How to Grind a Fingernail Bowl Gouge
Transforming chunks of wood into bowls, light stands and other pieces of wood art requires not only a creative mind and a certain level of skill but also the right tools. However, these tools must be maintained at optimum level in order to perform well. Cutting tools such as chisels and gouges top the list for high maintenance. Because they are dulled with each use, sharpening and honing become necessary skills for a wood turner.
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Things You'll Need
- Face guard
- Safety gloves
- Wheel dressing stone
- Turning-tool grinding jig
- 1 sheet 180-grit abrasive
Instructions
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1
Put on a face guard and safety gloves. Start the grinder. Hold the wheel sharpener or dressing stone against the wheel, moving it across the surface for a few turns of the wheel. Turn off the grinder.
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2
Use the degree markings on your jig, or use a protractor if your jig is not marked, to set the jig for an angle of 45 degrees, the most common bevel for a fingernail grind, or any angle that serves your purpose.
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3
Insert the gouge into the jig so that once the jig is set into the holding cup on the grinder base, the gouge just touches the wheel. Clamp it down.
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4
Turn on the grinder. Touch the tip of the gouge to the turning wheel and rotate the jig gently across the wheel to grind the bevel.
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5
Check the edge of the gouge after two turns of the jig across the wheel. If a burr, or tiny wire edge, has formed on the inside of the bevel --- the flute --- the gouge is sharp. If there is no burr, continue grinding, checking after each turn, until there is a burr.
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6
Rub the inside of the gouge with a folded piece of 180-grit abrasive paper to remove the burr.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Dressing the wheel will clean the wheel of debris and flatten its surface.
A white or pink wheel is best. Gray wheels may burn the surface of the steel.
Use a coarser wheel, a 46 grit, if the gouge is very dull or damaged then use a 80-grit wheel to put a finer edge on it. If you are just touching up a mildly dull gouge, use a 80-grit wheel.
Slow-speed grinders that turn at 1,700 to 1,900 rpm are best for grinding the type of steel used in gouges and chisels. They reduce the chances of burning the steel and ruining the gouge.
Some woodworkers like to put an additional micro-bevel at the very tip of the gouge. This is optional.
Experienced woodworkers can sharpen a gouge without the use of a jig. This is not recommended for beginners because it is difficult to judge angles and depth just by sight.
Wear a face guard and protect your hands when grinding. Sparks can fly off the wheel and burn.
Exercise extreme care when using cutting tools to avoid injury.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit wooden pilasters isolated on the white background image by Elnur from Fotolia.com
