Thread: Learning to Wood Turn re sharpening chisels

Jerry, sharpening turning tools is an individual preference. I have the tormek and use the gouge jig at either No 2 (45°) or No 3 (40°) for my normal bowl gouges.
If you have a few of the same size bowl gouges try them at the different setting and see which is better for you.

Your mate most probably ground the bevels to the angle that he uses, which is totally understandable.

So the choice is yours, try to replicate the original bevel, if you like that or regrind on a spark grinder to a tormek setting. Personally I'll never regrind a bevel on a tormek or other slow speed wet grinders, as I have better things to do with 4 hours

Jerry the advantage of using the jigs is to get repeatability. It is no good having your mates angles unless you have the ability to reproduce that same angle.

Use the jigs all the time will make it easier for you, once you are confident with this then have a play with different angles, some you may like some you may not.

Thanks very much Pat & Jim

Since posting I have come to the same conclusion as you Jim. As my tools blunt I will sharpen them to the setting Tormek suggest and see how I go, as you say I can then repeat the settings.

Cheers Jerryj

Jerry, just to emphasise the repeatability, I 'm in the middle of turning a little Yellow Box Burl bowl. The edge on the much vaunted Thompson 10v bowl gouge lasts about the 2 minute mark, 20 - 30 seconds later a refreshed edge by whacking it in the jig, turn on the torment, remove from the jig, back turning.

About 10 seconds is the cursory glance to confirm I got the chisel in the jig correctly and the edge is sharp again

Yes Pat error does occur, but it minimises the down time and chances of the stuff up fairy visiting.

I've had softer concrete than this piece of Burl.

Repeatability is the key. The jigs - Tormek and otherwise - ensure you at least have a consistent starting point. Learning how to turn is hard enough without learning how to sharpen free-hand.

Good to see Pat you've acquired a Tormek. Remember to bring your jigs up over Xmas, should have both a black and grey wheel machines ready and waiting.

a comprimised angle of 45degrees is the recomended angle for all but specialised tools regards dale

There is a tool made by General (USA), used by machinists to measure the tip angles on drill bits. Works just as well for wood carving and turning tools. I got a set of no-name, midsized (no more than 30cm long) lathe tools in a very nice tool roll. NO IDEAS of bevel angles = measure them one by one and sharpen. Quite easy.

I sharpen turning tools for other people and they keep coming back. Easy. Just keep a record of the tool and the bevel angle. I did a big Sorbey turning gouge, bevel was 60 degrees.
My preference is to do any tool at the bevel angle to maximize relaibility and performance. From a Porsche 301 kitchen knife to a 40degree, knot-buster firmer chisel. All the same to me.