While at the Saratoga woodworking show, I learned that there
are some new items from Tormek.
I bought a DVD+Book combo called "Woodturner's Instruction Box." ($25)
The book inside isn't anything more than a hardcopy of the latest
changes in the manual.
But the DVD by Jeff Farris is certainly worth checking out. There are
80 minutes of tips on using the Tormek jigs, along with some tips on
woodturning in general (This is in the Extra section). These videos
are not the ones you can download from the Tormek website.
In particular, he gives some good advice on transitioning from a
standard bowl grind to a more advanced side grind (such as the
Ellsworth). I wish I had this before I decided to put an Ellsworth
grind on my new gouge. The Tormek is not great at massive re-shaping.
And to tell the truth, I screwed it up and will have to re-grind my gouge.
There are some other interesting tips as well. Jeff describes when and
when not to burnish scrapers, and talks about burnishing angles, etc.
This is certainly worth watching more than once, for beginners.
Another new addition is the "Square Edge Jig" for doing plane irons. I
had problems getting a perfectly square edge on my iron. There is a
new jig with 3 improvements that addresses this problem.
Let me see if I can remember all three.
1) The 90 degree alignment is made easier.
2) The tool has a floating back, to make sure the tool is
parallel to the wheel.
3) There is a stop on the end of the universal support to make
sure you don't go to far
It needs a threaded end in the universal support. I'll probably tap my
own.
On Apr 14, 5:44 am, Maxwell Lol <[email protected]> wrote:
> While at the Saratoga woodworking show, I learned that there
> are some new items from Tormek.
>
> I bought a DVD+Book combo called "Woodturner's Instruction Box." ($25)
>
> The book inside isn't anything more than a hardcopy of the latest
> changes in the manual.
>
> But the DVD by Jeff Farris is certainly worth checking out. There are
> 80 minutes of tips on using the Tormek jigs, along with some tips on
> woodturning in general (This is in the Extra section). These videos
> are not the ones you can download from the Tormek website.
>
> In particular, he gives some good advice on transitioning from a
> standard bowl grind to a more advanced side grind (such as the
> Ellsworth). I wish I had this before I decided to put an Ellsworth
> grind on my new gouge. The Tormek is not great at massive re-shaping.
> And to tell the truth, I screwed it up and will have to re-grind my gouge.
>
> There are some other interesting tips as well. Jeff describes when and
> when not to burnish scrapers, and talks about burnishing angles, etc.
> This is certainly worth watching more than once, for beginners.
>
> Another new addition is the "Square Edge Jig" for doing plane irons. I
> had problems getting a perfectly square edge on my iron. There is a
> new jig with 3 improvements that addresses this problem.
>
> Let me see if I can remember all three.
>
> 1) The 90 degree alignment is made easier.
> 2) The tool has a floating back, to make sure the tool is
> parallel to the wheel.
> 3) There is a stop on the end of the universal support to make
> sure you don't go to far
>
> It needs a threaded end in the universal support. I'll probably tap my
> own.
I agree that the DVD is worth every penny that one spends on it. Jeff
does a great job telling one how to use the Tormek.
The Tormek is not a good grinder to shape for your tools. If you want
the Ellsworth Grind on your bowl gouge, I recommend that you purchase
the Ellsworth jig and use it to shape your gouge. Then set up the
Tormek to duplicate that grind. This requires the tool to extend out
of the tool holder by 3" and the jig to be set to one position beyond
the zero position and then a separation of the tool bar to bring the
tool properly to the wheel to cut a clean line on your gouge.
I said in an article that you could not grind the Ellsworth Grind on
the Tormek. Tormek sent me a gouge with the Ellsworth Grind on it. A
tool holder set to the proper angle, a block to space the bar from the
wheel, and a tool extension block set to 3" to measure tool extension.
It works perfectly and I wrote and article telling how to do it in
More Woodturning. I rough grind all of my 5/8 inch gouges to the
Ellsworth Grind with the Ellsworth Jig and then sharpen with the
Tormek. The Tormek edge lasts much longer and cuts much cleaner.
