Another Homemade Blade Sharpener

**rodm** · 10th May 2005, 07:07 PM

I have used this as an exercise to practice my lathe and milling skills and had this not been the case I would not have built a dedicated machine like this. I am also in the process of making a jig for sharpening lathe bits to try to expand its use.
I posted on the metalwork thread a while back the making of an aluminum drum for the strop. The project is nearing completion and will be ready for Derek’s sharpening workshop on the 21st.
You will see from the photos there are two sanding discs a 230mm for shaping and a 150mm for honing. Both discs are fitted with velcro so grit changes are quick and easy.
To use it a blade is fixed to the holder which is hinged so that the bevel angle can be adjusted before and during sharpening. The blade is clamped with the back edge against the holder and the bevel towards the sander. This takes out the error if there is a taper in the blade. Note also that the end of the blade can be flush with the holder so it is supported during grinding and this also serves as a heat sink. The blade holder slides on the rail so it can be passed across the disc or to the smaller disc for honing. The lower rail is used for parking the holder.
The unit is driven by a ¾ HP motor and a reduction pulley has been used to lower the spindle speeds to 820 RPM. The discs are mounted on two 5/8 workheads and on the other end of these is the drive and the drum stropper.
The carcass is made from 6mm aluminum checker plate with steel corner bracing.
I use 120 on the larger disc to shape the bevel and then over to the 150mm disc and run through a few grades up to 1200. The drum stropper will provide the final hone but at the moment I am using a felt disc on a grinder. If you want to know how well it works then come along to Derek’s workshop.
The pictures will show it better than I can describe it.

**rodm** · 10th May 2005, 07:11 PM

And another photo. This is still a "work in progress" and I have to make a guard for the drum strop and a rest. I will replace all the wing nuts with turned knobs and also a bit of general tidying up to go yet.

**routermaniac** · 10th May 2005, 08:14 PM

looks impressive! Some very good work there.

**NewLou** · 10th May 2005, 09:45 PM

Handy Rodm....................Well Done !!!

keep us posted on how she performs was there anything you'd do differently or was construction smooth sailing????

REgards LoU

**rodm** · 10th May 2005, 10:01 PM

The construction was far from smooth sailing. The blade holder is mark 4 and has changed dramatically from mark 1 which I have attached a photo. Mark 1 was to work on a tee slot and be advanced to the disc at a constant angle.

The shallow angle between the blade holder and disc means that you either clamp the blade well forward of the holder or you have to design with very tight tolerances.

I am going to do mark 5 after the sharpening workshop which will be similar design to my earlier post but micro adjustable.

Thanks for the comments.

**Cliff Rogers** · 10th May 2005, 10:16 PM

Maaaatttteeeee...... F'n Awesome!

Does it work?

**Vasco** · 10th May 2005, 11:58 PM

Well done Rod,
that is one hell of an effort. I wouldn't like to add up the hours you have spent on putting this together. There must be alot of satisfaction in making a machine that works. Especially having to use your metal lathe and milling machine. I am looking forward to seeing this in action. I have already put my chisels asside for testing

Cheers.
See you soon.
Vasco

**derekcohen** · 11th May 2005, 02:55 AM

And another photo.

Gee Rod, I'm not sure what to say. The last pic you posted makes it look like one of those Roman war machines, you know the ones that hurled the huge boulders through the air. I have this vision of chisels flying while we cower in the corner, someone pinned by his collar to the door, another with a reverse-Mohican haircut. Are you sure this thing is safe! Do I need to lock up the cat?

Lots of work there, I know (and for all here, Rod and I have communicated about his progress for some weeks, and I know the trials and tribulations that have gone into the design and construction). Looking forward to seeing it in the ... uhhh ... flesh.

Regards

Derek

**rodm** · 11th May 2005, 11:37 AM

Derek,
Think of the benefits, a catapult for taming unruly woodies or better still a feral cat eradicator.

Safe? In the hands of the unskilled this is as safe as a child in a china shop.
From this day forth the rotating disc thingy will be so named Roman Tosser.

**ryanarcher** · 11th May 2005, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

Maaaatttteeeee...... F'n Awesome!

Does it work?

ditto! ( and unlike cliff, i rarely use the f word

) but it truly is f'n awesome!

**ryanarcher** · 11th May 2005, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Gee Rod, I'm not sure what to say. The last pic you posted makes it look like one of those Roman war machines, you know the ones that hurled the huge boulders through the air.
Regards

Derek

Derek,

Trebuchet?

**JDarvall** · 11th May 2005, 05:06 PM

clever bugger..... lovely

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