Thread: Hand-cranked grinder

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Is there anyone else here who uses a hand grinder? The only thing which concerns me a little is that it looks like it would be tricky to get a nice square grind with only one hand for control. I don't plan on buying a jig, though I've no objection to making one down the track.

Christopher Schwarz on his blog demonstrates such a grinder with a 1/4" chisel, but I wonder whether it might be trickier with a 2" iron. I also notice he uses a wider wheel; would this aid in registration perhaps?

Eddie, Krenov shows a simple and easy to make jig he used in one of his books (maybe The Impractical Cabinetmaker). It is basically a lump of wood straddling the wheel, if I remember correctly. I did make up something similar to try at some time and I seem to remember it worked as well as anything else I attempted.

If you'd like I'll photocopy the pages and pop it in the package.

Jmk89 supplied this link to me previously

Also his own page has a rest here

Thanks Pacman, the link to Logan Cabinet Shoppe was especially enlightening. It's a complete treasure-trove, especially for a beginner, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone else - not just on sharpening, but also bench building, restoring tools and a number of other things I'm currently working on.

Incidentally, he shows a technique of "chasing the burr"; working on side for ten strokes, then on the back for ten strokes, and so on back and forth until the burr disappears. All on the finest stone. This isn't really practical with a honing guide, which I hope to be free of once I get myself a grinder, but I'm still interested to know what others make of it?

Hi Eddie,

After reading this article from Joel, I have changed my method for grinding for a few years now. With a crowned wheel, it is a lot more forgiving when grinding with 1 hand. I am far from being an expert in sharpening, but I am getting very good results based on Joel's method.

For 1 hand grinding, I believe a stable and wide tool rest is very important. In the Veritas tool rest, I especially appreciate how it extends beyond the stone which allows me to move the blade side to side in uniform manner. If you build a tool rest, consider that design.

Off the grinder, I freehand my thicker blades (planes & chisels) because the bevel affords me a stable surface on the waterstone.

For thinner plane blades, I use the vise-type honing guide and setting my angles based on this article.

Good hunting mate and all the best.

Regards,

Gunn

Hi Eddie

Most wheels are likely to be very worn and not reflect the size the hand grinder can use. I was able to use a 6" on mine.

Also, the blade rest is always tossed away (useless). Either make your own or add the Veritas.

Note that a hand-driven grinder is quite capable of burning a blade if you crank up the speed!

Here is a video of Alf (in the UK) using her grinder (before sharpening) ...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8CPbZg8PGo]Sharpening a plane iron freehand - YouTube[/ame]

Regards from Perth

Derek