If you are using a bowl gouge smaller that 5/8" in diameter, you can
make a sleeve to fit the gouge and bring the diameter up to 5/8". The
Ellsworth Jig will then grind a perfect Ellsworth grind on your
smaller gouge. Use the same sleeve in the Tormek tool holder to then
sharpen it on the Tormek.
Fred Holder
<www.morewoodturning.net>
Fred Holder <[email protected]> writes:
> The Tormek is not a good grinder to shape for your tools. If you want
> the Ellsworth Grind on your bowl gouge, I recommend that you purchase
> the Ellsworth jig and use it to shape your gouge.
Thanks, Fred.
I have one, but I found it tricky to hold consistently. I tried the
Tormek because there is more control. But I ended up
over-grinding. :-( I'll have to try again. I think I will cut an
extension rod out of aluminum of the appropriate length to extend my
Ellsworth jig so it works with my Wolverine setup. That might give me
more control.
Jeff gives two very good tips on the Ellsworth. He says you only turn
the tool to 90 degrees when grinding. I went past that.
In addition, for newcomers, he suggested you "ease" into the
Ellsworth. That is, you start with the factory grind. Then you slowly
change the angle to approach the Ellsworth's extreme angle. Try this
grind out for a while. After some experience with this, you can then
increase the angle some more. But this way - you only remove a little
of the steel for each step, and test the new grind before continuing.
The difference is, you slowly grind the wings at a more aggresive
angle, and gain experience with the changed geometry. He also says you
might end up preferring something im between. This was my third bowl
gouge, and I can't say my technique is advanced.
But I agree - shaping a 5/8" P&N Gouge into an Ellsworth grind on a
Tormek was difficult: time consuiming and easy to mess up. The new DVD
gave me some useful options to consider.
"Kevin Cleary" <[email protected]> writes:
> Hi,
> Have you seen the DVD for sale anywhere else?I could use more info on how to
> best use the Tormek system.
It's on the web site.
Instruction Box TNT-300
http://www.sharptoolsusa.com/shop/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=207&category_id=5514005b6a0e6cca7e0100fd4f6dceb8
or
http://tinyurl.com/4bkszf
$24.99
Hi,
Have you seen the DVD for sale anywhere else?I could use more info on how to
best use the Tormek system.
Thanks,
Kevin Cleary
"Maxwell Lol" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> While at the Saratoga woodworking show, I learned that there
> are some new items from Tormek.
>
> I bought a DVD+Book combo called "Woodturner's Instruction Box." ($25)
>
> The book inside isn't anything more than a hardcopy of the latest
> changes in the manual.
>
> But the DVD by Jeff Farris is certainly worth checking out. There are
> 80 minutes of tips on using the Tormek jigs, along with some tips on
> woodturning in general (This is in the Extra section). These videos
> are not the ones you can download from the Tormek website.
>
> In particular, he gives some good advice on transitioning from a
> standard bowl grind to a more advanced side grind (such as the
> Ellsworth). I wish I had this before I decided to put an Ellsworth
> grind on my new gouge. The Tormek is not great at massive re-shaping.
> And to tell the truth, I screwed it up and will have to re-grind my gouge.
>
> There are some other interesting tips as well. Jeff describes when and
> when not to burnish scrapers, and talks about burnishing angles, etc.
> This is certainly worth watching more than once, for beginners.
>
> Another new addition is the "Square Edge Jig" for doing plane irons. I
> had problems getting a perfectly square edge on my iron. There is a
> new jig with 3 improvements that addresses this problem.
>
> Let me see if I can remember all three.
>
> 1) The 90 degree alignment is made easier.
> 2) The tool has a floating back, to make sure the tool is
> parallel to the wheel.
> 3) There is a stop on the end of the universal support to make
> sure you don't go to far
>
> It needs a threaded end in the universal support. I'll probably tap my
> own.
>
>