I first started turning supplementing my flat work. For sharpening my gauges, I got Tormec jigs that worked fine on my Griz knock off. Deciding that was too slow and messy, I got Tarmac jigs to work on one side of my 6" high speed grinder and used the platform on the other side. After about a year , I decided I liked the platform; so I bought a low speed grinder with 2 CBN wheels (180 & 600 ) and equipped it with 2 Robo Rests. That system has served me well the last 6 or 8 years. In my decade journey, I've averaged about 20 hours a week in my shop. Almost everything I turn from green wood. I don't have a band saw; so I rough blanks with my chain saw. Shaping those blanks is hard on an edge; so I sharpen a lot. About 6 years ago I bought a Thompson 5/8 gauge that I grind to 45* slightly swept back and converted my original tool to a 60* bottom feeder. I did come home from SWAT a couple years ago with a new 5/8 Thompson that is still in its tube. All this to say that I don't think I'll live long enough to use up that second 5/8 Thompson. What improvements would I like for my platform? Settings are almost precisely repeatable ( nit picky here ). Platform could be bigger. All my tools are fixed in wooden handles; so I don't have the ability to remove the tool for sharpening. I've been eyeballing the Right Angle platform for a couple of years, but I just didn't think it would be much of an improvement. I finally made the plunge. The RA weighs in at 953g compared tom Robo at 825g. The RA does seem sturdier though. At first, I mounted the RA at he same level of the Robo. The Robo platform at 90* lines up at cl of my wheel. The RA was well above cl. The 45* setting on the Robo is actually closer to 40*. That required the #2 setting on the RA. I didn't think that gave me enough setting range; so I raised the RA about an inch. That grind is now the #5 setting. I'm well above cl, but I'm still grinding in the upper quadrant of the wheel. I ground my detail spindle gauge at 35* on the Robo that line up well at #2 on the RA. The flute on that 10 year old gauge is too short for me to get a good measurement of Its angle. I did notice checking that spindle gauge at the #1 hole the bolt on the adjusting arm interfered with the gauges handle. If you need a sharper angle like a skew, an adapter is available for the RA. After a few weeks, I really like this platform. That second Robo may be a short timer. I must add a disclaimer: Gil, the RA owner is a fellow club member.
The last photo is my old Robo sitting upside down lined up on the RA.
The last photo is my old Robo sitting upside down lined up on the RA.
