Question on Worksharp - are we wasting sandpaper?

Use them in sanding blocks for hand sanding .

-- "My mission in life - make everyone smile !"

Ellen, as you know, I have only used my WS3000 once and that involved sharpening from below. This is a knee-jerk response/question but I wonder if/when you sharpen from above, using the guide, you have some flexibility or choice in what part of the disc you use?

-- On the eighth day God was back in His woodworking shop! Lenny, East Providence, RI

Actually when I put the chisel in the slot to sharpen it, it uses the middle/outside edge. Also, I don’t get what you said. Mention that you only use the center ring of the sandpaper but then you say that you have this area in the middle that gets worn out. Is it the center ring or the middle?

Mine uses the outside/middle of the disc.

-- The smell of wood, coffee in the cup, the wife let's me do my thing, the lake is peaceful. http://gagnerwebsite.com/Deceiver/Craftsman_on_the_lake/Craftsman_on_the_lake.html

Dan,
There is a worn space from the center to about 2 inches toward the edge. The rest of the paper is not used.
My attempt to describe it may not be exact… it just seems that there is a good deal of waste on the paper as that area wears out and the rest of the paper is intact.
Lenny,
Yes sharpening from above gives you more flexibility but less control, I think… you still need the bevel to be exact and the only real way to do it is from beneath.
I’m just looking for ideas and thoughts on this… maybe there is not a solution… or maybe I am obtuse and not seeing it yet!
Thanks.

-- Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Ellen, post a picture, then we can get a better idea of what you mean, ( some of us are more dense than others) lol

-- Smitty!!!

I’ll try to post a picture when I get home from work (the place I have to go to afford my woodworking toys..er… tools!).
Thanks,
Ellen

-- Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

After I bought the wide blade attachment, I haven’t really used the port. The wide blade attachment allows you to use the entire disc, rather than one small section.

If I had it to do over again, I’d probably build my own little support platform and then buy a Veritas honing guide.

-- The secret to getting ahead is getting started.

Ellen, one of the things that you can do to use more of the paper is to open up the guide. I am sure this is not the way that Worksharp intends the tool to be used but it does work and uses more of the sandpaper. I randomly use both the left and right guides independently to guide my chisels.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

I no longer use the port on the workshop to sharpen anything, I have the wide blade attachment, so I use the guide that comes with it, just like other guides that you use on stones etc.
This way you use the whole surface of the abrasive disc
I think the wide blade attachment should come as standard equipment with the 3000, and eliminate the port altogether
In my opinion this is a much better way than dinking around with the port I have sharpened chisels, and plane blades, and put micro bevels on them, and it works fantastic
It is a great little machine, and I like it, but the port is a lot less than great.
Here is a post I had on here in the past,Trouble With Work Sharp Port,, http://lumberjocks.com/topics/25938

-- E J ------- Always Keep a Firm Grip on Your Tool

ellen

i can’t seem to find it
i thought it was in my forum post about it
but somewhere in one of them
someone had a link to diamond for the worksharp
i never did get to it
but it sounded better than paper

i will keep looking

-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle

I get a ring of wear near the outside edge, but the center never gets touched. This is from a 3/4” chisel.

-- My broker promised me he would treat my money as if it were his own. Trouble is, he did.

Ellen, I’m still confused about your stating that the area near the hub gets worn. I was wondering. On the angled holder for the chisel. The one with the knob that adjusts for various chisel widths. Are you using the left or right part of the slot? The design is to use the right hand side of the chisel slot. The only way I can see that you’d wear only the inside edge of the paper is if you slid the chisel into the wrong side. Just sayin’.

-- The smell of wood, coffee in the cup, the wife let's me do my thing, the lake is peaceful. http://gagnerwebsite.com/Deceiver/Craftsman_on_the_lake/Craftsman_on_the_lake.html

I have a DMT set up, and it is better than abrasive discs, but only once you get past 120 grit
Here is a video for the DMT set up ,http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR0OW4M75tw
The worksharp I have, I got a really good deal on eBay, A little bit of gloat here, I really got lucky, this was a buy now price and I snagged it up before anybody else saw it. $165 delivered, this is What it came with.
Ended: Feb 19, 201120:24:40 PST Sold For: US $149.00

Work Sharp WS 3000 Sharpening Machine
Used, with extra accessories and custom accessory box

This tool came out of my husband’s workshop. It is about 3 years old but has not been used much in the last 2 years.

The machine is mounted on a plywood base making it more stable for use. All the accessories listed below fit in a custom wooden box which is included in this sale. The box holds the accessories and has a sliding top. Compare this accessories list with a new-in-box model – there are extras here.

This equipment is ready for use in your shop!

The following accessories are included in this sale, along with the machine:

1 – WS 3000 machine, pictured
4 – GLASS DISKS: —-1 with leather stroppping disk —-1 used for sandpaper disks —-2 with magnetic disks for diamond disks
1 – Hard Felt Polishing Disk
1 – Plastic Slotted Disk with 5 slotted sandpaper disks
2 – Deburring sandpaper sheets
2 – 120 grit sandpaper disks
2 – 220 ” ” ”
2 – 400 ” ” ”
2 – 1000 ” ” ”
1 – Package WS 3000 Fine Abrasives
3 – Diamond disks (1 – coarse, 1 – fine, 1 – extra fine) we will include these but please be aware they are used and not perfect
1 – stick green rouge
1 – tube of DIA Paste (for diamond disks)
1 – custom plywood box to hold accessories
1 – package petroleum grease

-- E J ------- Always Keep a Firm Grip on Your Tool

JJohnston:
That is EXACTLY what happens to me… thanks, now I don’t have to take the picture that Dan and Smitty alluded to. (I guess my idea of “middle” was a little off!!!)
I look at all that good sandpaper and wonder how to use it on the Worksharp. I always use the right side of the port but I’m wondering if I use both sides as Scott suggested… sort of make my insert area on one side then the other… maybe I will get better coverage and waste less.
Thanks everyone… I’m still interested in any eureka moments on this!
Ellen

-- Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

I quit using the side port. I bought the wide blade adapter and this allows you to use the full disc, sharpen blades up to three inches and put on a 1 degree micro bevel instead of a five. Best addition I’ve gotten for it by far.