Ellsworth grind

[Jerry Ellsaesser]

can someone tell me how to set up the verigrind to get the ellsworth gouge grind?.....thanks much Jerry tried a search but came up with every thing but.......

 

[robo hippy]

Getting a swept back profile is a matter of how far to the side you roll the tool. Only difference is the bevel angle. So should be the same setting for your standard gouges. Well, I think anyway, I free hand sharpen.

robo hippy

 

[Bill Boehme]

The two important dimensions that enable any jig to duplicate the Ellsworth jig are:

• The distance from the tip of the pivot arm to the tip of the gouge is 9¾ inches. There is an endless combination of pivot arm angles and gouge protrusion distances that can give you this dimension, but you could start with the pivot arm at 45° and a protrusion of 2 inches and see how close this gets you to the right distance. Tweak one or the other until the distance is right. There is a caveat -- do not use some off-the-wall extreme angle or protrusion or else you may not be able to satisfy both this and the next step.
• With the Varigrind arm in the Wolverine, adjust the length of the arm on the Wolverine so that the tip of the gouge contacts the grinding wheel at an angle of 60° - 65°. David Ellsworth says that using his jig and using the set up dimensions that he specifies, the angle will be a perfect 60°, however his calculations are off because the angle is a perfect 65°. So, the exact angle is your choice, but it really isn't super critical. I have my own set up for a Tormek to get something that approximates an Ellsworth/Irish/swept back grind with a nose angle of 65°.

 

[Jerry Ellsaesser]

Thanks much for the info...first time I heard the 9.75 ...will give it a try today and see how it works for me...thanks much ...Jerry

 

[Rob Wallace]

"Vertical Solution" Sharpening Jig

Jerry:

If you want a foolproof, accurate, and repeatable system to produce a perfect Ellsworth grind on your Ellsworth style gouges (e.g. 5/8" diameter steel, 1/2" parabolic flute), you might investigate the grinding jig system produced by Don Geiger. Have a look at:

Geiger's Solutions Pro Sharp System

I have the original, older version of the 'Vertical Solution' and have been using it for years. Don's original sharpening jig system was designed to produce the Ellsworth grind specifically, and its support arm simply fits into the Wolverine's mounts at your grinder. The system includes a spacer jig that allows accurate adjustment of the distance of the jig's pocket from the wheel, which compensates for wheel wear and diameter reduction in use, making this adjustment parameter "right on" every time. Using a "standard" Ellsworth grinding jig (with it's fixed angle) and a standard extension of the tool's tip from the jig, makes all of the settings needed extremely repeatable and quick. It will also work with a Vari-Gind jig, once you standardize it to match the Ellsworth angle and tip extension distance - the 9.75" Bill mentioned.

The original version I have allows very easy sharpening of an Ellsworth gouge in 30 seconds or less (with experience) that removes only a very small amount of metal. I have used this system with both of my Ellsworth gouges, with a 15V Glaser gouge, and several gouges from Thompson Lathe Tools - it performs very well with all.

I can't comment on the newer "Pro Sharp 4X" system since I have not used it.

This might be an alternative for you that makes sharpening the swept-back profile extremely easy and very repeatable as to set-up and minimal metal removal.

As with everything related to woodturning, practice makes perfect....

Good luck!

Rob Wallace

 

[Steve Worcester]

see if this helps
http://turningwood.com/fingernail1.htm

 

[Bill Boehme]

Thanks much for the info...first time I heard the 9.75 ...will give it a try today and see how it works for me...thanks much ...Jerry

It is possible that nobody has mentioned it before. All that I did was set up an Ellsworth gouge in the Ellsworth jig and then measured the distance from the tip of the arm to the point of the gouge. I have a Vari-Grind jig somewhere -- probably in the attic as I have not seen it for a few years, so I can't confirm what Vari-Grind angle and protrusion will give you the exactly right distance, but the numbers that I gave you previously should give you a reasonable starting point. Perhaps Steve's article will give the right dimensions. The arm on the Ellsworth jig is about 5¾" long and is at an angle of 45° and the tool protrudes 2" from the jig. Using this information might help in setting the Vari-Grind to give the same distance from end of arm to tip of tool. Of course, another possibility is to shell out a few bucks and get a real honest-to-goodness Ellsworth jig.