Beginners Sharpening Setup

[scottwoodburn]

Friends,

I’m just beginning my woodturning life and want to put together a basic sharpening setup. I’ve been reading around the forum and want to ask for recommendations on the kit I would need to begin sharpening up my tools. I don’t want to spend much, my good lady wouldn’t like that, so I am on a strict budget. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

Scott

[malcy]

I have the Sorby Proedge and love it. Easy to use and setup. This system gives a flat grind to the bevel rather than a slightly concave one you will get with a wheel, and i think that is better but others may not necessarily agree. It is fairly expensive unless you can pick up a used one somewhere. Hope this helps. Malcolm.

[Dave Brookes]

Scott, I mainly use the Wolverine system on a Record grinder with wide wheels.

Dave

[Les Symonds]

I've just bought a Sorby Proedge but fully understand that it might be out of your current budget. However, for the last three years I managed well with a very basic system. A Record 8" bench grinder with a £35 jig bought off eBay set on one wheel, which was fine for sharpening all my gouges, plus a simple, tilt-able platform made from scrap timber; this was used for all scrapers, skews and for the spindle roughing gouge.
Les

[Lazurus]

A slow speed grinder with the sorby sharpening jig, I have used this for the past 20 years with good repeatable grinds, very quick and easy.

http://www.yandles.co.uk/robert-sorby-447-deluxe-universal-sharpening-system/p5598

Often on Fleabay at good prices.

Stuart

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

Scott I am a professional turner, I do it for a living and turn (and sharpen) every day. My sharpening set up is an old Elu bench grinder, a B&Q bench grinder and a linisher. There is nothing wrong with using a cheap B&Q grinder, it will need to be fettled so that it runs true and balanced. I have the sorby jig for grinding detail gouges but the rest of the chisels sit on home made wooden angled rests. There are a lot of grinders and jigs out there that are just waiting for you to buy them but my advice is learn how to sharpen your tools properly on a sensibly priced grinder and sharpen them regularly. Think about what the turners 1oo years ago had to sharpen their tools and see what they produced. There is a load of rubbish spouted out about using a grinder at this speed or that, use this coloured wheel or that coloured wheel and the wheels need to run in water or be a certain width. All of this was created by the companies that sell grinders, learn the basics and save yourself a fortune.

[Lazurus]

Very wise words, guess its like fishing sometimes the gear catches more anglers than fish!!

[seventhdevil]

"my advice is learn how to sharpen your tools properly on a sensibly priced grinder"


agreed, well said john...

[scottwoodburn]

Thanks guys. Very helpful reading and advice. Good work!

Scott

[Jon Whateley]

I use an 8" grinder, i made my own wood jig which lasted a while and was OK but wood is not really accurate to set your angles.

In a fit of madness a few years ago I bought a welder to fix some gates, so I decided to buy a few scraps of steel and made my own jig (as the bloke on eBay ignored my message).

The steel bits cost me £6 and I have LOADS left

It is not rocket science, good fun to make and nothing gives you a sense of satisfaction like making you own tools. Any other bits you need like tap & die sets don't need to be expensive and you will use them again (in wood/Corian/acrylic).

If you have a mate who welds or you can borrow a welder even better.

And I must stress I am NOT a welder, never done it before, it looks awful but it works really well. All the bits cut by hand with a hacksaw (hard work).

I just copied some pics of other models.

Tools like taps, dies and welders are an investment in future projects not one-off tool purchases - sell that to the wife!

Let me know if you want a pic (but it's not pretty)

[hughie]

I use an 8" grinder, i made my own wood jig which lasted a while and was OK but wood is not really accurate to set your angles.

In a fit of madness a few years ago I bought a welder to fix some gates, so I decided to buy a few scraps of steel and made my own jig (as the bloke on eBay ignored my message).

The steel bits cost me £6 and I have LOADS left

It is not rocket science, good fun to make and nothing gives you a sense of satisfaction like making you own tools. Any other bits you need like tap & die sets don't need to be expensive and you will use them again (in wood/Corian/acrylic).

If you have a mate who welds or you can borrow a welder even better.

And I must stress I am NOT a welder, never done it before, it looks awful but it works really well. All the bits cut by hand with a hacksaw (hard work).

I just copied some pics of other models.

Tools like taps, dies and welders are an investment in future projects not one-off tool purchases - sell that to the wife!

Let me know if you want a pic (but it's not pretty)

This is good advice if your handy and its way down on cost and it will give repeatable results for many years. I have seen some very good wooden ones as well.

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

"Let me know if you want a pic (but it's not pretty)"
Jon with that teaser we just have to see the picture now!!