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tool rest

836 views 8 replies 3 participants last post by  Karda 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi. I have a tool rest that is actuality a chisel sharpener. There is a groove in the table that a clamp slides in. Most of the time its ok but when i sharpen my turning tools like skews and scrapers I can't swing them way around and keep the tool flat on the rest. what I need is a flat rest. any Idea how I can put a flat top on it. Hers a couple pics thanks Mike

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#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
No, screw the 'cleat' to the bottom of the wood, not the platform. Maybe a couple blocks on each side to keep it from sliding. All you would need is a piece of ply, and a hardwood block that fits in the groove on the tool rest fairly snug. It could just be glued actually, there isn't going to be much force on it.

Cheers,
Brad
 
#6 ·
Note that depending upon the length of the steel of the tool, if you make the the auxiliary table that Brad recommends too large, you may find that the tool handle will get in the way when you hold it at an angle so if you do that, make it wider but not much, if any, deeper. The steeper you have to set the angle to the wheel the narrower you may need the tool rest table to be to prevent the handle from hitting the tool rest. Perhaps that is really the problem you are having? If so you may have to cut off or round the corners of the auxiliary table so that it is actually smaller than the existing tool rest table.

For you skew, I would make a jig (like this) that fits in that slot and holds the skew at the correct (skewed) angle. Basically a triangle on a strip of wood sized to slide in that slot. You hold the skew against the side of the triangle to keep the angle consistent as you slide the jig side to side in the slot. Of course if the problem is that the handle is hitting the tool rest when it is skewed to the side, this won't help.

I assume that the problem you are having with the scrapers is that they have a curved cutting edge? With one hand, I simply pinch the scraper to the table (fingers on the bottom, thumb on tool) to hold it flat as I pivot it against the wheel with the other hand on the tool handle.
 
#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
ok let me clarify, the problem is the grove, but mostly happens when I am sharpening the side of my scrappers. when the blade of the scrapper is almost parallel to the front of the tool rest. because of the grove ther is only about 1/4 of an inch of support and the blade rocks. also when I move a skew side ways from left to right the tool grabs on the lower right corner of the cutout for the wheel. I can see any burrs or anything and have sanded it down but it still does it so when I am sharpening my straight shew I can get a smooth left to right contact with the wheel. The skew jig looks good what angle should I use. I took a picture of my problem. I sharpen the left side of the scraper but I could picture that because i don't have enough hands to do that thanks Mike
 
#8 ·
The angle for the skew jig should match the angle of your skew. If you have more than one skew tool, you either need 2 jigs or regrind one so it is the same as the other. It sounds to me like your problem with it catching on the cutout could be helped by holding it tight against the jig but if it still happens, perhaps use a file to relieve or chamfer the edges of the cutout a little more.

It sounds like you are sharpening a half round scraper? Brad's idea of enlarging the tool rest table area may help, though I would not enlarge it too much. An inch or 2 at the most is probably all it takes. I would make the cleat fit relatively tightly or put something on the bottom so the auxiliary table doesn't slide around while you use it You may have to cut a bevel on the underside edge that is towards the wheel to allow you to have it as close to the wheel as possible while the tool rest is angled. Also, you don't have to sharpen the entire edge as it was originally ground. I rarely use the part of the edge nearest to the handle so you could just stop sharpening a little short.
 
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