Wolverine system

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bking0217

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Can you sharpen a standard grind spindle gouge with the basic Wolverine sharpening jig? I need a sharpening setup but I need to spend as little money as possible this time of year.
 
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bking0217 said:
Can you sharpen a standard grind spindle gouge with the basic Wolverine sharpening jig? I need a sharpening setup but I need to spend as little money as possible this time of year.
Click to expand...
Yes, you can. It will take practice, but you can do it.
 
That's what I was hoping. I was looking at the bevel on my spindle gouge and I still don't see how it's going to work but I don't have the jig in front of me so I'll get that and see what happens. In a perfect world I'd get a Tormek, but...
 
bking0217 said:
That's what I was hoping. I was looking at the bevel on my spindle gouge and I still don't see how it's going to work but I don't have the jig in front of me so I'll get that and see what happens. In a perfect world I'd get a Tormek, but...
Click to expand...

To be quiet honest with you, if you could swing the varigrind attachment, your life would be MUCH easier.

And, I had a Tormek, a WorkSharp 3000, Grizzly 10" and the Wolverine. I now have the Wolverine system and the Grizzly. I think the Wolverine is the best system out there (FOR ME) and it puts a scary sharp grind on anything (except planes) that I have. It is a lot faster than the Tormek.

BUT, if you are truly looking at a Tormek, also give the Grizzly system a look-over. Almost the same thing, just a lot less expensive, and 90% of the Tormek accessories work with the Grizzly system.
 
Padre said:
bking0217 said:
That's what I was hoping. I was looking at the bevel on my spindle gouge and I still don't see how it's going to work but I don't have the jig in front of me so I'll get that and see what happens. In a perfect world I'd get a Tormek, but...
Click to expand...

To be quiet honest with you, if you could swing the varigrind attachment, your life would be MUCH easier.

And, I had a Tormek, a WorkSharp 3000, Grizzly 10" and the Wolverine. I now have the Wolverine system and the Grizzly. I think the Wolverine is the best system out there (FOR ME) and it puts a scary sharp grind on anything (except planes) that I have. It is a lot faster than the Tormek.

BUT, if you are truly looking at a Tormek, also give the Grizzly system a look-over. Almost the same thing, just a lot less expensive, and 90% of the Tormek accessories work with the Grizzly system.
Click to expand...

Have you used both the Varigrind and the Varigrind 2? If so, how do they compare?
 
JimB said:
Padre said:
bking0217 said:
That's what I was hoping. I was looking at the bevel on my spindle gouge and I still don't see how it's going to work but I don't have the jig in front of me so I'll get that and see what happens. In a perfect world I'd get a Tormek, but...
Click to expand...

To be quiet honest with you, if you could swing the varigrind attachment, your life would be MUCH easier.

And, I had a Tormek, a WorkSharp 3000, Grizzly 10" and the Wolverine. I now have the Wolverine system and the Grizzly. I think the Wolverine is the best system out there (FOR ME) and it puts a scary sharp grind on anything (except planes) that I have. It is a lot faster than the Tormek.

BUT, if you are truly looking at a Tormek, also give the Grizzly system a look-over. Almost the same thing, just a lot less expensive, and 90% of the Tormek accessories work with the Grizzly system.
Click to expand...

Have you used both the Varigrind and the Varigrind 2? If so, how do they compare?
Click to expand...

I have both the Varigrind and the Varigrind 2. The 2 is more of a 'captured' system where you don't have to worry too much about the gouge slipping off the grinding wheel. The flip side to that is that you use mostly the center of the wheel, so you do a lot more dressing of the wheel than you do with the Varigrind. With the original you control roll and angle so you can cover the whole wheel with the end of your gouge.

It's 50/50 in my book. I like 'em both but reach for the original more than the 2.
 
bking0217 said:
That's what I was hoping. I was looking at the bevel on my spindle gouge and I still don't see how it's going to work but I don't have the jig in front of me so I'll get that and see what happens. In a perfect world I'd get a Tormek, but...
Click to expand...

It definitely gets interesting free-handing it. You have to match the bevel then swing the handle left while rotating it 90-degrees then swing it back to center while un-rotating it, then go to the right while rotating the other way, etc. How much you swing and how much you rotate depends on the tool profile you are trying to sharpen.

Pretty much every "professional" turner I've met does it by freehand because it is faster and time is money. AND they get so much practice that they have it mastered. For me, who turns maybe a couple of times a month, I use the wolverine with the varigrind1 (didn't have the 2 when I bought my system). Takes a couple of minutes to sharpen the tool. I can live with that.

As Padre said, the only difference between the V1 and V2 is that the V2 locks your tool tip to the center of the wheel which gives a more consistent sharpen. The V1 it is up to you, the operator, to keep it centered or not. Also, the v1 can use the Raptor setup jigs where the V2 can't.
 
Learning to freehand sharpen your tool takes little practice. Jigs give you consistency every time you go to the grinder. I have been using Wolverine system for many years.
The basic Wolverine system and Vari-Grind Jig will serve you well.

Once you add some Thompson bowl gouges then pick up Vari-Grind2. You can make your own "Raptor Set-Up tools. Couple of u-tube videos demonstrate how to make them. You can also make your own Jamieson Grinding Jig Guide.

The V-Arm is for sharpening you roughing gouge. Yes can also sharpen bowl and spindles gouges with V-Arm, but will get better results with Vari-Grind Jig. The platform is great for sharpening skews and scrappers, and free hand sharpening.
 
BigguyZ said:
Just a note, PSI makes a copy that's much less $$, and even cheaper on Amazon, I believe. The Amazon bundle comes with the Varigrind and skew attachments.
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How does the PSI compare to Wolverine? The Varigrind looks a bit different between the two. Does anyone have experience with both?
 
Wildman said:
The platform is great for sharpening skews and scrappers, and free hand sharpening.
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I have owned both the PSI and the Oneway jigs. The PSI fingernail attachment holds wider tools the the Wolverine but the I had dificulity aligining narrow tools in the PSI. The clamp design on the base are very different and Oneway wins that one in my book.

The platform on the Wolerine is not flat and needs to be filed to make it flat. Take a flat scew, lay it flat on the platform and slowly slide it across trying to keep it flat on the platform. (grinder off)

Chuckie

Chuckie
 
Seems like a no-brainer to me. Either learn to sharpen free hand make your own sharpening system or buy:

PSI's Wolverine clone for $125 plus shipping. Or go to amazon,com for same at $114.95 with free shipping.

Get the real Wolverine from Craft Supplies USA basic system, $ 85.99 add $52.99 for vari-grind jig, $139 or $150 basic system, vari-grind jig and diamond dresser plus shipping.

Hartville Tool has partial sale on Wolverine System, vari-grind jig on sale for $46.95 and basic system cost $87.99 so that is $124.95 plus shipping.

You may find better deals on a Wolverine system, don't know.
 
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