question on power sharpening (koch)

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

I am heading to Woodcraft tomorrow for their big tent sale, they have the Tormek and Jet on display, guess I will take a look.

Dave

[billyboy15]

Hey there;
I created a sharpener for my expensive chisels and gouges that works fine for me, although I am an experienced carver. I bought a 10" benchtop sanding belt with a side-sanding wheel. i turned the thing around, so that the belt runs away from me. I use the finest grit paper I can find, and dull it severely with wood before use.
I removed the sanding wheel, and attached a 2" wide wood wheel with a leather belt glued on. I apply jewelers rouge to that.

this system works great for me.
Bill

[toycarver]

If it's speed that is your problem, you might consider this sharpening system.
I have a couple of somewhat expensive sharpening systems ($150-300), and they are o.k...but I really like this simple system because it goes SLOW...hey who says the wheel has to turn fast to sharpen a knife?...the slowness eliminates overheating.
The fellow that makes these takes a shoe buffer and modifies it. They sell for $75-125.00. He is also a terrific carver (2008 first place in CCA bottle stopper catagory). I was lucky and won mine in a raffle that he donated one to..best thing I ever Won!
Here's his link: Spokane Carvers Association - Items For Sale

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Thanks guys for all your help. Hey toycarver, thats pretty neat, I will give Tom a call. Thanks again.

Dave

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Originally Posted by toycarver

If it's speed that is your problem, you might consider this sharpening system.
I have a couple of somewhat expensive sharpening systems ($150-300), and they are o.k...but I really like this simple system because it goes SLOW...hey who says the wheel has to turn fast to sharpen a knife?...the slowness eliminates overheating.
The fellow that makes these takes a shoe buffer and modifies it. They sell for $75-125.00. He is also a terrific carver (2008 first place in CCA bottle stopper catagory). I was lucky and won mine in a raffle that he donated one to..best thing I ever Won!
Here's his link: Spokane Carvers Association - Items For Sale

I called and talked to Tom, seemes like a real nice machine, a little pricy. The machine is $150.00 plus $25.00 S+H, just thought I would pass that on.

Dave

[susieq]

Dave,
do you have a little bench top grinder? If so, replace the stone or wire wheels with nice wide felt wheels. Take the guard off because the rotation is probably going the wrong way to stand in front of the machine and use it. The wheels should be turning away from you at the top of the wheel....
So take the guard off and use the machine from the back.

Put some nice jeweler's rouge or some other favorite compound on the wheel and go to town. I make it a habit not to stay too long on the wheel and to feel the tip of the gouge to see if it's getting too hot.

If you are ever up toward Hudson, let me know. I'm retired now and you are welcome to drop in and see my set up. It's not the grinder because my brother is a machinest and he made me a little sharpening set up with 5 wheels on it. It's belt driven by a motor and is just dandy. But for those who don't have a machinest in the family, a bench grinder will do. But this would give you an idea of what I am talking about.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Hi Susieq, thank you for the advice, I do have a grinder and will try that. And thank you for the offer to stop by and check out your sharpener, might take you up on that, if I ever get a free minute.

Dave

[jstive]

It seems like I started this thread so long ago. In the meantime I still have the ultimate power sharpener (which I use on certain tools) and I bought the Koch wheels (yellow and green) with the green and blue compound it works great for honning all your tools to a razor sharp edge very impressive! Then I went to our annual Evart woodcarving seminar and my teacher of deep relief had a burke system. When I went to use that it has a slower rpm than the UPS but on the same lines. I found that I really liked this unit so I bought one. I can put a new edge on broken or chipped tools and use all the different wheels to get a razor sharp edge on all my tools. Now I have three sharpeners and couldn't be happier. I finally can put a good edge on all my tools. After all a guy can never have enough sharpeners. I figure if I can get a carving club going in our small community atleast I will have a sharpener for the club. Thanks for everyones help. Good carving, Jim