Lathe tool sharpening without a jig

On Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:55:08 -0500, Dan Jefferson wrote (in message ):

I sharpen my tools freehand. I am very satisfied with the results and have not burned an edge yet. Use a light touch, do not be too eager to remove metal, have a container of water near the grinder to keep the metal cool. I do not even use the tool rest directly. A right-handed person, I cradle the tool in my left hand (resting or lightly touching the tool rest with the backside of my left forefinger) and manipulate the tool with my right hand, holding the tool wherever works best, to get the angle I want at the time. I can tell just where the edge is in relation to the stone by watching where the sparks are going. When it seems like I am splitting the stream of sparks, with some going under the chisel and the rest coming just over the top of the edge, I know that I am actually grinding on the cutting edge. My touch is light enough that I think I can count the sparks when I am finishing. Please note that I am not disparaging the use of jigs for sharpening. I simply prefer to do it my own way, that's all. tom koehler

Yes - sometimes. Doing it successfully is a matter of practice and feel (Harbor Frieght chisel sets can be less expensive to waste while learning.)

OTOH, jigs can be handy too, and many can be made for free (well, the time and some scrap wood.)

Hello Dan,

I sharpened my tools freehand for many years, then in 1999 I bought myself a "Christmas Present" the Oneway Wolverine sharpening system and a slow speed grinder from Woodcraft with white wheels. I've had a couple of other jig systems which I didn't like quite as well. I also have a Tormek Wet Grinder. My current system is set up with the Wolverine jig system plus the jig set up to use the Tormek jigs. The wheels are now Diamond wheels from Andre Martel in Canada, a 100 grit wheel on the left side and a 360 grit wheel on the right side. I sharpen all of my bowl gouges with an Ellsworth Grind administered by the Tormek jigs on the 360 grit wheel. I have gradually migrated to this set up in the last 12 years. The diamond wheels I started using about three years ago and would hate to have to go back to a to a 3/4" wide wheel normal white wheel. I'm not sure exactly what my current set up cost, because I built it rather slowly. The diamond wheels are expensive, but I sure do like the finished grind I get from them.

Fred Holder