sharpening jig

[Alanp]

Hi all i am brand new on here and to wood turning firstly is everyone on here raving mad and is it contagious .
now seriously i haven't yet sharpened any of my chisels , but i am dreading the time when i need to,what jig do people recommend i have seen so many on the tinternet i don't know which one to go for..

Alan

 

[Penpal]

Most everyone I know has commenced sharpening their chisels by hand using a double end grinder there are many techniques and guages to assist costs are minimal. Assistace is easily found at Wood Groups vand Clubs or the assistace of a competent member of this forum worth seeking out first. Welcome and I trust you enjoy learning and making.

Peter from over here.

 

[Buckeye]

I use the Sorby Universal sharpening system. It does the job well.

Peter

 

[Twister]

i started out...not so long ago
i used a double ended grinder without any jigs
i thought i was doing ok
i had a turning lesson from Dalboy (Derek) and used his tools...ooh err missus
well the difference was miles apart and was left scratching my head as he also sharpened freehand on the grinder
i couldnt get close so took the plunge and bought the sorby proedge
all i can say is wow....what a bit of kit
downside is the initial expense

Steve

 

[rayf6604]

It largely depends on how much you're prepared to spend. I have a £50 bench grinder and a jig I got off eBay for £40 and it does the job. At the other end there is the Sorby pro edge at over £300. If you are prepared to spend that much I'd recommend getting the pro edge. However, if you haven't already seen it, Richard Raffans DVD called Turning Wood has a section on sharpening and he does everything on a simple bench grinder.

 

[PhillH]

You have a several choices here Alan, all depending on budget.

1. Buy a Sorby Pro-Edge, dogs wotsits for sharpeing all types of gouges, skews etc, price about 300 quid.
2 Buy the Tormek sharpening system, similar kind of cost.
3. There are a number of people producing jigs for sharpening on a (normally) 6 inch grinder, usually these run to about 30-40 quid, but won;t have the range the Pro-Edge will.
4. Free hand grind, best done with some tuition from someone who knows what they're doing. Although you can find a lot of good stuff on YouTube.

Options 3 & 4 need the bench grinder of course, again up to you how much you want to spend. You can get quite adequate machines for as little as 30 - 40 quid, machinemart do some (Clarke) and Aldi sometimes have one on special if you can wait.

Hope that helps a little.

 

[Jimjam66]

Ouch! Phil says "Tormek,system, similar kind of cost." Erm ... Try DOUBLE the cost.

I started out with a home-made jig on my belt sander, it chewed away my chisels at a frightening rate, and when I finally bought the Sorby I was blown away by the difference in sharpness. There are those, however, who can get a sharp edge without expensive kit. Just not me ....

 

[PhillH]

Ouch! Phil says "Tormek,system, similar kind of cost." Erm ... Try DOUBLE the cost.

Sorry, teach me not to research properly

 

[Vic Perrin]

I tried freehand when I first started but it didn't take me long to bodge up most of my chisels. Despite several attempts I just could not get the hang of doing them freehand. I eventually succumbed and brought myself a second hand Tormek. Over a period of time I brought the various jigs until I had the full set up. It cost an arm and a leg but at least I can get sharp tools with a profile to suit me. I use a diamond plate to touch the tools up by hand during a turning project and dress the chisels on the Tormek between projects. This works for me but there are other systems available that will do the same job.

Vic

 

[paulm]

Alan, if you'd like to come over I have a Tormek and a Sorbey Pro-edge and you can see the difference and how to use them. The option of a grinder was out with me as I am unable to sharpen anything unless I have a guide. The Tormek gets tools sharper which isn't necessary on most turning tools except the skew and the Sorbey is reliably quick to set up and use for any chisels. Pop over some time, I've got plenty of wood you can take away to have a play with as well.

 

[Woody]

I sharpened free hand for years on a slow grinder and would recommend you try that first it is the cheapest option get hold of some old cheep carbon chisels to practice with place your gouge to high on the grinder very lightly then draw it back till you see sparks start to come over the top edge then roll the chisel for scrappers present them at a 90 deg angle to the wheel that will sharpen the for you skew chisels use a diamond stone
Other than that for turning I would recommend the sorby pro edge I had to restock my workshop so I thought it would be good to try some thing new and got the pro edge and it is so easy its unbelievable good luck
Take Paul up on his offer you wont go far wrong there

 

[Dalboy]

As Steve said I sharpen freehand the thing is if you use a bench grinder is to be gentle don't overheat the tools. make a bigger tool rest as the ones that come with them is as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike. Also get to know the angles required for each tool, some you may even change to suit yourself.

Have a look at THIS by Brian Clifford

 

[chas_41_uk]

Plenty of choice give already. Buy the best you can afford

 

[silver]

I had my dad train me in sharpening all sorts of workshop tools, even the wood saw and set it as well..just refused to do the tennis saw..

He saw I had not got the "natural" knack and after many a thick ear he gave up and brought me a wolverine system as he believed he had not got enough time left on earth to see me do it right..

must admit it made me understand where I was going wrong.

So I mix doing with and without the jig, sure he would be proud of me now...

Never used anything else so didn't bother wedging out any of my hard earned..

 

[Grump]

As with Eamonn, I grew up with the short straw and had the goffer job, which meant honing on stones while sweeping the floor with a broom up my arse.
I still use the same stones.
Grinder for grinding and shaping, carborundum oils stones for honing.
Cannot advise on jigs and wheels as far as I am concerned they are a waste of money.
Others will argue if its the only way you can get a sharp tool then it is money well spent.
But they are so very wrong, that money would be better spent on naughty girls, fags and booze init?

 

[Jimjam66]

But they are so very wrong, that money would be better spent on naughty girls, fags and booze init?

Never had a fag in me life, don't got no money for booze because I have two naughty girls to chew through any spare ...

 

[PhillH]

I have two naughty girls to chew through any spare ...

Greedy sod, I can't keep up with just one !

 

[wm460]

But they are so very wrong, that money would be better spent on s, fags and booze init?

Dont smoke, make my own beer, the wife would rip my nuts off if she caught me with a naughty girl.

Happy Tormek owner.