High Quality Chisels

[RONWEN]

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I have the Tormek T-7 with several jig kits which I use to sharpen everything.  It will not flatten the backs of chisels and plane irons.  I still have my granite slab and sharpening films I bought from Tools for Working Wood.  I also use the slab, fine grit films and my Veritas jig to put the final micro-bevel and hone on hand tools.  I have a big Pinnacle sliding jig which works okay, but I rarely get it out anymore after getting the Tormek.  You might also note I keep a small machinists square handy to ensure I have pieces squarely in the jigs.

I have the Drill Doctor which works great, once you get the hang of it.  I think I shortened my first try, a 1/2" installer bit, by about an inch before I got it sharp.  Getting the bit in the bit holder in the proper orientation is critical or you will get a sharp bit that can't get a bite in the material you are drilling.

Alex, I'm curious -- is that the normal machine orientation for the Tormek grinder using jigs?  I would have guessed it would be setting 180 degrees turned around (grinding wheel on the right, spinning CCW as a regular bench grinder does).

 

[Kev]

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I have the Tormek T-7 with several jig kits which I use to sharpen everything.  It will not flatten the backs of chisels and plane irons.  I still have my granite slab and sharpening films I bought from Tools for Working Wood.  I also use the slab, fine grit films and my Veritas jig to put the final micro-bevel and hone on hand tools.  I have a big Pinnacle sliding jig which works okay, but I rarely get it out anymore after getting the Tormek.  You might also note I keep a small machinists square handy to ensure I have pieces squarely in the jigs.

I have the Drill Doctor which works great, once you get the hang of it.  I think I shortened my first try, a 1/2" installer bit, by about an inch before I got it sharp.  Getting the bit in the bit holder in the proper orientation is critical or you will get a sharp bit that can't get a bite in the material you are drilling.

Alex, I'm curious -- is that the normal machine orientation for the Tormek grinder using jigs?  I would have guessed it would be setting 180 degrees turned around (grinding wheel on the right, spinning CCW as a regular bench grinder does).

Yes - the picture did my head in too!

(particularly with the power cord at the front)

 

[woodguy7]

The Tormek is the right way around.  The switch should face you.  The grinding wheel turns towards you for the quickest steel removal.  In my opinion this is the best system out there.  I have recently bought the attachment for sharpening spindle (shaper) tooling & it works great.  Flattening the backs of new chisels & plane irons can be a little bit of a pain but it only needs to be done once.  A little time on a diamond stone & it is perfect.

Let's not be lazy people, we can't expect machines to do everything for us !!!!

 

[joraft]

Let's not be lazy people, we can't expect machines to do everything for us !!!!

Unfortunately, it's too late for some of us.  [big grin]

 

[jmbfestool]

Let's not be lazy people, we can't expect machines to do everything for us !!!!

Unfortunately, it's too late for some of us.  [big grin]

yip! I would like a machine I could stick all my chisels in then come back 15 mins or so and they pop out the other side nice and sharp  all ready to use that would be great!

Oh and
I could set the angle in I want on the touch screen

JMB

 

[RONWEN]

I guess because it's not throwing sparks (up toward your face) it can set either way -- this first guy has it the way I would have expected, the second guy as Alex has his.
Sharpening with Tormek T7 - Part 1, Setup

Chisel Sharpening with Tormek - Regrind the Bevel

I did notice that he called "the front of the machine" the side that has the grinding wheel facing to the right.

 

[RONWEN]

[attachimg=#]

I have the Tormek T-7 with several jig kits which I use to sharpen everything.  It will not flatten the backs of chisels and plane irons.  I still have my granite slab and sharpening films I bought from Tools for Working Wood.  I also use the slab, fine grit films and my Veritas jig to put the final micro-bevel and hone on hand tools.  I have a big Pinnacle sliding jig which works okay, but I rarely get it out anymore after getting the Tormek.  You might also note I keep a small machinists square handy to ensure I have pieces squarely in the jigs.

I have the Drill Doctor which works great, once you get the hang of it.  I think I shortened my first try, a 1/2" installer bit, by about an inch before I got it sharp.  Getting the bit in the bit holder in the proper orientation is critical or you will get a sharp bit that can't get a bite in the material you are drilling.

Alex, I'm curious -- is that the normal machine orientation for the Tormek grinder using jigs?  I would have guessed it would be setting 180 degrees turned around (grinding wheel on the right, spinning CCW as a regular bench grinder does).

