DIY gouge jigs

I raised DIY gouge jigs in the thread on Free hand grinding or a jig started by Auscab.

It's been awhile since there has been a dedicated thread on DIY gouge jigs, so thought it might be useful to bring together what I have on the topic and to get some contribution from other forum members on the topic.

This thread is neither a discussion on freehand vs jig sharpening… nor a pole on your favourite commercially available gouge jig, thanks... just DIY designs for anyone who would like to have a go at making their own.

There are two basic styles of gouge jig, the simplest design is David Ellsworth's jig (on right) and the swing leg type (on left)...

Attachment 501357
Image by Bill Boehme on Woodworking Talk

The Ellsworth jig has a fixed leg angle.

Attachment 501358
https://www.mendocinowoodturnersguild.org/wp-content/uploads/TheEllsworth-SharpeningJig.pdf

This is how you use that style of DIY Ellsworth jig…

Attachment 501359
http://scalaire00.free.fr/images/gif/gabarit2.gif

If you prefer to make your own out of metal…

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here are the instructions on how that one can be made..

https://www.instructables.com/Sharpening-Jig-for-Woodturning-Gouges/

Another DIY version in metal…

Attachment 501361

And, there are many versions that can be made out of wood…

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1f13BzI9Wuwqtd98g8q2ZuH_kZ0jkfbS2HmFtYyTEaUk/preview

Another set of instructions...

http://stwt.org/pdf/king%20heiple%20sharp%20jig.pdf

Different leg lengths and angles give different edge profiles. The slide position is what sets the bevel angle.

Early on I made some Ellsworth jigs out of wood (plus a metal machine screw) but they don't allow for the same flexibility as the swing leg type that can achieve a wider range of edge profiles with the one jig.

I made one to fit a gouge that wouldn't fit into any of the commercial jigs available at the time.

Attachment 501362

Swing leg style

See the attached plan for making an adjustable leg jig version in wood by Jean Michel and also a website address for that… http://scalaire00.free.fr/images/atelier/affutage/gabarit1.jpg

A few examples of swing leg jigs made from wood…

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfmIv0iXjis" target="_blank"><font color="#1155CC"><span style="font-family: Arial">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfmIv0iXjis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfmIv0iXjis


And, here...

https://www.lumberjocks.com/projects/22480

If you have the skills to make one in metal, use the dimensions from Jean Michel.

The following metal one is a DIY version made locally (not by me)...

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You can also make your own slides…

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https://www.lumberjocks.com/assets/pictures/reviews/238972.jpg

I also just drilled holes in a fixed arm when I knew where I wanted them to be…

Attachment 501371

For those who use the 40/40 grind, Peter Miao has developed a jig to hold the gouge at the correct ‘rotation’ to the platform (i.e. for maintaining the lower side of the flute parallel to platform while grinding the wings) for which there is no commercial jig. It is hard to see that angle of rotation while grinding and getting that right is the most difficult aspect of doing the 40/40 grind, IME. I haven’t used the jig myself, but can see the value of it for those wanting to try that grind for the first time or as an occasional check to see that the correct rotation has been maintained.

https://www.petermiao.com/news/2017/11/11/a-jig-for-4040-grind

Anyone have another DIY gouge jig design to share with us?

Can this be made a sticky please?
On my gunna list but I’ll have trouble finding it if it’s not a sticky.
H

A couple of DIY slides, one in wood the other in metal. Obvious enough... getting the distance for the slide/pivot point below the centre of the wheel can be found in the various instruction manuals for the commercial offerings that can be found online.

Attachment 511956
In wood

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In metal

This one I knocked up out of a protractor set and copied the Woodcut bottom end . Its now with a young fella just starting out in turning

Took me awhile to find this one. The Woodcut jig I used for many years and always found the gouge clamping set up a total PITA and IMHO its a bad design, so this what I came up with.

Awesome inspiration. Here's mine, was going to be a prototype but became permanent!

Probably not a perfect angle but since making this I seem to be losing a lot less length off my gouge.

Attachment 514859

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hughie

Took me awhile to find this one. The Woodcut jig I used for many years and always found the gouge clamping set up a total PITA and IMHO its a bad design, so this what I came up with.

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Thanks Hughie for sharing your mod.

For those who are not familiar with the original, here it is...

Attachment 514875

As you can see, not an easy screw to quickly grasp and tighten.

I know which one I would prefer to use...:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NeilS

For those who are not familiar with the original, here it is...

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Hehe. Not only am I familiar with 'em, it was the first grinding jig I bought & the only one I have left. I'm not sure where my other jigs have wandered off to, but the Woodcut has always lived at my sharpening station for when I need it.

(Admittedly, that's probably just because I had it when I built the grinding station so it's customised for the jig. If, instead, 'twas one of the others built in like that then that one'd probably be the one I still have. Even so, I can confidently say that at no stage was I so enamoured of a new jig that I considered replacing the Woodcut with it. :shrug:)

I love Hughies mod, it addresses the biggest fault (imo) with the Woodcuts. All things considered, I think they were the best value for money at the time and cheap enough at that to be forgiven it's minor pecadilloes.

This one is the most useful jigs have made, its for the flat plate quick touch up set up that I like to use often as its quick and easy bit a bit of a pain to change angles quickly and accurately . This does the job really well and I customized ti to suit my angles plus the there room for additional set up angles if needed. 3mm Ali cut out on the bandsaw literally a 5 minute jig could easily be in wood or similar, currently its for my main grind 200mm wheels.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Silver Capsicum

Here's mine, was going to be a prototype but became permanent!

Probably not a perfect angle but since making this I seem to be losing a lot less length off my gouge.

Attachment 514859

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I'm all for prototyping, SC... and if it works, why improve it!

With the fixed arm style you can always make other ones readily enough for other bevel angles.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hughie

This one is the most useful jig have made, its for the flat plate quick touch up set up that I like to use often as its quick and easy bit a bit of a pain to change angles quickly and accurately . This does the job really well and I customized ti to suit my angles plus the there room for additional set up angles if needed. 3mm Ali cut out on the bandsaw literally a 5 minute jig could easily be in wood or similar, currently its for my main grind 200mm wheels.

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Hughie

Very professional looking!

And definitely a big step up from my motley collection in plywood...:(

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by NeilS

Hughie

Very professional looking!

And definitely a big step up from my motley collection in plywood...:(

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It was the motley collection I was dreading :U