Tom: Go to: http://groups.google.com/group/rec.crafts.woodturning and all
of Life's questions will be answered!*G*

Leif
"Tom Nie" wrote in message
...
Leif,
So, for us newbies, just how do you peruse the archives?

TomNie

"Leif Thorvaldson" wrote in message
...

"charlie b" wrote in message
...
Preface: I'm sort of a sharpening nut. I've got a two wheel
grinder, a Tormek, diamond plates, Scary Sharp plate
glass, japanese water stones and slips, an old (as in 1930s)
Baldor two speed dental buffer, stiched wheels, hard felt
wheels, wooden whees, white diamond, tripoli, rouge and,
though, I had no intended use for it when I got it at a garage
sale, a 1" belt sander - with spare belts from 100
to 1000 grit.

Since most turning tools come with a ground profile
and some even ground close to sharp, why use a
grinder to touch up or sharpen curved profiles?
A belt sander - above the flatten, where the belt will
more or less conform to what it's rubbing on - seems
to make more sense. No special jigs/fixtures required.

Wouldn't recomend using a belt sander to fix a
dinged edge or to drastically change a profile but
it seems perfect for touching up a dull tool. Having
a range of grits to use also seems advantageous.

So why so little mention of 1 inch belt sanders
for sharpening curved profile tools?

charlie b
asking yet another "dumb question"

=====Well to every newcomer to the group it would appear that these
things/procedures haven't been discussed before. In truth, they seem
almost cyclical as with almost every other topic in this newsgroup (and
others). Some newcomer comes along and broaches a topic that is new and
of interest to him/her and it is suggested they hie themselves to the
archives and do a search. Failing to find an answer there, they should
come back to the rec and ask. This will probably start a whole new cycle
again with curmudgeons, COCs, newbies, grumpers, and teachers all chiming
in. This is good as it is a refresher course as well as a chance to see
if there are any nifty, new, guaranteed, sharpening tools or a
never-needs-sharpening chisels available to buy!!

A one inch belt sander is my favorite for touching up almost all my edged
tools. especially using the alumina zirconia belts. Usually blue, but
are sometimes green or red. I almost always use the platten-backed
portion of the belt. Heavy duty shaping is done with the Wolverine unit
on the grinding wheels.

Leif