Yes - the picture did my head in too!

(particularly with the power cord at the front)

Kev, Does the Tormek machine rotate in the opposite direction down-under in Australia???  [big grin]

Water going counterclockwise down drain in Australia video 3

 

[joraft]

I guess because it's not throwing sparks (up toward your face) it can set either way ...

Ron, when using the leather honing wheel you must work with the wheel turning away from you (for obvious reasons  [smile]).

Also, which side you work from depends a lot on what jig you're using.

 

[Kev]

[attachimg=#]

I have the Tormek T-7 with several jig kits which I use to sharpen everything.  It will not flatten the backs of chisels and plane irons.  I still have my granite slab and sharpening films I bought from Tools for Working Wood.  I also use the slab, fine grit films and my Veritas jig to put the final micro-bevel and hone on hand tools.  I have a big Pinnacle sliding jig which works okay, but I rarely get it out anymore after getting the Tormek.  You might also note I keep a small machinists square handy to ensure I have pieces squarely in the jigs.

I have the Drill Doctor which works great, once you get the hang of it.  I think I shortened my first try, a 1/2" installer bit, by about an inch before I got it sharp.  Getting the bit in the bit holder in the proper orientation is critical or you will get a sharp bit that can't get a bite in the material you are drilling.

Alex, I'm curious -- is that the normal machine orientation for the Tormek grinder using jigs?  I would have guessed it would be setting 180 degrees turned around (grinding wheel on the right, spinning CCW as a regular bench grinder does).

Yes - the picture did my head in too!

(particularly with the power cord at the front)

Kev, Does the Tormek machine rotate in the opposite direction down-under in Australia???   [big grin]

Water going counterclockwise down drain in Australia video 3

LOL ... Only on the even days of the month  [wink]

 

[tiralie]

In my opinion this is the best system out there. 

Agreed. In my last rant I forgot to mention that I have one and love it. Build quality is on par with Festool.

Let's not be lazy people, we can't expect machines to do everything for us !!!!

Well, I put my dull chisels and knifes next to my Tormek hoping that they will get sharpened, only to come back later to find that they are as dull as ever.
And why is it that every time you want to use a chisel or plane it's the dullest one of the bunch  [tongue].
Tim

 

[RONWEN]

Let's not be lazy people, we can't expect machines to do everything for us !!!!

Unfortunately, it's too late for some of us.  [big grin]

yip! I would like a machine I could stick all my chisels in then come back 15 mins or so and they pop out the other side nice and sharp  all ready to use that would be great!

Oh and
I could set the angle in I want on the touch screen

JMB

That is a somewhat half-baked example of "lazy thinking" -- The ideal machine will have an input chute for raw timber at one end and an output conveyor at the other where furniture comes out with the finish already dry & ready for delivery.  [tongue]

 

[Kev]

Let's not be lazy people, we can't expect machines to do everything for us !!!!

Unfortunately, it's too late for some of us.  [big grin]

yip! I would like a machine I could stick all my chisels in then come back 15 mins or so and they pop out the other side nice and sharp  all ready to use that would be great!

Oh and
I could set the angle in I want on the touch screen

JMB

That is a somewhat half-baked example of "lazy thinking" -- The ideal machine will have an input chute for raw timber at one end and an output conveyor at the other where furniture comes out with the finish already dry & ready for delivery.   [tongue]

In that case I'd expect it to make more than furniture!

The mechanics of an all singing / all dancing chisel "renovator" wouldn't be that difficult - but the resulting machine complexity would set the cost fairly high.

If you add up the time spent over three years and apply a value per hour ... what does it equal?

Would you pay $500 or $1000 for a machine that automatically flattened and sharpened any chisel between 3mm and 50mm ... but only did simple bench chisels ? ( say with a default angle that you could choose to override )

Pretty much everything out there in sharpening land leverages a single motor and a positioning gimmick ... imagine instead something with two off centre rotating piston driven disks ... one flattening and one timed to miss the other, inclined to your desired blade angle.

