Need Sage Advice on Sharpening "Stub" Gouges

[John Tisdale]

Need some ideas on how to sharpen a stub - datapoints are:

• D-Way Bowl Gouges: 3/8", 1/2", 5/8" and one Thompson 3/4"
• Wolverine sharpening system
• 8" CBN wheels
• I have both Vari-Grinds - use only the small, even for the 3/4"

My grind calls for about a 2" extension beyond the Vari-Grind. When the white plastic pressure bearing starts riding up on the back of the flute, it will slip during sharpening.
Would love to know how some of you guys have solved - I need to keep my Rupe Goldberg tendencies at bay a little longer.

Stand for Planet Mesquite will, hopefully, be done in a few weeks - will initially use shot-filled Baltic birch for base - then going to granite - can't be under 300-lbs. Rupe would be proud. Will send pics.

To Bill Boehme and others in NTX area - I'm doing the demo 3rd week August - come on over or down or up. I'll have Planet Mesquite at the meeting, hopefully on the stand. You'll see proof that God protects fools and dumb animals.

 

[RichColvin]

If I understand you correctly, you could grind a flat spot on the shaft. I’ve shown below what I had to do. The old gouge is on top; the bottom one is the new one.



Hope that helps.

Kind regards,
Rich

 

[hockenbery]

Ditto on rich’s Solution.

I often cover this in demos and there are usually a few grateful people in the audience.

A couple screen shots from a demo.

Grind a flat on the bar in line with the top of the flute


How far you want it to protrude but it can’t until you grind it flat

 

[Dennis J Gooding]

In addition to, or instead of, grinding the flat, you can reduce the 2" extension by about 3/4" or so and readjust the V-arm to regain the desired nose angle. The limiting factor is maintaining clearance between the jig and the grinding wheel when grinding the wings. For short fingernail grinds, the effect on the shape of the wings will be inconsequential. For long side-grinds, the same exact profile as before can be obtained by adjusting both the arm angle and the V-arm.

 

[Bill Blasic]

Get the Vector Grind Fixture and you can sharpen the tool until only about a half inch of flute is left.

 

[john lucas]

Practice hand sharpening. Or simply buy another gouge.

 

[robo hippy]

It gets to a point where only hand sharpening will work and/or you turn it into a triangle tool...

robo hippy

 

[RichColvin]

... you turn it into a triangle tool...

robo hippy

I’ve done that too!

Kind regards,
Rich

 

[hockenbery]

I give my too short tools to students who don’t own a decent tool.

 

[Clifton C]

John, had the same problem, here is my solution... A little widget made from 1/8 X 3/4 aluminum stock. (Because that's what was close at hand) From the pics you can see how it spans the transition area until the bearing can get a stable footing. Still have to grind a flat, as the flat indexes/orients the flute, but no need to grind until after the widget has done its job.

Widget inside vari-grind, without it, bearing would rest on transition.

As the gouge shortens, the widget moves thru the vari-grind.
Now is the time to grind the flat.

Here's the bearing sitting on the flat.

The "step" on the widget has a little bevel so it can get closer to the transition
and is just stuck on with double stick tape.
This was made a couple of years ago as a proof of concept and I'm going to make a better one eventually, however, this one still has some life left in it... When not in use, I stick it to the magnet on the side of my grinder...

 

[Bill Boehme]

Need some ideas on how to sharpen a stub - datapoints are:

• D-Way Bowl Gouges: 3/8", 1/2", 5/8" and one Thompson 3/4"
• Wolverine sharpening system
• 8" CBN wheels
• I have both Vari-Grinds - use only the small, even for the 3/4"

My grind calls for about a 2" extension beyond the Vari-Grind. When the white plastic pressure bearing starts riding up on the back of the flute, it will slip during sharpening.
Would love to know how some of you guys have solved - I need to keep my Rupe Goldberg tendencies at bay a little longer.

Stand for Planet Mesquite will, hopefully, be done in a few weeks - will initially use shot-filled Baltic birch for base - then going to granite - can't be under 300-lbs. Rupe would be proud. Will send pics.

To Bill Boehme and others in NTX area - I'm doing the demo 3rd week August - come on over or down or up. I'll have Planet Mesquite at the meeting, hopefully on the stand. You'll see proof that God protects fools and dumb animals.

I know this is way out in left field, but in addition to the more sensible frugal suggestions, you could consider buying one or two gouges from Wood World since they allow the Dallas club to meet in their facility.

I'll try to make it over there for the August meeting. I need to talk to our programs director about getting you over to our club if you don't mind slumming.

 

[Dave Mueller]

John,
There is an interesting video on the AAW Video Site where Bob Patros regrinds a short bowl gouge to make a beading tool. The video is at

View: https://vimeo.com/125838621
. Just another way to use short bowl gouges.

 

[John Tisdale]

Of the suggestions, grinding a flat back from the flute allows business as usual when sharpening - I run six-gouges in parallel - one or two being different would screw up my rather delicate psyche.
Bill: Love those guys at Wood World but they don't carry D-Way. As I am increasingly focused on mistletoe burl mesquite, I find a considerable difference between the M42 of D-Way and the other guys.
And Bill: Looking forward to meeting you in August. And contrary to comments from your Amon Carter, you don't have to pack your lunch. And I would be honored to visit your club located where "East peters out"

 

[Bill Boehme]

Of the suggestions, grinding a flat back from the flute allows business as usual when sharpening - I run six-gouges in parallel - one or two being different would screw up my rather delicate psyche.
Bill: Love those guys at Wood World but they don't carry D-Way. As I am increasingly focused on mistletoe burl mesquite, I find a considerable difference between the M42 of D-Way and the other guys.
And Bill: Looking forward to meeting you in August. And contrary to comments from your Amon Carter, you don't have to pack your lunch. And I would be honored to visit your club located where "East peters out"

Even though I have a substantial pile of 10V tools and think they are very good, I have become very impressed with the M42 bowl gouges from D-Way. Being a tool junkie I also feel compelled to try out the new carburized bowl gouges from Robust.

Our club meets in far east Fort Worth (used to be Handley) so we're in no man's land 'tween east and west.