Beginning Woodturning - Sharpening Equipment for the Needed Edge
Once a wood lathe and turning tools are acquired, there are a few more tools that a woodturner needs.
First among these is the means to get and renew the cutting edges on the chisels, gouges and other tools that make up the woodturner's arsenal.
Thankfully this is an easy and effective task.
While there are all sorts of gidgets and gadgets on the market for sharpening tools, woodturners need only a basic setup, much of which is already in the typical woodworking shop.
First of all, put away all of those honing stones and strops that carvers and plane workers like so much.
These produce a wonderful edge that will just not stand up to the rigors of turning wood.
Instead, look to the tool that many woodworkers consider the beginning, not the finish of getting a working edge, the tool grinder.
Most tool grinders come with a motor that turns about 1350 revolutions a minute and has two wheels, coarse and medium.
The first thing that usually needs to be done is replace the wheels with aluminum oxide ones.
One wheel should be about 60 grit for removing nicks and shaping edges while the other needs to be 80 or 100 grit for refining the edge.
This is really the sharpening wheel.
Balance the new wheels as best you can using a wheel dresser.
This may be a diamond point, a star wheel dresser, or a diamond bar.
Either work and may be found inexpensively.
They will be used to keep the wheel clean from time to time so it is a reasonable expense in any case.
The wheels will glaze over with steel from the sharpening and a quick dressing pass will make them work like new, giving a quick edge and reducing heat to the tool.
One of the questions you will have to answer is whether to make or use a sharpening jig.
In my estimation, the answer is an obvious yes.
The jig will allow you to sharpen consistently and accurately and quickly get back to the work.
Sharpening is a practised skill and there is a lot to learn when one begins woodturning.
A jig will actually teach your body movements that will help is you later wish to learn free hand sharpening.
This is really all that is needed for sharpening woodturning tools.
The edge from the grinder, simply and quickly obtained with the use of the jig, will give great cuts on all sorts of wood, allowing the new or accomplished woodturner plenty of time and enjoyment at the wood lath.
First among these is the means to get and renew the cutting edges on the chisels, gouges and other tools that make up the woodturner's arsenal.
Thankfully this is an easy and effective task.
While there are all sorts of gidgets and gadgets on the market for sharpening tools, woodturners need only a basic setup, much of which is already in the typical woodworking shop.
First of all, put away all of those honing stones and strops that carvers and plane workers like so much.
These produce a wonderful edge that will just not stand up to the rigors of turning wood.
Instead, look to the tool that many woodworkers consider the beginning, not the finish of getting a working edge, the tool grinder.
Most tool grinders come with a motor that turns about 1350 revolutions a minute and has two wheels, coarse and medium.
The first thing that usually needs to be done is replace the wheels with aluminum oxide ones.
One wheel should be about 60 grit for removing nicks and shaping edges while the other needs to be 80 or 100 grit for refining the edge.
This is really the sharpening wheel.
Balance the new wheels as best you can using a wheel dresser.
This may be a diamond point, a star wheel dresser, or a diamond bar.
Either work and may be found inexpensively.
They will be used to keep the wheel clean from time to time so it is a reasonable expense in any case.
The wheels will glaze over with steel from the sharpening and a quick dressing pass will make them work like new, giving a quick edge and reducing heat to the tool.
One of the questions you will have to answer is whether to make or use a sharpening jig.
In my estimation, the answer is an obvious yes.
The jig will allow you to sharpen consistently and accurately and quickly get back to the work.
Sharpening is a practised skill and there is a lot to learn when one begins woodturning.
A jig will actually teach your body movements that will help is you later wish to learn free hand sharpening.
This is really all that is needed for sharpening woodturning tools.
The edge from the grinder, simply and quickly obtained with the use of the jig, will give great cuts on all sorts of wood, allowing the new or accomplished woodturner plenty of time and enjoyment at the wood lath.
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