Patent anybody?  [big grin]

 

[RONWEN]

Seriously?  You make a fair point (or edge  [smile]) -- if you look at the Worksharp Drill Doctor it deals with the far more complex cutting geometry of a twist drill with a machine that is 95% molded plastic so certainly a similar machine for plane irons and chisels wouldn't be all that difficult for the primary, secondary and backs of the tools. 
On the other hand I have a somewhat different perspective as an amateur woodworker than a pro that is charging a customer for his time -- I rather enjoy sharpening, it's a relaxing and therapeutic activity.  Back to the Drill Doctor ( I own one) it will quickly grind an acceptable point on a HSS twist drill but since I have sharpened several hundreds (probably several thousands) free hand with a bench grinder that is still how I prefer to do them.

 

[woodguy7]

I know there is a lot of kidding on about machines here but one thing to bear in mind is the loss of a skill.  If one Pearson buys a machine to sharpen every part of his woodworking chisel or plane iron then that is all he will use.  When his kids grow up that is the only method they will know.  Before you know it there will be a generation that does not have a clue how to sharpen cutting tools without a specific machine.  That skill or art is then lost & won't return.  If you apply the same logic to everything then the industries will be a lot poorer for it.

It's like someone that can't hang a door without power tools !!!  In my book that Pearson doesn't deserve to be called a carpenter.  My apprentice was working for me for a year before he was allowed to use a mitre saw on trim, he got a better training for it !

Ok, rant over  ;D

 

[Guy Ashley]

I know there is a lot of kidding on about machines here but one thing to bear in mind is the loss of a skill.  If one Pearson buys a machine to sharpen every part of his woodworking chisel or plane iron then that is all he will use.  When his kids grow up that is the only method they will know.  Before you know it there will be a generation that does not have a clue how to sharpen cutting tools without a specific machine.  That skill or art is then lost & won't return.  If you apply the same logic to everything then the industries will be a lot poorer for it.

It's like someone that can't hang a door without power tools !!!  In my book that Pearson doesn't deserve to be called a carpenter.  My apprentice was working for me for a year before he was allowed to use a mitre saw on trim, he got a better training for it !

Ok, rant over  ;D

Total agreement on that point!! On starting my apprenticeship I had to learn to sharpen chisels and plane blades by hand with only a rudimentary beech wood guide.

Whilst we should all appreciate the gadgets that make working easier, being able to work with hand tools is a fundamental skill that I am afraid is being lost.

Too many people these days have the "rush rush"  "I am quicker than him" mentality and it shows in the final product.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Total agreement on that point!! On starting my apprenticeship I had to learn to sharpen chisels and plane blades by hand with only a rudimentary beech wood guide.

Whilst we should all appreciate the gadgets that make working easier, being able to work with hand tools is a fundamental skill that I am afraid is being lost.

Too many people these days have the "rush rush"  "I am quicker than him" mentality and it shows in the final product.

What are hand tools and why do they need sharpening? [blink] [big grin]

 

[joraft]

What are hand tools and why do they need sharpening? [blink] [big grin]

And we have a representative of the opposite end of the spectrum.  [smile]

One of the great benefits of attending every woodworking related event possible is the opportunity to talk with so many of the masters of the craft. And the vast majority of the ones I have spoken with have said that they believe it's important to develop the skills of doing things both manually and with machines (which can take a lot of skill too). And equally important is to know which is best to use for the particular task at hand.

 

[waho6o9]

One can purchase 01 steel and make their own high quality chisels and make custom handles for them.  [smile]

 

[jmbfestool]

I do find it strange but I am kinda looking forward to getting some new chisels!  I do believe I am both hand and machine minded but I do admit I do lean towards machine more!  Even though some people find that a disadvantage I believe people who lean towards hand tools more has a disadvantage especially in todays world if you wanna make a living.

JMB

 

[jmbfestool]

One can purchase 01 steel and make their own high quality chisels and make custom handles for them.   [smile]

How would one go about doing that then?

I assume a lath would be needed as well as some steel cutting machinery.

I do have a steel place just up the road and im pretty sure the guy who owns it would LOVE to make something like chisels!  Hes a very cleaver bloke and has made a lot of money but gets bored very easily! He was into his metal building machines and so eventually set up his own factory now hes got bored of it he has employed people to keep it running and then he jumped onto woodworking and bought CNC and lathes to make stuff out of wood now hes got bored of doing that hes bought a large CNC for doing corian worktops thats hes latest project.  He keeps asking when my work shop is getting built cus he wants to help me on the CNC side of it cus I told him thats what I wanna buy.   

JMB