When I was young, I had a hand cranked grinding wheel and a little while later I got a "Work Arbor" for my lathe with a grind stone on it. In both cases i hand sharpened plane irons, hand chisels, scrapers, lathe chisels, lawn mower reels, clippers etc. with either the grind stone or a mill bastard file. It's been a while and I'm now 72 and my hand isn't so steady so I have switched to a Rikon 8" slow speed (1725 RPM) bench grinder with a Wolverine jig. I find I get razor sharp consistent results. Yes I ended up spending some money on it but I have consistently good results. BTW- I am not affluent to buy CBN wheels so I am using the white wheels that came with the grinder
So all you use is the grinder? Do you use both wheels on the grinder each time you sharpen? New turning tools need to be sharpened before turning correct? I bought the WoodRiver 3 piece turning tools. I bought the Rikon grinder. After grinding I've been using credit card size diamond hones. I'm STILL learning to get a sharp edge.
Most new tools need honing and possibly sharpening and then honing. Sometimes you may need to re-shape, then sharpen, then hone.
The coarse wheel is for re-shaping, not sharpening. You sharpen on the finer wheel. After sharpening you hone with your diamond file. I use a credit card size also. Once the tool is properly honed you will not need to go back to the grinder each time. You will use your diamond hone to touch up the edge. Just don't let the tool get dull. If it does then go back to your grinder and sharpen on the finer wheel and hone it again. If you hone frequently you will spend very little time at the grinder.
Thanks Jim,
So once I have the tool edge "shiny" it's sharp, right?
I think I'm getting there. I turned a stablilized flaming box elder. , I turned the piece ok. The carbide tip turning tool I bought a couple of years ago (from woodcraft) I'm trying to sharpenthe carbide tip tools, no success so far.
Any suggestions on sharpening carbide tip tools?
I'm trying to sharpen a new WoodRiver pen set from woodcraft and Shopsmith turning tools.