Thread: Sharpening turning tools: some comments on Hock's new book

Ern,
I am fairly new to turning so after reading a few books by the likes of Raffin and Rowley I just followed the advice they give and sharpen gouges and scrapers on a dry white wheel freehand. I know the edge is not the best but it is quick and it gets by. Skews and parting tools get a lick on an oilstone as I like a better edge on them. This is still quick to do. I got a Sheppach wet grinder over a year ago with the woodturners jigs, expecting my sharpening dreams fullfilled. It does a mean edge on a gouge but setting up time for all the different gouges takes way too long for my likeing. I was soon back at the dry grinder. There is a need for a real good edge for final cutting and if tearout is present but for the bulk of the work the dry grind method works for me. Even with bench chisels and plane irons where a razor edge is required I am finding myself drifting back to the oilstone and only use the wet wheel for serious regrinds of the primary bevel. The wet wheel does a fine job but takes time to set up for each tool. It is great if you have old battered tools to restore. I just prefer turning to sharpening so less time on one is more time on the other.
Regards
John

Yep John, whatever trade-off works for you, no argument from me.

I also dislike the time wasted in jig setups but take time out from turning when I'm lacking creative energy to do tool 'house keeping' with a bunch at a time. While in the flow often just refresh an edge with a lick of a fine diamond hone.

Ern,
I know what you mean, I often have a shappening day when nothing else is happening. I was just shown the oilstone as a young bloke and that is the natural retreat.
I will have to check out dimond stones one of those days.
Regards
John

I also dislike the time wasted in jig setups but take time out from turning when I'm lacking creative energy to do tool 'house keeping' with a bunch at a time. While in the flow often just refresh an edge with a lick of a fine diamond hone.

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Yep go along with that.

Sometimes I just go through all the tools and sharpen them and take my time finishing with the diamond hone.On those infrequent days I hardly ever do any turning.

Originally Posted by rsser

....I also dislike the time wasted in jig setups but take time out from turning when I'm lacking creative energy to do tool 'house keeping' with a bunch at a time. While in the flow often just refresh an edge with a lick of a fine diamond hone.

Nailed it for me.

I also tend to do rust checkups on those house keeping days too.

Clean up & treat any spots on the shafts & flutes. (Rust, dings etc)

Buff & polish the flutes & shafts, coat them with Trad Wax.

Inspect tips & sort the ones that need heavy grinding to fix dings or change angles etc & the grind them on the Blue wheel.

Sharpen them all on the Pink wheel & as each is finished, the tip is treated to some more Trad Wax.

I tend to just hone with a diamond hone(s) when I pick it up to use it.

As I use it I will give it a touch up with a hone.

What I think is happening when we do a lick with a stone or hone is that we are just creating a burr, not sharpening the tool.

This edge doesn't last long as the burr breaks down and we have not removed the wear bevel (ie. the rounding over of the point that was created by the intersection of two planes).

Ern, a great early morning read.

Given some of the preceeding remarks about the slowness of the wet grinding system, I must get out to the shed and check and time it.

If I'm using my favourite 3/8 bowl gouge on the no 2 setting on the Tormek (and the bar is already set on "A"), I reckon a re-sharpen is pretty quick and well worth the effort. A few steps, gouge into the jig, depth set with the jig to 65mm and away we go. Three or so passes on the black stone and we are done. I don't bother to use the honing paste unless I'm feeling anal.

Ern your Blog is a good read.

I'm glad you gave Darlow a mention. His books and videos are top notch with very clear and readable text and instructions. I am sure the Tormek angle setting jig is an evolution of a basic, but excellent, jig designed by Darlow.

The plans for this jig are in the book you mention. In fact they are presented so that you can copy them, glue them to some ply and cut them out. Couldn't be much easier!

Thanks for the feedback.

I'll write some additions soon on what Lee's ch covers that's of use and missing from Hock.

Yes, Darlow covers the mechanics of cutting as well as honing (old school) and grinder and linisher-based sharpening.

Darlow's writing seems to have impressed Lee too.

Good blog, Ern. Keep up the good work.

Thanks Ed.

I've added a bit as promised on Lee vs Hock, tho it isn't intended as a comparo.

The more I return to Lee the more impressed I am tho still recommend beginners put the effort into studying Darlow and then turning to Lee.

Helpful review, thanks, Ern.

Interesting comment on Hock's assertions about grey wheels and water cooling. Must be a plane maker thing. Terry Gordon, the plane maker in Alstonville, my home town, is of like mind.

HNT Gordon - SHARPENING PROCESS

Far less an issue with HSS, which is mostly the case with both modern plane blades and turning tools.

As for the best method for sharpening various turning tools, I keep working at optimising my technique. Expect that will be the case until I stop turning. The Hock book may help me improve a bit more before it's too late....

.....

Ern and Neil

I always watch and respect your posts. So do others.

This sharpening business still confounds me. I try to sharpen the chisels at the local club and the flutes are all different..... On the Tormek of course. Hard work at times.

So, not trying to hijack the thread, why is it so hard?

A P & N bowl gouge needs more work on the front, Hamlet more on the wings.....

Damned hard for an ex-office worker.