Thread: slow speed grinder

For HSS...

+1 for full speed

If also sharpening non-HSS...

+1 for CBN

If doing a lot of sharpening, for economy...

+1 for CBN, as it will eventually pay for itself in reduced loss of good steel.


PS - no amount of bluing at the wheel will soften HSS, different story with carbon steels.


On tools...

As Skew has pointed out, most woodturning tool 'sets' are of a lesser quality. My view on them is, if you don't know what you really need, buy as cheap a set as you can find (eg W302 - WT-6 HSS Wood Turning Tools - 6 Piece Set | Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse) and be prepared to throw most of them away (usually into the back of a bottom drawer) as soon as you know what you really need.

One disadvantage of going cheap and nasty to begin with is that they might hold your learning process back. But, the advantage is that you will make the change sooner and buy quality individual tools, one tool at a time, and appreciate the difference when you are ready to know the difference.

for some reason i stopped getting notifications so didnt see much of this discussion...

i bought the carbatec 8 inch slow speed - along with their toolrest and basics turning tool rests

i bought a basic HSS set of lathe chisels from timbecon along with a diamond dresser for the alox wheels

not going to get the chance to unpack it all etc for a while, but it was surprisingly big at the showroom

Originally Posted by China

Why a slow speed grinder it is a new fashion, I have been wood turning for 45+years ( 5yrs as business) as have may others never had the need for slow speed grinder.

Woodwork/turning is like that. The number of techniques to carry out the same job are as varied as there are craftsmen...

There is no right way, there's the way you like to do it... Derek, though he probably doesn't know it, taught me that well over a decade ago.

You see I've been at it as long as you but a couple decades as a professional turner in Canada and I love slow speed grinders. I first rediscovered it, there is no new techniques there is only rediscovery of knowledge that was probably lost hundreds of years ago, in the early 80s and have been using it ever since. I would never go back to a regular grinder - ever. Mine spins from 1 to 3000rpms and I usually grind tools at about 200 or less, but rpm is less important than surface speed to that varies on diameter. When I was using 6" wheels it was about 300rpm.

To try to explain in writing isn't something I care to attempt, it would take pages and seems to offend the "experts" out there (not including you in that just in case you were thinking . Just past experience with trying to talk about it). The odd time I've shown someone, it takes about 15 mins and they're very surprised at how well it works and how easy by hand complex grinding can be.

But like I said if you like grinding at 3000rpm then that's fantastic. And if someone likes grinding at 1800 or 300, or likes to buff the ends that is also fantastic! As long as you're enjoying it.