Need advice on sharpeners

[mlcannon]

I am going to buy a sharpening system for my lathe tools in the near future. Currently I am sharpening them with a small rotary tool (I know this is probably dumb on my part, but it is all I have other than a really cheap grinder without jigs!!:-( ). I have looked at the Tormek system with the lathe tool jigs, and I saw the Veritas system mentioned on-line tonight.

I have heard that the Tormek is a very good system and comes highly recommended.

Does anyone have advice on sharpening systems etc. before I take the plunge??? I appreciate any advice.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[mlcannon]

Mike,

Thanks.....I watched the videos tonight on the Tormek at the SharpToolsUSA.com website and I was impressed as well. It looks like it will do a great job, but I agree it is very expensive!!

Mike8-O

 

[McRabbet]

Mike -- I'd suggest that you go to Tom Hintz' website and read the reviews he has on Sharpening and Grinding. There are reviews of several systems and jigs, including the Tormek and the "poor man's Tormek", the Delta 23-700 Wet/Dry Grinder (which I have). I think you'll find his information thorough and informative.

Rob

 

[Travis Porter]

I have a Tormek. Bought it a couple of months ago from Sharptools. Don't waste your money on the video they sell. You can most of what they show directly online for free. The Tormek is quite expensive, but it is faster, and for me, more accurate than other methods. I have heard that others that do sharpening tools use a grinder and a wolverine jig as a cheaper alternative.

 

[J. Fred Muggs]

Mike:
The key in your question is "turning tools". I highly recommend the Oneway Wolverine system with a cheap Woodcraft ($75.00 on sale) 8" grinder with the white wheels. It is fast, relatively inexpensive, and produces a very repeatable grind. The repeatable grind means that you grind away minimum tool each time you sharpen, therefore the tools last longer.

I own the Tormek with all the turning tool accessories (about $650.00 worth) as well as the Wolverine. I use the Tormek for plane irons, chisels, carving knives and chisels, and will sometimes use it to hone a turning tool sharpened on the Wolverine. The Tormek is a fantastic sharpening system. But for turning tools, save your money. Go with the Wolverine.

Fred

 

[clowman]

I have the base Wolverine with the Woodcraft slowspeed system. It does all I need atm. i like it, it's fast and easy to use. i'd buy it again.

 

[toolferone]

For turning tools the Wolverine is the way to go!!

By the way Woodcaft has them on sale through the end of June.
Reg 89.99 Sale $74.99

 

[Phillip]

mlcannon, i have the tormek as mike davis noted, with all the appropiate jigs, and it works like a champ. however, way before i could afford it i learned to sharpen with a regular dry grinder. i would buy an inexpensive grinder with an aluminum oxide wheel and richard raffan's book 'turning wood'. unless you turn all day every day it'll take you quite a while to grind your tool away. with the book you'll learn how to sharpen without any jigs, just the tool rest on your grinder. and if you already have a regular high speed grinder, just buy an aluminum oxide wheel for it and the book and have a go at it. don't buy into all the hype the catalogs throw at you, lots of people did lots of amazing turning way before there were sharpening jigs and slow grinders and wet grinders and all that. in the 70's peter child (author of 'the craftsman woodturner') sharpened lots of tools with a stone mounted on an arbor in his lathe spindle with no tool rest or jig of any sort. while i don't recommend an unshielded stone ever, it just shows there's always a way. well, enough out of me, good luck with whatever system you choose.

phillip

 

[mlcannon]

Thanks to everyone for their advice on sharpening and sharpening systems. It has been very helpful. I am in the process of reading all of the reviews and weighing the options.

Thanks again,

Mike:eusa_thin