Paul39
20th May 2009, 11:23 AM
Stuck my nose in a thrift shop and saw a bin of kitchen knives for .50 each.
Picked out two and bought them. At home took a couple of swipes on the course wheel with the sharp edge and cut back the tips a bit, then sharpened on the fine wheel.
Photos: 1. Knives as found.
2. All my parting tools, the top was my only one for years until I bought a box full of odd turning things and got the diamond tool at the bottom.
3. Tips from side, I grind free hand so angle varies. I start the tool high , then ease it down until it cuts.
4. Tips head on. You can see how small a cut they make.
5. Diamond tip grind, top is concave to conform to 8 inch / 203 mm wheel, bottom I take a curving swipe to make it convex. I try to keep the point at the widest part of the diamond. When it needs a touch up, I give it a touch on the side that brings it toward the center.
Most of my tools are carbon, so when turning I turn on the grinder located two feet to the right of the lathe bed and let it run. I do a few cuts, give the tool a swipe, do a few cuts, etc. With practice I have found I can get close enough grinding free hand. When I resume cutting I move the tool around a bit until the wood comes streaming off and it makes that nice hissing sound.
I have one Crown HSS bowl gouge, and I do use the jig for that.
Picked out two and bought them. At home took a couple of swipes on the course wheel with the sharp edge and cut back the tips a bit, then sharpened on the fine wheel.
Photos: 1. Knives as found.
2. All my parting tools, the top was my only one for years until I bought a box full of odd turning things and got the diamond tool at the bottom.
3. Tips from side, I grind free hand so angle varies. I start the tool high , then ease it down until it cuts.
4. Tips head on. You can see how small a cut they make.
5. Diamond tip grind, top is concave to conform to 8 inch / 203 mm wheel, bottom I take a curving swipe to make it convex. I try to keep the point at the widest part of the diamond. When it needs a touch up, I give it a touch on the side that brings it toward the center.
Most of my tools are carbon, so when turning I turn on the grinder located two feet to the right of the lathe bed and let it run. I do a few cuts, give the tool a swipe, do a few cuts, etc. With practice I have found I can get close enough grinding free hand. When I resume cutting I move the tool around a bit until the wood comes streaming off and it makes that nice hissing sound.
I have one Crown HSS bowl gouge, and I do use the jig for that.