Basic tool grinding question

He's using the tool as its own jig. It's similar to the technique used on the lathe itself, where he anchors the tool to the rest, matches the bevel to the wheel, then maintains even light pressure to grind in the existing configuration. Think of the way you hone, then substitute a moving surface for a stationary one. Since the angles involved in cutting on a wood lathe are freehanded, precise angles are really unnecessary. You establish a steep angle for entry then sweep through the piece, lowering the angle to peel.

Hi Dick, Welcome to rcw. Please join in and take advantage of the help and camaraderie here, and make your own contributions. All of us blind hogs are expert in something. :)

If you haven't already joined the North Florida Woodturners Club, do so. Great group and they want to help. Club meets monthly on Gaines St. Details on their site or the AAW site or ask me privately.

A sharpening jig isn't absolutely necessary, but experienced turners use jigs as well as freehand to sharpen and I recommend the original Wolverine. You are assured of a proper and repeatable bevel & edge to begin. It will never wear out and whatever the difference in cost for a 'version' when prorated is miniscule. Starting off right re sharp and properly bevelled cutting tools will make your good mini Jet deal even better. Have fun.

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

In my opinion--a jig isn't necessary.

You do have to learn how to sharpen a chisel so that it is at the right bevel, but it's not a difficult skill.

I have a veritas tool rest, which gives me a reliable and repeatable angle to the wheel, and that's all I need. I made some homemade angle gages for quick resetting of the angle. If I don't have to change angle, I can have my tool sharp and be back turning in less than a minute.

On the down side, I did waste some length of tools before I got the angles right.

YMMV

Old Guy

Dick Question: Is a jig necessary for sharpening lathe tools? Answer: NO Question: Is it a really, really, really big help, especially for a beginner? Answer: O yeah. The problem is simply that sharp tools make all the difference and is coupled with no having a lot of built in guides for keeping blades at the right angles such as a plane would do. thus your body needs to learn how to apply those angles to the wood. At the same time you need to develop the skills to sharpen tools that have rounded shapes and varying angles. A jig will not only provide those angles but will give an easily repeatable result every time. Some tout them for saving metal but I am not sure how handy that really is. For most of us who are recreational turners it likely means we need a new tool every ten years instead of every eight. However, we need a sharp tool every time we turn and as some wood calls us to sharpen every few minutes, a jig really makes a difference. If you want a little more advice or want to make your own, check out my web site under sharp tools in jig time. You can likely make the jig in the time it takes to get to the store and back.

I've never used a jig, so I'm not really comparing jig-sharpening to freehand sharpening, but I haven't really ever felt any compelling need to use one. It doesn't take too long to learn how to sharpen freehand on the grinder, but you will find that it is not as consistant as a jig would be.

Seems like the biggest trick, at least for me, is to watch the edge for fine orange sparks. When that happens across the entire bevel as you turn/swing the chisel, it's sharpened.