Thread: crown tools

My first bowl gouge was a Crown, which I have sharpened for over 10 years with an 8 inch dry white 120 grit stone on a 1725 RPM grinder, using the Wolverine System: https://www.ebay.com/i/233241260903?...SABEgIi7vD_BwE

In a weak moment I bought a used Tormek with all the jigs, sharpened the Crown on it, and promptly cut myself. The Tormek puts a razor sharp edge on everything, great for knives, plane irons, bench chisels. On a lathe tool that wonderful edge is gone in 15 seconds. Useful for the final skim cut with a scraper on a bowl, etc., but worth the price just for turning tools?????

There are long discussions about sharpening, CBN wheels, Diamond wheels, fast vs slow grinders, on this site. Do a search.

Knowing what I have learned over time, and starting from scratch, I would again get a slow speed dry grinder, and buy the Tormek bar and jigs. I have not used a CBN or diamond wheel, so can't comment on that. There are many paths to the same place, and each of us has to sort our own way.

Originally Posted by Paul39

In a weak moment I bought a used Tormek with all the jigs, sharpened the Crown on it, and promptly cut myself. The Tormek puts a razor sharp edge on everything, great for knives, plane irons, bench chisels. On a lathe tool that wonderful edge is gone in 15 seconds. Useful for the final skim cut with a scraper on a bowl, etc., but worth the price just for turning tools?????

Paul has put his thumb on it, so to speak.

If you also have plane blades, knives and/or other (non-turning) chisels you need to sharpen, then I'd say "go for it."

For 'only' turning tools it's wasted effort, IMO.

Mind you, there are areas when razor sharp chisels can be an advantage to a turner but, in general, usually it's the professional that gets any benefit from them. Cindy Drozda, for example, for her finials. Or Ken Wraight,(sp?) with his delicate designs.

If you gotta ask whether you need one though, you're not at that point.

2 Crown gouges have arrived! They are big and chunky, looking forward to giving them a turn

and ordered the skewchigouge!
it has arrived but i have not used it yet.
thoughts of those who have???????

Originally Posted by brainstrust

and ordered the skewchigouge!
it has arrived but i have not used it yet.
thoughts of those who have???????

it's interesting!!! haven't given it a good try yet.
no idea how to sharpen it with that curve!!!