Thread: Sharpening idea (from FWW magazine)

Sounds interesting, I shall buy a copy.
btw its not hard to reverse a single phase motor!

Arron

The sharpening system you refer to seems an awful lot of work to go to unless you are keen to build your own (Incidentally all, my copy of FWW arrived on Friday, 5th).

I know how you feel about sharpening, Arron. It is the least inspiring area of woodworking for me. Nothing Zen about it. I, too, would love to find a short-cut. I have looked at several machines, even own a few. No, not the Tormek, but I do have a cheap slow-speed vertical wet grinder that I have tuned up until it works well. I actually prefer my high-speed grinder (but you do need to work carefully!).

There are many admirers of the Tormek here, so I must choose my words carefully. First off, I would have one if someone gave it to me. But I don't think that I would buy one unless I was a keen turner. Why? Because it will do a great job of preparing the type of blades I use in woodworking (planes and chisels) but it it will not provide a finished product to my desired standard. It sharpens to 1000 grit, which is where I begin with waterstones. Yes you are expected to use the strop after this, but this just polishes the 1000 grit surface. The blade edges feel superfically sharp, but they are much rougher than if correctly sharpened through the grits to 6000 or 8000. I have played with the Tormek and experienced this for myself. I would not be happy with a blade in one of my planes. I might add that I am not alone in this assertion. Still, the Tormek system is raved about by its followers.

So the bottom line is that you would be expected to sharpen your blades anyway (in my case on waterstones).

What I like about the Tormek, and other grinders, is the capacity to create a hollow grind, which is where you will save sharpening time since you have less area to work on. This, however, does not apply to Japanese and other laminated blades.

If you really want a good horizontal grinder, look at the Veritas one.

Otherwise save your efforts for sharpening. I share your pain.

Regards from Perth

Derek

You'd be happy to know derek, that I gave freehand sharpening a go on the weekend. I practiced for an hour or so and whiel it was difficult, I figure if I can teach my hands to play a guitar accurately then I can hold a blade at a consistent angle.

Twas just so so so much quicker that setting up a jig. The results werent that bad either. I may just stick with it.

Good on ya Lefty

Once you get the hang of it, - it's like riding a bike - never forget

I've tried SS and a few others as well. I use a uni-jig for spindle gouges and to clean up my skews when I'm not happy with them but thats it. The uni-jig tool rest is permantly fitted to the grinder (8" 60g white wheel) . Use an angle guide when I need to but all other grinding is done by hand - takes seconds. Ooops use a jig to hold the blades on the jointer.

I inherited a white wheeled wet grinder a couple of months back and although I've turned it on - it hasn't seen a tool yet and am starting to wonder if it will. Feel it might be one of those toys that's a "nice to have" but not used very often - we'll see.

FWIW

[QUOTE=derekcohen]Arron

I know how you feel about sharpening, Arron. It is the least inspiring area of woodworking for me. Nothing Zen about it.


Call me strange, :eek: but I don't actually mind a bit of sharpening to relax the mind. (except when I'm impatient to finish a project!) I could easily spend an hour pottering around the shed at night just watching the blade slide rythmically over the surface of the waterstone...

Call me strange

Dion, you're strange.

However I know what you mean. Much of the time I am just too impatient to sharpen and sharpen. But I do have days like that inbetween projects, just getting everything back in order. Mainly I get my zen when I create lovely, thin, gossamer shavings with my planes.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[QUOTE=Dion N]

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Call me strange, :eek: but I don't actually mind a bit of sharpening to relax the mind.

With you, Dion - When I'm feeling agitated or brain-dead, I sometimes wander out to the toolbox and select a bunch of planes or chisels that need some TLC. Doing a mindless, repetetive task seems to soothe the troubled brow.
However, like Derek, I also hate to stop in the middle of something and tend to push on with blades that are well past their peak.
Also with you on Tormeks, Derek. Grossly overpriced and over-rated. But the friend who's machine I've tried swears by it. Too damn slow for this impatient wood-butcher.
Cheers,

I have three concerns about the design in FWW.
Firstly how do you make an electricaly safe wet grinder in the home workshop?
Secondly where will you obtain a slow speed gear motor & how much will it cost?
Thirdly the body and tool rest seem to be made of timber (i may be mistaken) this would present durability problems even without the water involved.

There are a number of things that may seem feesable in the states the land of army surplus & low mains voltages, but hear? i dont think so.

there are a number of wet grinder units on the market at reasonable prices, I would expect less than the price of a decent gearmotor.

cheers