How to Sharpen a Round Nose Tool

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RussFromNH

RussFromNH

Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2011
Messages
149
Location
Southern NH
Hi all, I was working on a blank last night and noticed that my round tip tool (my favorite tool) is getting dull. I looked on the forums to see if anyone posted any instructions on how to sharpen a round tip tool and I cannot find anything so far.

I talked to the folks at Rockler and they sold me a wet stone that I could use. They also instructed me to use the stone on the top and bottom of the tool and not on the round tip. I tried it last night and the tool is worse than when I started. I made sure I kept the tool flat to the stone since it is a flat edge that I am trying to sharpen. I have thought about picking up one of these...

Work Sharp 3000 with FREE Leather Hone - Amazon.com

but I still would not know how to sharpen the round tip.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

On a second subject, does anyone have any recommendations on a carbide tip round tool? I know someone on the IAP used to make them.
 
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If you mean ride the bevel to sharpen yes. After work I will find the video that showed this as an example. They used a grinder.

I have 80 grit.
 
It is a small round nose scraper, not one with an insert.

Lenny, that video is what I was looking for, thank you. The guy at Rockler told me not to touch the round part and to sharpen it on the flat top and bottom. It is now dull since I did that. I am going to try it on my sander tonight.
 
As soon as I got home last night I figured out the angle of the scraper and put it on the disk sander. With two quick passes on the sander the tool has a great edge and cut throught the blank like butter. Thank you everyone for the advice.
 
Unfortunalely, most of the workers at places like Rockler and Woodcraft(that I have questioned or asked for into) have not known much of what they speak. I remember taking my first pen making class at a Woodcraft and purchasing several different products for finishing pens to follow the finishing routine taught in the class. Oh yea, they sell those products, don't they?
Do a good turn daily!
Don

RussFromNH said:
The guy at Rockler told me not to touch the round part and to sharpen it on the flat top and bottom. It is now dull since I did that.
Click to expand...
 
I just sharpen using my tool grinder (basically just a fancy bench grinder with finer stones) set to the angle I want and rotate the tool around the radius, or on my little belt sander using an angled block at the same angle to hold it on and rotating the same way with very fine belt for a highly polished edge when needed.

If I were gong to sharpen from the top only, I think I'd just use carbide sandpaper and my surface plate in stead of buying anything fancy. Sharpening on the top -if I understand it right- would be thinning the tool while sharpening on the end shortens it.
 
I have not taken a class yet, everything I have learned has been either from posts (videos and questions), or from the library.

Due to work I have been out of my shop for the past 8 months. I am finally able to come up for air and get into my little workshop from time to time. I have three blanks almost ready for finishing finally. I want to have them ready for Christmas. I will take some pictures and post them when I get them done. I need to get one of them to the lazer engraver this weekend.
 
I saw some pens made on a wood lathe and wanted to learn how. I did some searching and found a class at a local woodcraft. This was before there were any penturning forums to join. That was the only class I've taken.
Do a good turn daily!
Don

RussFromNH said:
I have not taken a class yet, everything I have learned has been either from posts (videos and questions), or from the library.
Click to expand...
 
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