While I am sitting here drinking my coffee I am kind of reviewing in my head all that was done yesterday and lining out what I will do today and I thought I would share something else that happened yesterday that impressed me.
I seem to be collecting more planes, chisels and the like lately and have come to the conclusion that I really hate sharpening. With that a few weeks ago I broke down and bought a Tormek Sharpening System. I also bought most of the little attachments that go with it. I was lucky enough to have made this decision when it was on sale and I also had coupons to layer on top of that so I think I did ok.
Now after reading the book that came with the Tormek a bit I think I pretty much sharpened/re-sharpened everything around here that has an edge! (Maybe some stuff without also) I did however learn very quickly that one should not wipe the mud built up from honing off the tool with ones finger! (Blood is a good teacher) Well reading the book I came across the section on sharpening turning tools. Now there has always been quite the debate on sharpening turning tools on a Tormek on almost every forum that has a turning section. Most people say that it would be just too slow as they make many trips to the grinder during a turning session but just for fun I decided to try a few of my tools on the Tormek. With out a doubt my favorite tool is a 3/8” spindle gouge and I probably have 6 or 7 of them with different profiles on them. Of those my favorites are my little midsized Henry Taylors with one having a small fingernail and the other having a really long fingernail. With these two tools I can accomplish almost anything I want to do. So since I like to do very detailed work I thought I would go ahead and give these a go on the Tormek.
Well yesterday was the first chance I had to use these Tormek honed tools on the lathe and I have to tell you WOW! Rolling over the end grain of Canary Wood with the tool was creating fine curly shavings and was leaving a surface behind that appeared almost polished.
The tool cut effortlessly and was so smooth! When I finished the turning of the piece I was able to just use some 400 grip sandpaper on it just to knock off some of the little bump rings.
So based on this experience I have drawn some opinions on the use of Tormek to honed turning tools. I can see totally why one would not want to hone a tool used for roughing work as maintaining that edge on the tool could be difficult. However honing the tools used for fine cuts, detail work and finish cuts has become pretty much a no brainer for me now. My new leather strop from Steve now has an important place in my shop as I will be using it to touch up some of my turning tools also now!
Ken
I seem to be collecting more planes, chisels and the like lately and have come to the conclusion that I really hate sharpening. With that a few weeks ago I broke down and bought a Tormek Sharpening System. I also bought most of the little attachments that go with it. I was lucky enough to have made this decision when it was on sale and I also had coupons to layer on top of that so I think I did ok.
Now after reading the book that came with the Tormek a bit I think I pretty much sharpened/re-sharpened everything around here that has an edge! (Maybe some stuff without also) I did however learn very quickly that one should not wipe the mud built up from honing off the tool with ones finger! (Blood is a good teacher) Well reading the book I came across the section on sharpening turning tools. Now there has always been quite the debate on sharpening turning tools on a Tormek on almost every forum that has a turning section. Most people say that it would be just too slow as they make many trips to the grinder during a turning session but just for fun I decided to try a few of my tools on the Tormek. With out a doubt my favorite tool is a 3/8” spindle gouge and I probably have 6 or 7 of them with different profiles on them. Of those my favorites are my little midsized Henry Taylors with one having a small fingernail and the other having a really long fingernail. With these two tools I can accomplish almost anything I want to do. So since I like to do very detailed work I thought I would go ahead and give these a go on the Tormek.
Well yesterday was the first chance I had to use these Tormek honed tools on the lathe and I have to tell you WOW! Rolling over the end grain of Canary Wood with the tool was creating fine curly shavings and was leaving a surface behind that appeared almost polished.
The tool cut effortlessly and was so smooth! When I finished the turning of the piece I was able to just use some 400 grip sandpaper on it just to knock off some of the little bump rings.
So based on this experience I have drawn some opinions on the use of Tormek to honed turning tools. I can see totally why one would not want to hone a tool used for roughing work as maintaining that edge on the tool could be difficult. However honing the tools used for fine cuts, detail work and finish cuts has become pretty much a no brainer for me now. My new leather strop from Steve now has an important place in my shop as I will be using it to touch up some of my turning tools also now!
Ken
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