Sharpening guide for gouges needed

[Beau]

Hi all

I don't turn much but my father in-law is keen and very good but his sharpening is poor. Every time I visit I sharpen them all up but he just does not have the confidence to do much beyond using a slip stone. He has a double sided Perform grinder with water stone on one end and grinding wheel on the other. Are there any jigs that a novice can get the hang of. He is very patient so no need for speed. Budget is fairly open as it's 80th present

Thanks

 

[NazNomad]

Make one... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfmIv0iXjis

I have two, they work perfectly.

 

[Stoatally]

How open is the budget?

 

[Beau]

How open is the budget?

What do you have in mind

 

[nev]

Sorby ProEdge or OneWay Wolverine sharpening system with Vari-grind attachment?
http://www.toolpost.co.uk/pages/Grindin ... stems.html
http://www.yandles.co.uk/search/sharpening+system

 

[Beau]

Sorby ProEdge or OneWay Wolverine sharpening system with Vari-grind attachment?
http://www.toolpost.co.uk/pages/Grindin ... stems.html
http://www.yandles.co.uk/search/sharpening+system

Yes both those look suitable. The Sorby one would be neater in his compact workshop

 

[nev]

Apart from the anti jig brigade, I think everyone praises the Proedge and we'd all have one if money wasn't an issue

 

[CHJ]

Apart from the anti jig brigade, I think everyone praises the Proedge and we'd all have one if money wasn't an issue

+1 for Nevs comment, I managed to swallow the pocket money hit by getting a used one off a forum member and fettled some of my own bits to save the cost of the official accessories.

One important thing to note though is that the system although not extortionate is more costly on replacement abrasives than a conventional bench grinder*, the up side is that a greater variety of grits are available in a few seconds.

*My original cheap grinder still has the wheels as fitted in may 2005 with little wear on them.

Beau, don't know how much your father in-law is in to small workshop projects but to save on heavy costs whilst assessing the options he might like to try making a simple fingernail jig for starters to use with his grinder.
A very basic grinder setup got me better at sharpening consistency until I'd learnt enough to progress to improved jigs before I finally ended up with those parts of the Sorby/Tormek Jig system that suits my needs.
Some more dimensioned build guides on my web site which he can compare with the many others available from web links.

 

[selectortone]

I use one of these. £29.99 with free shipping. You can do standard, fingernail and long/irish grinds with this. A bit rough and ready but it works a treat - just don't go by the auction picture; when doing fingernail and long grinds about two inches of chisel blade protruding from the holder is what you need.

 

[AJB Temple]

I am not sure I would recommend a disk grinder for an 80 year old. You need a steady hand and they can snatch if you are not careful. I have a couple, as well as a polishing station. For sharpening I use the Sorby Pro Edge. They are easy to use, give a fine finish with the right belts, belts are easy to change and quality belts last a long time as long as you don't dig in to them. One thing I like is it is very, very easy to get the angles for primary and secondary bevels on chisels etc. I will touch up the secondary bevel on my chisels at least daily when I am chopping mortices etc in timber frames.

 

[Beau]

Think the Pro Edge is step too far considering how much work he does. One of those Sorby guides looks just the ticket. He does use the bench grinder now but fails to keep consistent angles and on occasion blues the tip.

 

[nev]

I am not sure I would recommend a disk grinder for an 80 year old. You need a steady hand and they can snatch if you are not careful. ...

And a lathe won't? :wink:

 

[AJB Temple]

Good point Nev. ;-)

A lot of people are hamfisted with high speed grinders and wreck a lot of edges. I water bath slow grinder would also work and the Record or Jet ones that are much cheaper than Tormek would do the job.

 

[Beau]

I have realised the snag with the Sorby guide is you set up the two parts at each end of the grinder. The grinder he has is a grinder one end and a water stone the other. Cant see an easy way to swap between the two. Found this at Axminster that allows him to swap at will. Any thoughts on it? http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-wo ... tem-950032

 

[Robbo3]

The problem with the Axminster Woodturner's Sharpening System (unless they have changed it), apart from being over priced, is that the gouge holder locking screw turns anti clockwise to tighten - most offputting. So much so that two members of my local woodtuning club have ditched them for other brands.

The green jig from ebay caters mainly for gouges but other tools can be placed in the vee of the movable arm
- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/wood-lathe-go ... xywh1TBebq

Another ebay jig has the option of an additional flat platform
- http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/michaelc4968/ ... 7675.l2562

Note that the gouges are held in the vee of the square tube & as such are pretty much self levelling. Other gouge holders use round tube which needs additional means of ensuring that the gouge is centred correctly.

 

[Beau]

Thanks all. Have gone for the expensive Axminster one. I can see the Ebay ones would do the job but it's a present for a major birthday so just going to pay the extra as it will give him reassurance in tool.

 

[JimB]

Thanks all. Have gone for the expensive Axminster one. I can see the Ebay ones would do the job but it's a present for a major birthday so just going to pay the extra as it will give him reassurance in tool.

Have I mentioned my birthday's on the... Damn I've forgotten.