LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

New Turner

1K views 10 replies 10 participants last post by  OSU55 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Just purchased my first lathe. A jet midi. I am looking for any recommendations on a sharpening system. Any tips appreciated.
 
#3 ·
+1 on the Wolverine system. 8" grinder is preferred.
I tend to see that most turners seem to use this. However there are also groups that like belt sanders. and more even that make home made jigs for a belt, and also copy the wolverine.
Tormek also makes lathe jigs. And sometimes I wish I had gone with that system. Tormek has jigs to sharpen just about evreything. while my wolverine is a great setup. It has but one use for me.
 
#4 ·
Put me in the belt sander category… had it already, it works well, and with a cheap homemade jig or two can do basically anything the high priced options can. Only grinding I do on my grinder is very rough shaping and sharpening of things like lawn mower blades.

Cheers,
Brad
 
#5 ·
I too prefer the Wolverine system. I now use the white stone, but it is getting smaller and will replace it with CBN. Also for skews, scrapers, and other tools that are basically flat, I use a 1 inch belt sander stationed right next to my lathe. This sander is also used for knives chisels and other sharpening tasks.
 
#6 ·
Thanks for all the tips. I do have a 8" slow speed grinder that the wolverine setup can work with. So I think I will go this route. I do have a veritas jig setup in front of one wheel already. I assume I can put the jig in front of the other wheel.
 
#8 ·
+1 on the Wolverine system. 8" grinder is preferred.
I tend to see that most turners seem to use this. However there are also groups that like belt sanders. and more even that make home made jigs for a belt, and also copy the wolverine.
Tormek also makes lathe jigs. And sometimes I wish I had gone with that system. Tormek has jigs to sharpen just about evreything. while my wolverine is a great setup. It has but one use for me.

- bigJohninvegas
+1 the tormek is a great system and can sharpen just about anything youve got,it is expensive though but worth the cost if you can afford it.
 
#9 ·
I'm just the opposite … I have, and prefer, the OneWay Wolverine.

I am a college woodturning instructor, and we have both Wolverine and Tormek systems in our turning studio. Try as I may, I do not have the patience to use the Tormek. The Wolverine is much faster and, IMHO, has a much shorter learning curve.

The Tormek is great for putting a fine edge on carving tools, etc., but way too slow for turning tools.
 
#10 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have the 1" belt sander, and the wheels. I have the CBN's and the little white puppies. Based on my first hand knowledge and experience, I'd say:

- get the slowest or most variable speed grinder you can, so you can control (limit) the heat the process builds up, AND avoid taking off pounds of metal, with each sharpening.

- use jigs, whether home made or commercial.

- bigger is better with wheels (notice all the cars did not drop to 13" wheels?). Go with 8", rather than 6".

- I love my belt for quick touch ups.

- I love my grinder in conjunction with jigs (the Oneway Wolf critters for my grinder).

- after using the belt for a while, I am always amazed at the improved cut when I go back to the jigs.

- the CBN wheels hurt, at purchase, but the powder left behind, using them, is metal and not the wheel, seemingly forever.

- in a pinch, you only need one CBN, for me it would be the 180.
 
#11 ·
The "standard" in the turning world is 8" slow speed grinder, Al oxide or cbn wheels, wolverine with varigrind jigs. There are other brand jigs and shop made - see Capn Eddie. Advantage of wolverine/varigrind is the amount of support from everywhere for how to get specific grinds. Al oxide wheels work just fine, get cbn later if you turn a lot. Belt sanders work fine but require a lot of user setup unless an expensive "system" is used, and a lot less "help" available for the newbie.

I use an 8" low speed grinder and a Grizzly tormek copy with tormek jigs - had the griz before starting turning. It is excellent for resharpening gouges, useless for shaping. Mush less material removal for each resharpening - actually excellent for students since mistakes are less harmful - use secondary bevels for clearance and reduce material the wet grinder removes. I use the bench grinder for non-gouges and shaping gouges.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top