I am looking into purchasing a tool sharpening system and would appreciate your feedback. I have a limited budget and was wondering if anyone has experience with the Grizzly T10010 or the Woodturners Sharpening Kit from Woodcraft pros or cons on both. Thanks so much.

Jeff Leonard

Muskyfsh

Sorry for the duplication!

Jeff

Muskyfsh

The Tormek or copies have attachments that make sharpening nearly any tool very easy. If you can afford one of these, get one. You can get by with less, however. I use a Delta slow speed water-wheel grinder and get very good, though not automatic results.

..............

Actually Jeff, a 1 inch wide belt sander with a variety of sanding grits does an excellent job at a very reasonable price.

Harbor freight has a 1 inch belt sander for about $40 with shipping.

The key thing about using a sander to sharpen tools is to use a "Light" touch and don't overheat the tool.

If you look at most professional knife makers, the belt sander in varying speeds and widths is their number one tool for making knives and putting a razor edge on the knife.

Slow speed wheels work fine, but as long as you keep a light touch, you can use high speed sanding belts with equal success in a very short time.

Take care
Roger

I was a tool & die maker for a time, and a bench grinder should work fine for sharpening turning tools for a lathe.

Keep the tool at the proper angle, use a light touch, and dip the tool in water FREQUENTLY to keep it cool. (Dip the tool in water BEFORE you start sharpening it, and dip it often enough to keep the tool from feeling hot. And the same advice for cooling the tool would apply to any power sharpening equipment you may use for this.)

I would also suggest using a Wheel Dressing tool to keep the grinding wheel true to make it easier to maintain the correct shape on the tools you are sharpening - it also "cleans" the wheel so it doesn't generate as much heat.

Good luck.

Dan

P.S. A wheel dressing tool of this general type works best [www.harborfreight.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2009 05:06PM by Dan Ertz.