Once in a while even a blind hog roots up an acorn and so did I last
week. I was in Louisville, Ky and found a really good deal on my first
lathe, a Jet mini-lathe.

I have been reading about how you need a jig to assist in grinding
bevels on the turning tools and have just about decided to buy Penn
State's version of the Wolverine jig. I picked up a Richard Raffan
video at the library and noticed that he only uses a tool rest, not a
jig. Is he able to do that simply because he has been doing it a long
time, or is a jig really not necessary?

Dick Durbin
Tallahassee

"Olebiker" wrote in message
ups.com...
Once in a while even a blind hog roots up an acorn and so did I last
week. I was in Louisville, Ky and found a really good deal on my first
lathe, a Jet mini-lathe.

I have been reading about how you need a jig to assist in grinding
bevels on the turning tools and have just about decided to buy Penn
State's version of the Wolverine jig. I picked up a Richard Raffan
video at the library and noticed that he only uses a tool rest, not a
jig. Is he able to do that simply because he has been doing it a long
time, or is a jig really not necessary?


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


http://community.webtv.net/almcc/MacsMusings

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


"George" wrote in message
...

"Olebiker" wrote in message
ups.com...
Once in a while even a blind hog roots up an acorn and so did I last
week. I was in Louisville, Ky and found a really good deal on my first
lathe, a Jet mini-lathe.

I have been reading about how you need a jig to assist in grinding
bevels on the turning tools and have just about decided to buy Penn
State's version of the Wolverine jig. I picked up a Richard Raffan
video at the library and noticed that he only uses a tool rest, not a
jig. Is he able to do that simply because he has been doing it a long
time, or is a jig really not necessary?


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.

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.

--
God bless and safe turning
Darrell Feltmate
Truro, NS Canada
www.aroundthewoods.com

"Olebiker" wrote in message
ups.com...
Once in a while even a blind hog roots up an acorn and so did I last
week. I was in Louisville, Ky and found a really good deal on my first
lathe, a Jet mini-lathe.

I have been reading about how you need a jig to assist in grinding
bevels on the turning tools and have just about decided to buy Penn
State's version of the Wolverine jig. I picked up a Richard Raffan
video at the library and noticed that he only uses a tool rest, not a
jig. Is he able to do that simply because he has been doing it a long
time, or is a jig really not necessary?

Dick Durbin
Tallahassee

On 22 Dec 2006 04:31:59 -0800, "Olebiker" wrote:

Once in a while even a blind hog roots up an acorn and so did I last
week. I was in Louisville, Ky and found a really good deal on my first
lathe, a Jet mini-lathe.

I have been reading about how you need a jig to assist in grinding
bevels on the turning tools and have just about decided to buy Penn
State's version of the Wolverine jig. I picked up a Richard Raffan
video at the library and noticed that he only uses a tool rest, not a
jig. Is he able to do that simply because he has been doing it a long
time, or is a jig really not necessary?

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.