Preferred Method to Sharpen Skew Chisel?

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

mgoetzke

Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2021
Messages
46
Location
Chicagoland
After a break I'm back to turning. I was into bowls but wanted to break myself in with some spindle turning so decided on pens since I have a stash of blanks. I'm enjoying the process of turning pens more than I thought I would. I also purchased a nice Crown/Colwin Way 1-1/4" skew chisel that I really like for the couple of pens I have completed so far (ha - don't think I ever used one before).

When it came time to sharpen I freehand ground it on my 8" CBN wheel, but, then I thought "now I just put a hollow grind on my skew." So this has generated a few questions:

1) Is it important to flat grind a skew or is a hollow grind OK?
2) If hollow grind is OK, do you freehand (like I did the first time) or do you use a jig like the Wolverine skew jig for consistency?
3) I see some use a CBN or diamond card between sharpenings - do you?
4) Seems like flat grinding at the grinder with a CBN wheel with grit on the sides requires a lot of skill. How do others do this?

Thanks
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

JimB

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2008
Messages
4,683
Location
West Henrietta, NY, USA.
I have 4 skews and they all have a hollow grind. i mostly use a 600 grit diamond card to sharpen/hone them. I will do this for months before they need to go to the grinder again. When I do go to the grinder I use the Wolverine platform to do it.

If you want a flat grind the other way to do it is to use a belt sander instead of a wheel.
regardless of flat or hollow I would still hone with a minimum of 600 grit or finer.
 

JimB

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2008
Messages
4,683
Location
West Henrietta, NY, USA.
I should have mentioned I don't use a skew very often as I mostly turn bowls. That is why it is so long between taking it to the grinder. If I was using it for hours every day i would probably be taking it to the grinder a couple times a week.
 

howsitwork

Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2016
Messages
2,299
Location
Thirsk
I grind to shape and sharp with 120 grit white wheel freehand on a platform , then hold flat and diamond hone with 600 ( I think ) stone . Might hone furthe depending on what i am doing. The finer the skew edge the better the finish generally. Have used a tormek in the past but freehand to give the curve I like
 

mgoetzke

Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2021
Messages
46
Location
Chicagoland
Thanks for the feedback. I sharpened mine using a platform but probably should have card sharpened it first. And sounds like no issues with the slight hollow grind.

Mike
 

leehljp

Member Liaison
Joined
Feb 6, 2005
Messages
9,314
Location
Tunica, Mississippi,
There are CBN wheels with a flat side grit for flat grinds if you want that.

 

mgoetzke

Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2021
Messages
46
Location
Chicagoland
There are CBN wheels with a flat side grit for flat grinds if you want that.

My CBN wheel has a flat side but unfortunately also a radius. Don't think there is enough flat to grind the 1-1/4" at one touch plus I was thinking to flat grind it this way you need to keep the chisel vertical as well as on the correct bevel.
 

monophoto

Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2010
Messages
2,542
Location
Saratoga Springs, NY
I sharpen my skews on a sanding disc rather than on the grinder. That way, they get a flat grind. I have a sanding disc mounted on a mandrel that I can attach to the headstock spindle on my lathe for this purpose.

But I don't grind skews all that often - only when they are noticeably dinged up. Normally, I just touch them up on a diamond plate (or a wetstone).
 

randyrls

Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2006
Messages
4,821
Location
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Mike; Definitely use a flat grind. Hollow grinds skews tend to be "grabby". Take a look at the skews next time you go to any turning store and look closely at the skews. They will all have flat grinds on them.
 

Attachments

  • Skew Grinds.png
    Skew Grinds.png
    61.2 KB · Views: 118

WriteON

Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2013
Messages
3,266
Location
S. Florida
My WorkSharp makes quick work of skews and gives a nice, flat grind.
Rick Harrell just fabricated this for my newly purchased WS3000
 

Attachments

  • 2037D268-7783-400F-8B7C-726A58104CB1.jpeg
    2037D268-7783-400F-8B7C-726A58104CB1.jpeg
    229.9 KB · Views: 116
  • 709D370E-B42F-432F-9EDA-A3E967932AA3.jpeg
    709D370E-B42F-432F-9EDA-A3E967932AA3.jpeg
    300.6 KB · Views: 103
  • 80C13016-4E68-4D12-9F7D-3728BC7A650F.jpeg
    80C13016-4E68-4D12-9F7D-3728BC7A650F.jpeg
    341.4 KB · Views: 110

MiteyF

Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2018
Messages
187
Location
Bay area
Depending on what angle you like your skew, and assuming it's not too large, the 3000 has a built-in bevel guide. With the slotted wheel, you can actually SEE your bevel while you sharpen. Incredibly handy.

ws3000-2_1.jpg



ws3000-4_1_1.jpg
 

mgoetzke

Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2021
Messages
46
Location
Chicagoland
Wow more than one way to skin a cat!

Don't want to grind down too much of my skews cyro-M2 steel but I had to try to flat grind on the side of my wheel and wasn't as difficult as I anticipated!
 
Top Bottom