I treated myself to a 8" slow speed bench grinder from Woodcraft, along with a Wolverine Grinding Jig and Veri-Grind Side Grind attachment. Reading through Woverine's instructions, I found that Wolverine recommends a 3450 RPM 8" grinder, rather than the slower grinder, which I thought would be a safer, cooler grinder.
What do you recommend for a grinder speed? I can still return the slow speed grinder if a faster speed is important for sharpening my turning tools.
Jim
Keep what you already have and just learn to use it.
As you get more experienced in grinding the turning tools, you might appreciate a higher speed grinder but probably not enough to justify switching out right now. I use a high speed grinder but that's all I've ever had so I'm used to it. You'll get used to the slow speed and it's perfectly capable of doing what you want.
- Andrew
I agree with Jim Pugh. Keep the slow speed grinder. Not so much because of the slow speed (since HSS tools don't need slow speed) but because most of the 3450 rpm grinders are 6 inch. I like the 8 inch grinders because it leaves a flatter hollow grind on the bevel. A 6 inch wheel makes a more pronounced arc on the bevel with a tighter radius which I don't like. The Woodcraft 8 inch grinder is a nice machine at a reasonable price. The added advantage of the slow speed is that you'll take off less material when first learning to use the Vari-Grind and your gouges will last longer.
-Jim Gott- San Jose, CA
I have both, a Delta 6" 3400 RPM and a Baldor 6" 1800 RPM With a Wolverine Jig. I prefer to use the slow speed for sharpening my tools. If I'm going to reshape an edge or make a new scraper or grind away some other metal for a project I like the high speed, but all it really does is to do the job faster. Keep what you got, I've heard good things on the group about the Woodcraft grinder. If it would have been around when I bought my Baldor, I could have saved a hundred bucks. Jim
Thanks for everyone's helpful suggestions. I kept the slow speed grinder, installed the VariGrind jigs, and spent some time yesterday putting my first fingernail grind on a spindle gouge. With a little care, the grinding job came out pretty well.
I took a look at a video "Fundamentals of Sharpening," put out by the American Association of Woodturners with instruction by Bonnie Klein, John Jordan, Bill Johnston and Alan Lacer. The video includes tips on using the VariGrind jigs. I have a reasonable replica of a Bonnie Klein fingernail grind on my spindle gouge now.
Jim
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