My dad just got his first lathe along with a variety of turning tools, but he can't afford fancy sharpening machines like a Tormek or Pro Edge. He does have a bench grinder, a belt sander, some whetstones, and a strop that he uses for his other tools like plane blades and chisels. Can anyone suggest good videos or resources on how to sharpen turning tools by hand?
4 Answers
I've heard a lot of turners recommend using CBN wheels on a low-speed grinder. Just keep in mind that you’ll need some jigs to make it work right. And as the folks at the store say, the lathe is the cheapest part of woodturning; everything else adds up!
Another option is to get the tools professionally sharpened first. After that, your dad can maintain the edges using just a strop or the finest stone he has. Keeping tools sharp is way easier than starting from scratch with dull ones!
You should check out Richard Raffan's YouTube channel for sharpening tips: https://www.youtube.com/@RichardRaffanwoodturning/search?query=sharpening. He’s been a pro for over fifty years and wrote the encyclopedia on woodturning. Your dad should be fine using his current grinder with an angle jig for a year or so before thinking about upgrading his tools.
I actually found a great video that shows how to sharpen turning tools by hand. Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/9kkI7iHL-Nc?si=nQG0snNIuqj1fYMH. If your dad doesn't turn a lot of pieces, this method works pretty well. It might be a bit time-consuming, but it's manageable for casual turners.