PSI Versa-Chisel

[ke4rdb]

Does any one have the proper way to sharpen the PSI Versa-Chisel (Spindelmaster Clone). Do you shapen the bevel or the flat top like PSI claims.
My wife wanted these after a pretty interesting catch when I was showing her how to use a skew. She saw in some turning book that these are easier to use. Kind of looks like a scraper to me.

JW

[final_t]

Yes, you sharpen them by "flattening" the face, as the Sorby. I use a sheet of 800grit automotive paper on the workbench just for this - three or four strokes is all I do.
What worries me is that I'm slowly thinning the tool, so I'm considering making a sharpening trough like you would for a hand carving tool so I can sharpen the bevel instead of the face.

[Tom Miller]

Yes, you sharpen them by "flattening" the face, as the Sorby.

Are they sharpened that way because it's difficult to grind the bevel correctly? The reason I ask is because I attempted to make a "Spindlemaster" from another HF chisel, but the result was pretty "catchy".

Regards,
Tom

[final_t]

more of my two cents

Are they sharpened that way because it's difficult to grind the bevel correctly? The reason I ask is because I attempted to make a "Spindlemaster" from another HF chisel, but the result was pretty "catchy".

Regards,
Tom

Probably - witness how difficult it is for most everyone to get good repeatable results without major tooling $$ on a standard gouge.

The bevel is a visually similar to a fingernail gouge, if you had sliced the chord at that point. Or maybe a round nose scraper with an approx 30 degree bevel instead of 65-80 degree.

I think it would be hard as **** to make the proper sweep unless you had a really good jig to control it. Maybe if you had a felt or leather wheel grooved to match the bevel, al-la a woodcarving tool.

I'd wait until WC has their 15% bag sale again and get the Sorby. They now make a smaller model that is targeted at pen turners that might be worthwhile. Other than that, bring an angle guage to WC and measure it to duplicate it yourself Also always ebay.

[Tom Miller]

I think it would be hard as **** to make the proper sweep unless you had a really good jig to control it.

Yeah, I guess I could see that.

I wasn't quite interested enough to buy one, but was enjoying the challenge of trying to make one. I obviously missed a subtlety, though, because I couldn't see what everyone was raving about.

Regards,
Tom

[final_t]

Yeah, I guess I could see that.

I wasn't quite interested enough to buy one, but was enjoying the challenge of trying to make one. I obviously missed a subtlety, though, because I couldn't see what everyone was raving about.

Regards,
Tom

I use my quite a bit, and I think one of the reasons why people rave about it is that it combines the good aspects of both a skew and a scraper in one unit, without the problems a skew can give to a first time or casual user, plus it's easy to keep sharp.

That being said, I use my oval skew often, but I took the time (and the catches!) to master it. I've never gotten a catch with the Spindelmaster, but I've managed to get some "digs" with it. You also can't do things with it that you can with a skew - but you can do things a skew can't! Like everything else, the proper tool for the job.

I've also seen one that looks similar, but it's a long triangle point on the front - skewygouge?

[final_t]

Yeah, I guess I could see that.

I wasn't quite interested enough to buy one, but was enjoying the challenge of trying to make one. I obviously missed a subtlety, though, because I couldn't see what everyone was raving about.

Regards,
Tom

Oh, and I feel the same way about the hollow gouges you hook up to a shop vac to suck the chips out.

[Tom Miller]

I use my quite a bit, and I think one of the reasons why people rave about it is that it combines the good aspects of both a skew and a scraper in one unit, without the problems a skew can give to a first time or casual user, plus it's easy to keep sharp.

That being said, I use my oval skew often, but I took the time (and the catches!) to master it. I've never gotten a catch with the Spindelmaster, but I've managed to get some "digs" with it. You also can't do things with it that you can with a skew - but you can do things a skew can't! Like everything else, the proper tool for the job.

I've also seen one that looks similar, but it's a long triangle point on the front - skewygouge?

Yeah, skew-chi-gouge, I think.

Actually, I've gotten pretty comfortable with my skew chisel, which is why I was especially surprised how catchy my not-quite-a-spindlemaster was. That's what made me think I didn't get the profile right. I haven't really given it a second thought since then -- maybe I'll take another look....

Regards,
Tom

[DeanKC]

Are they sharpened that way because it's difficult to grind the bevel correctly? The reason I ask is because I attempted to make a "Spindlemaster" from another HF chisel, but the result was pretty "catchy".

I have not seen anyone answer the point directly, so let me try.

If you lay hands on a Spindlemaster or its clone, you'll note that the "bevel" is actually conVEX and super polished to a mirror. There are no facets, lumps or bumps. That is really, really hard to reestablish. Talked with a Sorby rep and his words were, "Don't touch the bevel!!" Two or three swipes on that 800 grit paper and you've got a great, sharp tool. Unless you dropped it on cement first (been there, done that, sigh...).

It's a pretty cool tool, actually. I got one for my birthday last year and certainly have not mastered it yet, but love the results almost as much as those from a well-sharpened skew or maybe even from a great gouge. I'm too much of a tool junkie, admittedly, but I'll use the tool, unlike some of my purposes that end up at the bottom of the drawer until I need an anchor...