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Sharpening Problems

L

LANKFORD

Joined
Mar 21, 2006
Messages
76
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Location
Vienna, Virginia
I have both the Wolverine Vari-grind jig and the Tru-Grind. The tru-grind got me frustrated because it does not hold the tools straight and the tightening screw on top is awful. So, I got a Vari-jig and it holds the tools nicely, much easier to use than the tru-grind.

But now the problem. I have a number of midi size gouges. The metal part are all too short to fit either jig. You can't get that 1-3/4" stickout. The Wolverine jig is worse than the Tru-grind. Even if you don't use 1-3/4" stick out, if you try to grind a fingernail shape, the holder will hit the grinding wheel. So whats the solution? Throw away the midi size tools and get full size tools?
 
Midi just means short tool length. What I have are some tools where the tool length (metal part) is only 3-1/2" to about 4-1/2" long. Specifically I have 2 gouges by Packard and they are sold as pen turners tools. I also have several tools by Pinnacle and they are sold as mini tools. There are a lot out there with rather short tool lengths advertised for the mini and midi lathe use.

The Wolverine jig unit where the tool goes is about 3-1/2" wide so if you put a 4" tool in it, you only have 1/2" sticking out. This unit was designed evidentally for the larger tools that have a 7" to 10" tool length.
 
Lankford:
I solve the tool handle hitting the vee arm problem by putting a small angle iron spacer in the bottom of the pocket to elevate the pivot end of the vari-grind. I don't have any solutions for the short tool problem other than learning to grind it free hand.

Ken Cawley
Powell River, B.C.
 
I built my own wooden versions of the Ellsworth jig. Mine is narrower from front to back so it works with shorter tools. Mine also have a V in the bottom similar to the Wolverine so it works with narrower tools as well. My only problem is the spring steel I use to push down on the tool is too wide so really small tools won't be held. I'm thinking about putting the tightening screw on the bottom and then making a moveable V to both push on the tool and align it.
 
I would definately say most sharpening jigs are design for 3/8" and greater diameters and more than 5" or overall shaft.

Smaller tools, I have always rigged the jig with a spacer, or hand sharpened.
What type of tool (spindle gouge, scraper, bowl gouge, skew) are you trying to sharpen? Maybe we can help figure it out for you.
 
Thanks for the help. I decided to buy a few longer tools for the fingernail spindle gouge and Ellsworth bowl grind. And in the future I hope to make my own jig similar to the Ellsworth. At least at the head with a tool holder short enough to handle the short tools. I may be able to modify the tru-grind jig with a new top specifically for short tools.
I can do some machining. In addition to my wood lathes I also have the Sherline metal lathe and their milling machine. For bigger work I have a big metal lathe. All this stuff is great to have, but I want to do some wood turning instead of spending all my time modifying tools.
 
I would say that is part of the reason that I went to replaceable handles (like Oneway/Hosaluk, and Trent Bosch). You can use more of tool, because when you go to sharpen, you can get all the way to the end if you remove it from the handle.
 
This has nothing to do with your problem really but I agree about the original Tru-Grind being hard to tighten. I also noticed that the flat piece with the threaded shaft was spinning on mine. My tightening knob was a black metal knurled thing. While visiting with the CSUSA people at a recent show I noticed now they have a brass knob with big notchs in it to get a better grip. I mentioned about mine slipping and they agreed that it should not do that, so they sent me one of the new ones at no charge. Classy company!

Of course, I had also stood there and gave my testimonial about how great the Tru-Grind was and they sold several to the crowd I was speaking with. I have used the Wolverine and the Tru-Grind, I prefer the Tru-Grind by far. Midi sized tools, no real clue on how to sharpen them if they are that short.
 
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