For some reason I have never seen discussion of how the sharpened tip should look after sharpening. It would seem very easy to remove too much metal at one or more places along the bevel, rendering a tool sharpened at the same angle every time but a less than ideal shape. It would seem this knowledge and understanding would be very helpful for those using jigs, especially those new to sharpening and using lathe tools.
I sharpen freehand using a Robo Rest, which makes for extremely quick and easy sharpening for a variety of gouge angles and scrapers during turning of a bowl, so I can't offer suggestions on the jig.
Don it is difficult to explain sharpening without photos and I do not have the time to look up google for videos and photos. Telling someone to do a search is forbidden words here because it brings out the etiquette police here. But sometimes words can not answer a question alone and this is the case here. IN MY OPINION. (better put a smiley face here too
) There are tons of videos on the net showing sharpening using jigs and no jigs. But I will say my trick with the marker will get you there without removing too much material if you are careful. As soon as all the marker is gone then the angle is sharpened all along the cutting edge. Is it a perfect angle no one here can tell you that. If you sharpen the same way on both side of the tool the way I said you will get a sharp tool. Now other factors come into play what was the angle before you sharpened and was it what you find good?? What kind of tool is it?? Is it a cheap Harbor Freight metal or a higher grade of steel?? How are you presenting tool to the wood or other material and it is proper?? Is your wheel of good quality and dressed properly?? Are you grinding equal amounts of material off each side of tool?? So many other factors go into sharpening. When you get proficient at it yes no jigs are needed, just a good tool rest. That is all I do now. I have those jigs when I started and now they collect dust.
