Hello from a newbie.
Hi from Italy, I bought a tormek t7 for my woodturning tools last week. Yesterday I spent 6 hours to grind my "destroyed" oval skew chisel grinded in the past with wrong machines. After that it was difficult to have a sharp edge of the chisel because even if I was using the stone grader to rebuild the abrasive qualities, the wheel didn't grind the steel of the tip. I'm doing something wrong? Someone could help me?
Welcome to the forum, Stefano.
Have you watched the Tormek woodturning DVD? In my opinion it is Tormek's best training video. You can also find parts of it online.
Best,
Ken
Thank you Ken S. Yes I've watched the DVD. But I think the oval skew chisel is the most difficult tool to sharpen with the tormek system, as posted by other members in this forum. I'm thinking to use the tt50 truing tool to redress the probable glazed grind stone.
Stefano,
I am coming to believe that the TT-50 is a most essential accessory. It keeps the grinding wheel true and cutting at full efficiency.
With your skew chisel, if you are doing more than resharpening a slightly dull edge, you are getting into reshaping. You will want your grinding wheel in top condition for this. True your wheel. When you notice that your wheel is no longer cutting as well when graded coarse, use the TT-50 again, removing only enough material to refresh the wheel. Expect reshaping to require both a clean wheel and some time.
Ken
Quote from: Stefano on February 16, 2016, 06:31:56 AM
I'm thinking to use the tt50 truing tool to redress the probable glazed grind stone.
Don't be afraid to push really hard on the grindstone with the coarse side of the stone grader. Use the corner of the stone grader at times to really cut into the grindstone. Other Tormek users have reported the same problem you describe. Their solution has been to use the BGM-100 Bench Grinder Mounting Set or a belt grinder (lanisher) system to remove lots of steel fast when reshaping a HSS tool.
I'm happy to join your community!!!
And happy to have such answers to my problem. First of all I'll redress my stone to understand if it is the problem...
Thank you again....
Stefano,
One of the things I like about this forim is that we can express differing opinions respectfully and politely.
I agree with Herman about the use of the stone grader. I have doubts about using a dry grinder or belt grinder. (For the record, I happen to have both.) Both of them reintroduce the very real possibility of overheating, dust and sparks.
Admittedly, both remove steel more quickly than the slower wet wheel of the Tormek. Slower can mean more controlled. I have posted my experiences using Norton 3X grinding wheels wet with the Tormek. These increase speed while maintaining the Tormek's cool and dust free environment.
The other factor to consider is cost. If you routinely reshape tools, a more efficient option may be cost effective. If you occasionally need to restore abused turning tools, using the regular Tormek grinding wheel, kept well dressed and true, may be your most cost effective option. Once you have a tool properly shaped, only quick resharpening should be necessary. You need to ask yourself how many tools do you need to reshape. A good belt grinding set up for turning might cost $500US. A BGM-100, dry grinder, and proper grinding wheels (Grinders do not come with them.) could cost almost that much.
I suggest you complete work on your skew with the Tormek and SG250 grinding wheel. Dress and grade the wheel often, whenever you notice it cutting less well. Keep track of the time involved. Compare this time with how you value your time. If you are a highly paid busy professional, it may be worth your while to invest in other sharpening equipment. If the sharpening time involved would let you earn less than the cost of the extra equipment, just use your Tormek. You will end up with a well sharpened tool, even if it requires more time.
Another sensible option if you want a different profile on your tool is to just purchase another with that profile.
There is no one answer fits all situations. Keep in mind that these thoughts are only my opinions. Read all the opinions and make your own decision.
Ken
Thank you ken S. Fortunately I don't reshape my tools. Reshape the oval skew was due to my previous useless grinder. I was thinking that when sharpening that tool with the tormek, there were not the typical sound coming from the wheel. Thus, this probably is the problem: the grind stone need to be regrind.
I'm a teacher and I don't have free time this week, so when I will use again it, I will let you know if there will be a happy end!
Stefano.
;) :D
It works, it works it works!!!!
Thanks to all your answers!!!
Today I have redressed the stone with the TT-50 and grinded al my chisel very fast!!!
Bravo, Stefano!
