Messages

Ken,
Engineers are accused of the paralysis by analysis malady, most often mistakenly by spouses, family and friends.

George

Thank you Ken, Rob and Jan for your response.  I haven't figured out if there is a way to post a reply to individual responses, so this aggregated reply.
Ken, I am familiar with Ruffan's use of the vertical rest...thanks.  I had not considered contacting him re the bevels on "his" Henry Taylor tools, but may.  The suggestion to use the basic settings (presets) matches my preference; I have found the book and dvd very useful.  However, as stated in my post, the question is, which of the two presets for a radius skew to select (if not some other value).  Of the two presets, Tormek would say use 45 degrees unless you are a pro.  Thanks for the kenjig lead.  Your response to Rob is basically the technique I use for non standard settings, including the use of spacer blocks (in lieu of hole A or B).
Rob, I take your "yes" in the reply to be agreement that Raffan would likely not be using radius skews at the angles they are being produced?  I too had noticed that his bevel lengths appeared "short" in the videos...not what a 25 or 30 degree included angle looks like on bevel length.  Great observations on reasoning for his higher angles.  You mention believing that Raffan is recommending "standard approach/angles" until experience is gained.  The Tormek choice thus would be 45 degrees.  I that what you are suggesting/referencing?  That's about where the 1" is factory ground...the 1/2" at about 60 degrees is another story...like your meat cleaver description.
Jan, thanks for the helpful image; interesting approach to use the square edge jig...for straight edge skews.  Had to grin at the caveat re the angle measurement...normal to the edge or along the side of the tool.  As an engineer, I suffer from similar thoughts...in fact I posted another topic basically asking why Tormek doesn't give us the equations or at the least the dimensions they use, so we could work up or own set of presets.
Overall, I feel more inclined after these replies to grind the 1/2" down to 45, and leave the 1" at 45...just clean it up.  Seem reasonable?   Don't want to suffer from paralysis by analysis...been there more than once.
Thank you all.
George

Tormek has done a great job in sifting through a limitless range of preset parameters (P, JS and distance) to present a set a concise recommended/concensus list for use with gouges and skew chisels.  As an added suggestion, could Tormek publish other combinations of P and JS for the two standard distances on the TTS-100 for gouges and skews.  Even the equations or some graphs to consult would help.  For example, there is a preset for a radius skew with say a 35 degree bevel using a different P, for one or both of the holes.  This would be a great service to users, and no doubt the equations were developed for design of the TTS-100, and selection of small set of presets.
Thanks

The TTS-100 offers only two presets for these chisels; with included bevel angles of either 30 or 45 degrees.
Most authors suggest angles of 25 - 30 degrees for soft woods; higher values for harder woods and less proficient users.
When I received the 1/2" and 1" chisels from Craft Supplies, the included bevel angle is roughly 60 degrees for the 1/2", and 45 degrees for the 1".
Raffan's book and video (which are excellent) does not include recommendations or a hint of what he uses (perhaps I missed it).
It seems odd that there are such high angles on these new tools given reported/published recommendations, and a general expectation that the bevel should be consistent with the developer's (Raffan's) practice/recommendations (otherwise why does it bear his name).  Further, there is an implication in the Tormek materials that the presets for the radius skews are largely influenced by Raffan's input/practice...the 30 or 45 degree choices.
So, before I start the slow process of seriously regrinding these tools, is there something I am missing...seems unlikely that Raffan would be using these at the angles they are produced at?  I am fully aware of the skill level issues, wood type, personal preference, etc,...I am a novice turner, prefer cherry and similar woods.
My instinct says reshape the 1/2" to 45 degrees, and clean up the 1" at its present 45 degrees and try them.  I am hesitant to grind new chisels down to the 30 configuration only to find it was a big mistake.  I also realize I am not bound by the presets.

Thank you