Found Collection

Hello Steve,

If your chisels are new, they are not sharp. That has been the case with all of
the new chisels that I've bought. There is an article on sharpening your tools
at my web site that should help you quite a bit. Go to:
<http://www.fholder.com/Woodturning/woodturn.htm> and look up the articles then
select the article on sharpening. That should give you some pretty good
information on sharpening your tools. Then come back with specific questions.
You don't say, for instance, what type of tool you are using. If it happens to
be a scraper, only the burr on top of the tool does the cutting. If it is a
gouge the answer would be different. Try reading the article and then ask your
question with more specifics and we'll try to help you.

Fred Holder
<http://www.fholder.com/>

Fred Holder
<http://www.fholder.com/>

I just got a lathe and made my first attempt tonight.   I'm finding
the chisels don't seem to cut very well.  Can someone tell me, first,
how can you tell if your chisel is sharp, and second, how do you go
about sharping them?

Thanks for your help!
Steve

It's a pretty good rule of thumb that tools straight out of the box
must be sharpened.

One resource for you relative to sharpening are books and videos.  Del
Stubbs (Bowl Turning with Del Stubbs) spends some time on sharpening.
David Ellsworths videos talk about that as well, and it's handy to see
it in motion.  Find a Wood Craft Supplies store if there is one near
you.  They have classrooms, and if they have a turning instructor
around, he can show you some tips.

Personally, I love the Wolverine Grinding Jig with the Varigrind
option for fingernail grinds.  Believe me, even if you've never done
it before, this system makes it a cinch with just a little practise.

Use a grinder (slow speed, 1750rpm preferred) with GOOD WHEELS on it.
Forget the green wheels, they'll chew the snot out of your tools.  Use
white or pink wheels (aluminum oxide I think), one at 80 grit, and the
other at 100 or 120 grit.

Ummmm, also, go to the Craft Supplies USA site and look over their
sharpening supplies.  (www.craftusa.com)

Steve

Leonard Lee has a fairly good book/video on sharpening but it does not spend
very much time on lathe tools.  Del Stubbs has a video out (old one) that
does a really good job of showing what to do.  Taunton Press
(www.finewoodworking.com) has copies of it.

Fred

I just got a lathe and made my first attempt tonight.   I'm finding
the chisels don't seem to cut very well.  Can someone tell me, first,
how can you tell if your chisel is sharp, and second, how do you go
about sharping them?

Thanks for your help!
Steve

Hi Steve,
Here's how to tell if your chisel is dull, rather than sharp.
If the cutting edge is polished and shiny, it's dull.
If there are multiple facets, each representing a diferent angle, those angled
areas may prevent the point where you need to cut from reaching the wood
efficiently
Suggest you find an AAW club in your area..

WoodTurners Anonymous of Richmond, Va, an AAW Chapter