Ken
When the grindstone gets glazed over with steel particles it performs very poorly. The coarse side of the grindstone should be sufficient to restore it. Using the truing tool puts the grindstone in super-coarse state.
Grazie ken S, grazie a tutti!
I seem to recall posting in this thread.....have I been moderated (censored) and if so please tell me why?
No censoring by the Western Hemisphere Branch of Tormek Security. :)
Please repost.......
Ken
Must just be getting old...memory not what it was :-) Now what was my name again.....
I was thinking it was "Bob"' however, Bob might be your uncle. :)
Ken
Quote from: Stefano on February 15, 2016, 06:39:01 PM
Hello from a newbie.
Hi from Italy, I bought a tormek t7 for my woodturning tools last week. Yesterday I spent 6 hours to grind my "destroyed" oval skew chisel grinded in the past with wrong machines. After that it was difficult to have a sharp edge of the chisel because even if I was using the stone grader to rebuild the abrasive qualities, the wheel didn't grind the steel of the tip. I'm doing something wrong? Someone could help me?
Hello Stefano,
I'm a newbie too, had the same problem last month.
My wife started turning and we wanted to get sharp tools overall. The oval skew chisel was a pain in the ass. The first millimeter worked well, lateron the advance slowed down to nearly nothing.
I think that comes of two reasons. First most turning tools are HSS today second the surface area grinded at once is quite large with this type of tool. Pressing harder helps to some amount but is not the real solution, one can't even press hard enough. Preparing the stone is also not sufficient on a SG stone.
The best result I got by switching to the SB stone which is far more aggressive on HSS steel. It reduced grinding time substantial, estimated by a factor of ten.
Rolf
Quote from: Stefano on February 17, 2016, 05:44:09 PM
;) :D
It works, it works it works!!!!
Thanks to all your answers!!!
Today I have redressed the stone with the TT-50 and grinded al my chisel very fast!!!
It is important to read through the topic. The Tormek is no different than any other grinding material in that the abrasive material must be properly prepared to work well.
One of the basic skills which should be mastered when first learning to use the Tormek is effectively using the TT-50 truing tool. It should be the first tool to touch your new grinding wheel. Good grinding practice, wet or dry, anyone's grinder, is to true the wheel. Do this slowly and carefully, taking very fine cuts. The first cut should contact the wheel ever so slightly and only at the high spot. the cutting depth should be only a fraction of one number on the microadjust. Proceed very slowly with fine cuts, less than one microadjust number,gradually removing more of the high areas.
Part of the skill you are learning is watching the effect on the wheel and listening to the cutting. When you finally make a pass which cuts continually both circumferentially and the entire width of the wheel, you are true and the wheel is ready to use.
Another part of the necessary skill is the correct mindset. The grinding wheel is like brakeshoes on your car. Both do a lot of work as they wear out. Both are longterm consumable items. By the time when you will eventually need to replace your grinding wheel, you will have benefitted from many many very sharp tools. If you have a sharpening business, your income will have much more than covered the cost of a new wheel.
I once ran a test where I placed a metal lathe bit in my square edge jig and ground on it for five minutes. I do not know the alloy of the bit. I assume it was high speed M2 steel at the very least. After just five minutes I had ground a very noticeable amount of the bit.
Keep your grinding wheel in top condition. Maintain it very regularly. Do not wait until your skew chisel is like a comatose butter knife to sharpen it. Be positive and patient. Enjoy your Tormek. :)
Ken
ps If you are purchasing a T4, the TT-50 truing tool should be purchased at the same time, or at least before and jigs.
Do a google search for "sharpening skew chisels with the Tormek". You will find a you tube lasting 8:39. It was down for Tormek by Jeff Farris and does an excellent job of covering the proper technique for skew chisel sharpening.
Anyone who turns and uses a Tormek for sharpening really should have the Woodturner's Instruction Box (TNT300). The Box contains the book "Sharpening Woodturning Tools the Tormek Way" by Torgny Jansson and the DVD "The Tormek TNT Sharpening System for Woodturners by Jeff Farris. I consider both essential for Tormek woodturners. In addition to sharpening information, the DVD includes sections on using all of the woodturning tools.
Ken