tool sharpening jigs?

[cody michael]

i'm looking at different jigs. to sharpen all basic lathe tools other then a grinder what do you need?

would something like this be able to sharpen everything i need? bowl gouges rough gouges etc. etc.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001998/26299/Wolverine-Vari-Grind-2.aspx

money is tight. so if there is a cheaper set up that is worth the price and will work please point it out.

[Bernie Weishapl]

This is the unit most turners get including myself. These two will sharpen most all turning tools. I have used the one you show but just didn't feel comfortable with it.

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001998/2509/Wolverine-Grinding-Jig.aspx

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2001998/2511/Turner-s-FingernailSide-Grinding-Jig.aspx

[Harvey Ghesser]

Cody,

The wolverine jig is a must have, as is the vari-grind. They both make sharpening quick, easy and accurate. You don't want to spend your time in a state of frustration:o....you want to turn wood.:)

Harv

[David E Keller]

Ditto... Wolverine and vari-grind

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Generally speaking:

1. There are no sharp new turning tools. Even new tools need sharpening.

2. Turning with dull tools is the pits!

3. Learning to turn is tough enough!

4. Learning to free-hand sharpen turning tools is difficult.

5. Learning to turn and sharpen simultaneously ......tough row to hoe!

6. Wolverine system, vari-grind tool and a home-made depth jig....makes sharpening much easier and allows one concentrate on learning to turn.

JMHO

[JerHall]

Here are plans and info:
http://docs.google.com/View?docID=admp7zph558w_bcj4t5jchs7kq&revision=_latest
They work fine and cost just a few dollars. You will still need an adjustable flat platform for scrapers and skew chisels. But these have done the job for years for me and others. You will need a drill press and band or table saw for some short simple steps.

And here is a workshop outline for sharpening that has some more good info.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AS5G6HMVJZ3hYWR2OGY0a3Zxam5xXzEzNWRtZGd iNGZ3&hl=en

But the Wolverine system is a good value when you can afford it.

[Kim Ford]

Cody, the wolverine jig is a good system, however, I choose the Sorby system. It is simple and for me mounted up to my sander as well as my grinder.

http://www.thebestthings.com/newtools/sorby_universal.htm

I'm very pleased with how it works and think it should be considered as well.

[cody michael]

how well do home made ones work?

[Mike Golka]

Cody, I have been using home made jigs to sharpen since I started turning 2.5 years ago. Recently I found a Sorby Fingernail jig on sale for $40 and thought it might improve the edge on my gouges. It is a well made jig but doesn't seem to do any better than my home made one. Oh well, glad I didn't spend full price for the thing. Bottom line is if you take the time to make the jigs well they will perform.

[Cyril Griesbach]

A number of us looked closely at the Vari-Grind 2 at the Ohio Symposium and believed that it was more restrictive than the original Vari-Grind in terms of sweeping back the wings of the grind.

[JerHall]

cheap but most important if you slide off the wheel, as you inevitably will, no damage to your wheel, and damage to the jig (and you!) is harmless, and easily repairable if needed. In my sharpening workshop a student in learning to swing for a fingernail grind caught my wolverine on the edge of the wheel and tore out 3/16 of my nice blue wheel. Dangerous, damaging, and dramatic. From now on I am going to have my students use the wooden ones only.

The only downside to my design in the link above is orienting the flute consistently so that the refreshing of the bevel takes minimum grinding. I round over the end of the screw eye, use a threaded insert which provides a little play to allow the bottom of the tool to find a resting spot, and use the "L" bracket to index the flute the same way each time. It is a fast process.

I have thought of building one with a bearing on the flute, which would be best of all. Here is the Lock Fast Kit:
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/store/Sharpening___Oneway_System___Lock_Fast_Kit_for_Var i_Grind_Jig___lock_fast?Args=
12.99 at Craft Supply and 10.99 at Hartville tool.

You can see that it would be easy to cut the wooden jig in half on the bandsaw, use a matching threaded insert. install the kit, glue back up and then have a jig that is superior and safer than the original Wolverine. But my screw-eye and angle bracket system works fine and I have not been motivated to "upgrade" but will one day when I can combine this with a larger order and save shipping.

Again, the one advantage to the Wolverine system is that you get a platform that is easily adjustable and can be swapped between wheels. But a home built solution is easy to conceive here as well.