinder. Also note that stock tool rests have been swapped left/right, drilled and tapped to attach adjustable 3x3 angle tool rests. Left side angle is for “gouge-like†tool bits, & right side angle is for “scraper-like†tool bits. The “stick†is now a piece of light gage angle iron. First V-block on left is for straight grind on expensive bowl gouge. Second V-block is for 25 year-old spindle roughing gouge that I just learned to use. Third block is locator for Texian MultiGrind doodad. Must remove it for those first two gouges, so don’t want to lose my place.

Picture 002 shows the aforementioned Texian Multigrind doodad, partially copied from helpful info online. The V-block/pivot point can be adjusted vertically, and whole thing can be moved horizontally along the “stickâ€Â. Needs some refinement, but is working well as is.

Just another way to do it. Questions or comments welcome.

 

[Bill Boehme]

......I read that the included angle of Ellsworth grind is 60 degrees all around. Is that right?.......

.....Note copy of Bill Boehme’s sketch of Ellsworth gouge attached to front of grinder. .....

1. It is hard to actually measure the angle all around the side of the gouge since the inside of the flute is half of an ellipse and no place to actually put an angle gauge, but an eyeball check of the angle would say that 60 degrees is in the right ballpark.
2. I feel honored that someone besides me actually used the sketch that I made.

Since I am a tinkerer and a contrarian (not to mention also a bohemian), I have started to make a base fixture for my Tormek that will allow me to use the Ellsworth sharpening jig on it to get the same profile as obtained when using a bench grinder. If I could just find where I put that "round tuit", then I would be able to finish the darn thing. I have too many projects sitting around in various stages of "incompletion".

Bill

 

[Richard Baker]

Bill,
Thanks for your response. Told you I was going to post your sketch in prominent location in the shop. Have plan for adjustable length leg on Texian Multigrind doodad which should increase the included angle of gouge flutes.

Made a "round tuit" today (with hole in the center, and cut it in 4 pieces) to allow jaws of cheap chuck to grip smaller tenons. Cheap chuck doesn't center well anyhow, so segmented "tuit" will not degrade its performance.

Am sure your Tormek project will be successful in the fullness of time.

 

[S. Clark]

You guys can sure make sharpening complicated!
I suggest you get all those jigs out of the way and just use your angled tool rests. Set the tool rest for whatever angle you prefer (I like something about 40 degrees), lay the gouge flat on the rest, bring the tip up against the wheel, then swing and roll the tool at the same time as you grind. Keith Rowley’s book “Woodturning, a fundamental course†has an excellent explanation, and diagrams, for how to do this. 10 or 15 minute practice and your set. I have it timed down to 8-10 second to touch up a gouge when I’m tuning. Don’t even need to shut of the lathe. Get to spend more time turning and less time messing with sharpening. Once the gouge is shaped, I do all my sharpening touch up with 120g wheel. Tools last much longer.

 

[Bill Boehme]

You guys can sure make sharpening complicated!
I suggest you get all those jigs out of the way and just use your angled tool rests. ......... I have it timed down to 8-10 second to touch up a gouge when I’m tuning. Don’t even need to shut of the lathe. Get to spend more time turning and less time messing with sharpening.

I don't feel as though I am in a race against time when turning -- I do woodturning as a form of relaxation and the longer it takes, the more relaxation time I have. Changing the way that I sharpen a tool for no reason other than shaving a few seconds off my time holds absolutely no interest for me. If you find yourself going back to the grinder frequently to touch up an edge, you could consider using a jig to give more precise control and a longer lasting edge.

Bill

 

[john lucas]

Bill I feel exactly the same. Sharpening is actually a way to relax and stretch a little while I'm turning. I do use jigs but also sharpen by hand, depends on the tool. In fact I have my grinder about 6 feet away so I have to walk to it which relieves some tension and relaxes me.
I was looking at all the state of the art gouges this weekend at the symposium. It takes me so little time to sharpen even though I take my time that I couldn't justify the extra cost of 2060 steel, Kryo steel, and whatever Glaser is made from, I'm guessing Platinum judging by the price 🙂. Seriously, I like thier tools but they were just way beyond what my budget can handle. I ended up buying a bottom of the line Packard. They have served me well and next one up in edge holding was twice the price. Can't justify the price of a tool that may hold the edge longer when it only takes a few seconds to sharpen.

 

[Richard Baker]

S.,

It’s great that you can sharpen freehand, and I admire your ability and that of others who can.

It may be that some of us have physical limitations, and can benefit from a little extracurricular help, like a sharpening jig of some kind. And some have additional financial limitations, but could benefit from making their own sharpening jigs. Sometimes I have trouble understanding why folks don’t build more of their own stuff, but not everybody can, or wants, to build their own stuff. And that’s ok. Just cause I like to build stuff doesn’t mean that I think everybody else should. And sometimes it’s just more FUN to have a “doodad†to do a job that could be done about as easily without the “doodadâ€Â.

In conclusion, he wrote, a stick and a V-block just doesn’t seem real gosh awful complicated.

 

[Jeff Jilg]

I'm kinda like Bill Boehme. It's not a race. I like it to be efficient but not hurry. And I built my own sharpening jig so that it puts the angle on the bowl gouge that suites me best. Once the gouge is in the jig there is no dexterity required, and it basically hones the edge!

 

[Bill Boehme]

Richard, you the man!

Richard,

I just looked at your first picture again and noticed that you are sharpening TWO gouges at the same time on the same wheel -- you are the man!

Bill

 

[Gretch Flo]

S.,



Sometimes I have trouble understanding why folks don’t build more of their own stuff, but not everybody can, or wants, to build their own stuff. And that’s ok. Just cause I like to build stuff doesn’t mean that I think everybody else should. And sometimes it’s just more FUN to have a “doodad†to do a job that could be done about as easily without the “doodadâ€Â.

In conclusion, he wrote, a stick and a V-block just doesn’t seem real gosh awful complicated.

Any of you Fly fishermen/women and tie your own flies??? I have tied many(600+) (non artistic, I may say) flies for sockeye/king salmon fishing in Alaska, and there is just greater satisfaction catching the beasts on something you made. I don't do trout flies as I can hardly see the eye of the hooks let alone getting the stuff on to a hook the size of a mosquito! 😀 Wish I had the wherewithal that some of you folks have to make your own tools. Got for it! Gretch

 

[Richard Baker]

Thanks, Bill. It's a real time saver, sharpening two at once.

Thanks, Gretch. Admire your skill. Tried tying some flies once, and they looked like something even a mother fly would hate.

 

[Gretch Flo]

Thanks, Bill. It's a real time saver, sharpening two at once.

Thanks, Gretch. Admire your skill. Tried tying some flies once, and they looked like something even a mother fly would hate.

Not much skill in tying these flies. They are big flies and since the sockeye don't feed when going up the stream to breed and die, you are really trying to get them to pugnaciously strike it when you throw it at them!!!! 😱 Trout are another story. Gretch