Thread: Great New Toy

Originally Posted by Jim Carroll

Brendan obviously the Hype has worked as you are now purchasing one when there is obviously no need for one as you have all the other brands of jigs and fixtures available.

This is what hype does.

Have also ordered some for me and the shop as I am keen to see how they work and if there is going to be any real benefit to the end user.

One flaw I have noticed with the skew jig is that there is no allowance for the 10 degree angle to suit the vicmac dovetail angle.

Waiting for answers on other questions.

Peter as indicated I think with the setup you have on the tormek there would be no real benefit in changing over.

This will be targeted at those that dont have any set up or are ready to improve on what they have.

Yep, the hype has worked by creating a lot of interest in this product, but give me a little more credit Jim. I'm buying one not because I was sucked in by the hype but because I need another jig and I need to see and try them first before I invest in stock. I would've found out about this product regardless of any air-time on this forum.

I look forward to seeing how good they are.

I will look at this as an addition to the craft/hobby that I have chosen.

I will have to add it to my list of things to keep an eye out for. So far I think I have over 20 eyes out.

Originally Posted by Sturdee

The only improvement to the setup would be getting new CBN wheels but that will have to wait until the wide white wheels on my 6" Creusen grinder wears down enough to justify them.

I think we have the same grinder, and the same upgrade plans

But always keen to learn about new equipment, even if I'm not in the market for it right now. Never know when someone will ask for advice, and it's better to be up to speed with the newest stuff out there.

I'm a strong supporter of buy Australian & Queensland (& even Kiwi) made so it is very good to see a manufacturer developing and manufacturing wood turning tools here & I hope they get plenty of support. Vicmarc & Vermec both make high quality tools that work well and are worth the slight cost premium in my book.

As for being new & revolutionary well all pivoting jigs are variations of the ball ended goniostat adapted for use with a powered grinder. The goniostat goes well back in turning history into at least the 1700's and perhaps earlier and was also in use in lapidary applications.

I'm not particularly in favour of single point pivot and handle end sharpening jigs as they present hazards to the user if they are not used correctly and more particularly when the jig pivot starts to wear and or if the locking devices are not secured correctly. The hazard is created by locking clamps moving; the heel of the pivot moving from the support hole or not being located/seated correctly allowing the tool to move down the wheel surface untill the tool is either jambed against the moving wheel and slammed downwards or thrown sideways. Both actions can be quite violent when the device is used with conventional grinders. Pivoting jigs are a very handy tool for accurately replicating preferred tool grinds but require a degree of skill and concentration to use safely. (Mike Darlow covers jigs quite well in "Woodturning Techniques")

The Vicmarc jig does address these issues quite well as it appears to be very robust with good locking systems and has a very well designed pivot stop compared to similar competitors products.

Now as for a game changer, well it may be a very good pivioting sharpening system, but I think I will be sticking to my Heligrind and Tormek jig systems.

Nothing like a thread discussing sharpening options to get the argument juices flowing.

What I'd like is 'something' to sharpen my tools 'sharp' which doesn't take a lot of time and conserves steel. This new Vicmarc jig 'seems' like it's okay. A game changer it is not. Not unless it sharpens 'sharp', gets the job done quick and conserves steel.

Brendan, I look forward to your review on Youtube.

Mobyturns makes some very pertinent comments about this jig.

I have always been a little concerned by the flimsy tool holding
Methods used by some jigs. Years ago I bought a Heligrind But have
hardly used it for this ery reason. THe desifn is sound but the
execution of the design is lacking in this one area,

Many of the jigs on the market remind me of the line from that
qonderful bokk"1066 and All That" ---- a good thing but a bad king.

Hmmm, another grinding jig set up in an already crowded market. I won't be buying one, but will check out at the next Symposium I go to. Since I haven't seen it in person, I can only guess. I don't really see anything that is an improvement over any of the others out there. The gouge jigs seem to be rather large compared to Oneway and the Ellsworth jigs that I am familiar with. The platform looks to be the same. Well, I do need to see them.

One thing I am curious about. I have Vicmark chucks, and love the dove tail on them. I measured once a long time ago, and I thought the angle was 7 degrees, which is what is recommended for dove tails in joinery. Is it 10 or 7?

robo hippy

...for me the hype was a put off. Just put the thing on the market and let me make up my own mind.

But looking at the instruction manual from an engineering angle it impresses. OK its bigger than my Trugrind and a bit heavier I dont see that as a negative. The method of locking certainly will hold with a great deal of pressure and that cant be bad. It is definitely an improvement on my Trugrind. The grinding station is the only part that interests me at the moment having the other jig.

As to safety, in all these things there is measure of learning and appreciating the risks involved. As we are familiar with the need to sharpen and sharpen often. I would expect this particular jig, not to add any greater risks than other models, but time will tell.

All in all it looks well made and solid, characteristics of a good jig and typical of the Vicmarc attitude to quality. I see no reason why it wont be a success, this is sight unseen and would love to have a play with it.

Brendan look forward to your comments and any comparisons you care to offer up.

Originally Posted by robo hippy

One thing I am curious about. I have Vicmark chucks, and love the dove tail on them. I measured once a long time ago, and I thought the angle was 7 degrees, which is what is recommended for dove tails in joinery. Is it 10 or 7?

robo hippy

10 degrees

I've seen the item(s), it is a 'better mouse trap.'

If you already have a trap that catches mice, you may not buy it.

I have a Unijig 5 & a Hiturn that I bought in 1999 & I have adapted both to suit me & my situation so I don't need to buy it.

If somebody was asking my opinion on what to get or I lost all my tools in a fire/cyclone/robbery, then this is what I would recommend to others & buy for myself.

After chatting to and perusing the pdf manual, I'm definitely up for one of these as soon as they're on sale.
I don't have one at all yet, and if the Vicmarc is both a little cheaper and a little better than the Tru-Grind, I'm in.

Given it's been a few months now, does anyone have anymore thoughts on this jig? I'll be in the market for my first sharpening jig soon so will be tossing up between the Tru Grind and this one, and reading so far it will be most likely the Vicmarc by the sound of things.

Originally Posted by ubute

Given it's been a few months now, does anyone have anymore thoughts on this jig? I'll be in the market for my first sharpening jig soon so will be tossing up between the Tru Grind and this one, and reading so far it will be most likely the Vicmarc by the sound of things.

This was a lot of hype over nothing, wasn't it?
I was waiting for Brendan's promised review, but I think it's been forgotten.

In the end, I decided on the Gary Pye jig, purely based on cost, since I have no way of comparing the Vicmarc to the others.

Originally Posted by Hermit

This was a lot of hype over nothing, wasn't it?
I was waiting for Brendan's promised review, but I think it's been forgotten.

In the end, I decided on the Gary Pye jig, purely based on cost, since I have no way of comparing the Vicmarc to the others.

Hmm, the Gary Pye jig looks a lot like the Oneway Wolverine with the Vari-grind. Pretty decent price too. I'm assuming you're pretty happy with it?