I've been making pens off and on for a while now but I can't seem to get or keep a sharp edge on my gouges. I know about Alan Lancer's video for the skew. Is there a video or book available for gouges?
How does everyone sharpen theirs?
I have a Wolverine system which works ok. I guess I am wondering if there is anything such as a "quick touch-up" without using the grinder, like with a skew, just a few passes on a stone. Does honing and stroping only apply to skews and chisels?
I use a credit card sized diamond sharpening steel that I use to hone my gouges and my skew. I keep it near my lathe and just give a few passes to the edge and it keeps the tools sharp and they hold their edge for quite a while before I have to go to the grinder.
I have a Wolverine system which works ok. I guess I am wondering if there is anything such as a "quick touch-up" without using the grinder, like with a skew, just a few passes on a stone. Does honing and stroping only apply to skews and chisels?
Marcia
I echo John T e-mail but while I was in Utah last summer I stopped off at Craft Supplies usa and saw a demo on the new Rator Setup Tools. After seeing the demo I bought the set and was amazed at the ease of use. Now it makes no matter if you using the Oneway Wolverine or any other it's the same set up. The easyest thing is going to the grinder and putting ther same edge on everytime. Some of the older (not older) but turners that have been at it a lot longer than me can go the the grinder and produce the same edge everytime. Well not me I'am a gig man and I think that my only way to get the same grind is with a gig. If there was one thing that all the expert turners said at Utah was to put the same grind on your tools whether using a gig or free hand. Have a look at their video.
http://www.woodturnerscatalog.com/
Best of Luck.