Jool Sharpening System

xsailer · #1 07-23-2007, 01:47 PM

In the thread below a discussion concerns the Jool Sharpening tool in part. A few of us are waiting for further estimation of a different System but in the meantime it would be nice to hear from Jool system owners as to what they think of the tool. There have been a few comments within the site shown but it sure would be nice to hear more. I know vendors have been selling quite a lot of them. So far I've not heard too many negative comments.

Worksharp sharpening system

Kenny_S · #2 07-23-2007, 02:53 PM

Bob, read some god and bad reviews. One does not outweigh the other.
I will stick with my 1 inch belt grizzly. Only problem is I can sharpen the inside of gouges except the V tool and not as portable as the jool tool. But the price was right. Can buy several of them for the price of a jool tool and only have to buy a belt unlike the different items for the jool tool. Just my opinion, I will not be investing in one for sure.

xsailer · #3 07-23-2007, 03:58 PM

Kenny,
Your are right in the expense but one thing I'm looking for is portability for camper travel and of course ALL new tools look better than what I've got. I keep looking for the perfect tool and of course it doesn't exist. One thing I'm curious about is there is no tool guide for sharpening tools on the Jool. So again the edge you get is dependant on your hands guiding the tool to be sharpened and therefore subject to just how good you are. I have that now on my wheel, belt, diamond stone, scary sharp and belt sharpening systems. So there you are.....I keep looking.

Kenny_S · #4 07-23-2007, 05:03 PM

Understand the keep looking part. I watch the Jool Tool video but to me, several short coming, The one you mentioned being the first, the price for second, getting use to the sharpening which I might add goes with any sharpening technique. The stuff you have to have with it was costly also so those are the first four area I did not like but then to, just my opinion.

sbirkes · #5 07-23-2007, 09:55 PM

I bought the Jool Tool in March of this year. I now really wish I had saved my money. The tool is well made and runs smooth. It is very portable. Getting the correct angle on a tool is not a problem. The explanation as to how that is done is in the instructional video and it is well done.

So what don't I like about it? When sharpening gouges or chisels it is great. Works fine.

Sure don't like the way it works with carving knives. Great big collector hunting knives it does OK but when it comes to a small bladed carving knife is where the problem begins for me. The Jool is not reversible. When you are sharpening the knife with the rotation of the Jool all is fine. But when you reverse the knife and put the cutting edge into the Jool rotation the tendency is for the blade to grab and cut into the sharpening disk. Just a bit scary and a lot aggravating at the price of the disks. Aside from not being able to get the blade sharp.

My favorite carving knife is a very thin bladed detail knife sold by David Sabol. The flexibility of the blade makes it practically impossible to sharpen with the Jool. Again, going with the rotation is OK but against the rotation is a big problem. At least for me.

I have recently bought the wet grinder sharpener sold by Woodcraft for just under $100. It is a 1000 grit stone and because it is a stone there is no problem when reversing the blade. It is a slow RPM Wet system and works great. You will still need a buffer to knock off the burr.

Again, if I were doing it over I would save my $300 and go with the Wet grinder from Woodcraft and a $35 buffer from Lowes.

chuckt · #6 07-23-2007, 11:06 PM

Which $35 buffer from Lowes are you referring to Steve? I've not seen anything like that. Thanks!

ChuckT

mark yundt · #7 07-23-2007, 11:29 PM

Ha,,,a wet stone (wheel ) and a buffer....why does that sound familiar?For some reason the basics always work,,no extra doo-dads to keep on hand,,simple to understand and use,,covers all the bases,versatile,basically cheap,,will always work and not get you into too much trouble,,,go figure!I love gadgets as much as the next,,but with some things the less money and thought it takes the more I like it.Sort of like having a mallet and chisel..look at all you can do with them.Pretty basic themselves but have worked wonders for centuries.See it big,,,Keep It Simple

AlArchie · #8 07-24-2007, 08:19 AM

Maybe I'm missing something here, and maybe I just don't carve enough to see the need for all these "Power Sharpeners". I have a couple grinders, a belt setup for my bandsaw, a buffing wheel setup, and another slow speed buffer/polisher with a leather wheel on one side, and I only use them if I get a nick bad enough to require a re-grind. Can't ever remember putting a power grinder of any kind to my knives. A fine stone and a quick strop seem to take care of keeping my knives singing through the wood and a few strokes with a hand strop seems to do the same for my chisles and gouges.

Small nicks are easily removed with a fine diamond or Arkansas hand stone....quick and easy and no over heating worries. For a huge nick or re-profiling a bevel, go to the power, but for general honing, a felt or leather wheel with compound or a hand strop seems to work as well and eliminates the possibility of over heating or wearing down the tool prematurely.

Our club has a Tormek and I do a lot of the "sharpening" for our members (or at least the setup) and most of the work is done on the polishing wheel. The wet wheel is used for reshaping bevels or fixing damaged edges like those dropped on a concrete floor, etc. Using that slow turning wet wheel has eaten a lot of steel for those using it for simple sharpening. It can make a detail knife out of a good bench knife in a few sessions of "sharpening".

If a new member asks to have his tools sharpened, I'll usually take a small diamond stone to get the blade cleaned, then hit it with a few strokes from a hand strop, and they are amazed at how sharp the blade gets with so little effort. I use the power tools only for extreme problems.

Al

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #9 07-24-2007, 09:48 AM

I doubt there is a tool out there that meets all requirements...but for something in an RV...I don't think you can beat a piece of manmade marble material with a strip of 1200 grit sandpaper on one side and 2000 grit on the other for touchups and also a strop. Now I will admit, I do like a power strop...I see a battery operated one for sale in mags...I also saw where someone took an old shoe polisher and converted it to a power strop...maybe I am shying away from buying a bunch more tools because I just spent the past week building about 40 ft of shelving in the shop and "rearranging" lol arrrgggghhhh!

xsailer · #10 07-24-2007, 12:31 PM

Hi Ho Sliver,
I've also looked at getting shoe polisher. So now that you have 40 feet more of shelves you're filling them up with new tools? That's dangerous making more room to store stuff.
Commentors,
I think I'm beginning to think, stick with what I have for while longer. I already have several different sharpening systems and really need to spend more time with them. I recently purchased a 600/1200 grit diamond stone. I really like it and combined with my dressing wheels and it could be said I really don't need anything else. $300+ cost of Jool would buy several gouges I'd like to have. Maybe just downsizing my dressing wheel system so it will fit better in the camper is a better and cheaper way to go. A winter friend at Pioneer RV has a small home made compact series of 4" dressing wheels with a small drive motor that may just be the ticket. I appreciate all of your comments.