cbn grinding wheels

[jeff oldham]

where is a good place to purchase cbn grinding wheels,,im new at turning and would like to turn some bowls,,could anyone tell me a good sharpening setup to sharpen bowl gouges

[Thom Sturgill]

I have bought from both of these. D-Way tools (http://d-waytools.com/tools-diamond-grinding-wheels.html) and WoodTurners Wonders (http://woodturnerswonders.com/products/cbn-wheel-180-grit). Dave's are more expensive, but I like his bushing, it worked better than Ken's washers.

The wolverine system is the standard for sharpening, But get the original Vari-grind jig not the Vari-grind2. Many of us fix the geometry of our jigs for consistency. I can be cheaper to buy a fixed jig like the Ellsworth to begin with, but not by much. theyt are available at most supply houses. Packard (http://www.packardwoodworks.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=packard&Category_Code=sharp)sells both jigs and wheels, as do Woodcraft (http://www.woodcraft.com/search2/search.aspx?query=wolverine) and Craft Supplies (http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/search?term=Wolverine)

[Scott Brandstetter]

Got mine from D-way and love it. In fact, love everything I've got from him so far.

[Brian Kent]

D-Way. Very helpful. Great product.

[Ian Upwood]

Thom: Could you please explain the difference between the Original Vari Grind and the Vari Grind 2. and why you recommend the original and not the 2. Thanks

Ian

[Ralph Lindberg]

Thom: Could you please explain the difference between the Original Vari Grind and the Vari Grind 2. and why you recommend the original and not the 2. Thanks

Ian

I don't like the 2 either. This (http://www.oneway.ca/sharpening/vari-grind2.htm) is a Two, unlike the One it attaches directly. I've messed with the two and didn't find it as useful. I do think the Two might be easier to learn how use

[Jim Seyfried]

...worked better than Ken's washers.


I recently bought pair of the Woodturners Wonders new style and need to replace the stamped washers that came with my grinder. I was looking at the ones Raptor sells. I didn't see that Ken has washers too. From your experience they didn't work well in removing side movement?

I really like the wheels, but have little experience with other brands.

[Thom Sturgill]

I recently bought pair of the Woodturners Wonders new style and need to replace the stamped washers that came with my grinder. I was looking at the ones Raptor sells. I didn't see that Ken has washers too. From your experience they didn't work well in removing side movement?

I really like the wheels, but have little experience with other brands.

They worked, but it took some fuzting around to get them to.

[Thom Sturgill]

Thom: Could you please explain the difference between the Original Vari Grind and the Vari Grind 2. and why you recommend the original and not the 2. Thanks

Ian

Ian, the Vari-grind2 is designed to force you to keep the tip of the gouge in the center of the wheel. While admittedly safer, it will wear out the wheel in the center. With matrix (AO) wheels this means a cupped wheel that needs dressing faster. With a CBN you will still wear out the plating in the center faster. Also I'm not sure that things like rounding off the heel work well with that jig.

Note, this is based on the reports of others. I do not own one.

[Steve Rollinson]

I love the Vari-grind II. Once set up you'll get the exact bevel on all your tools. No brainer!

[Peter Blair]

I'm with you Steve. I had the one and moved to the two and have never looked back. Incidentally, I have drilled holes in the arm to duplicate the angles with my D-WaY CBN wheels.

[Joe Bradshaw]

I like my vari-grind 2. I use the 1 for holding my spindle gouges and the 2 for my bowl gouges. I have the CBN wheels on my grinder. I use a pvc spacer on the vee-arm to set the distance from the wheel. It takes longer for my grinder to get up to speed than it does to sharpen a tool. After I found a tool angle that I liked, I set my jigs and don't move them.
Joe

[David C. Roseman]

Jeff, in addition to D-Way as a source, have a look at the Hurricane 8" x 1.5" wide CBN wheels from The Woodturning Store http://www.thewoodturningstore.com/categories/8-CBN-Grinding-Wheels-62_63.html. I have D-Way and Hurricane CBN wheels and recommend both highly. Dave Schweitzer, owner of D-Way, and Steve Fulgoni, owner of The Woodturning Store, are members here and great to do business with. Both are veteran turners in their own right.