Creative Woodturning
Woodturning UK, The Wolverine Sharpening System from One-Way - January 2005
|
 |
THE WOLVERINE SHARPENING SYSTEM.
OneWay have a massive reputation with their
lathes being regarded by most as the best there is, what about their
sharpening system? Most companies offer a range of jigs,
attachments or platforms, not
OneWay, with the Wolverine they offer
probably the most complete sharpening system available, even paying
particular attention to the balancing of the wheels on your chosen
grinder.
THE BALANCING SYSTEM.
Even the best jig in the World would be pretty
useless if the wheels on the grinder are out of balance, this causes
extreme vibration which at best makes tool sharpening very difficult
and at worst creates a dangerous environment to work in. This
is where the package from OneWay scores over the other systems
available, the starting point of the Wolverine system is the wheel
balancing kit. A set of machined flanges are provided for
each wheel, these have grooved outer faces into which a pair of
screws sit, the screws are simply moved to get the wheel into
balance. When ordering you must state the arbor size of your
grinder, 1/2" 5/8" or 3/4", the bore
diameter of your wheel must be 1". Fit the
flanges to the
wheels, insert the screws into the
groove and mount the whole unit onto the balance fixture. The
screws are then adjusted around the flange until you have a balanced wheel, the basis for any good sharpening kit. |
THE WOLVERINE GRINDING JIG - THE HEART OF THE SYSTEM.
The basis of the
OneWay Wolverine system is their grinding jig which consists of two
bases,
(in most other systems the second base
is an extra)
a "Vee" arm and a well
proportioned fully adjustable platform. The two bases are
screwed to the grinders baseboard using the dimensions and well
written instructions provided with the kit, the "Vee" arm or the
platform simply slide into either of the bases. Having a base
under each wheel allows for rough grinding and re-shaping with the
coarse wheel and final sharpening with the finer wheel. The "Vee"
arm, platform or any attachment can be slid in or out for adjustment
and quickly locked in place simply by moving the easy to use levers
on the bases, no fiddly screws or wing nuts with this system.
THE WOLVERINE GRINDING JIG - IN USE.
If anyone has watched
the excellent Jimmy Clewes woodturning video Turnaround, will have
seen the Wolverine system in use as Jimmy demonstrates his
sharpening methods, he makes the whole process look simple, and it
is.
For bowl gouges, roughing gouges and standard chisels all
that is needed is to fit the head of the handle into the cup on the
"Vee" arm with the grinder switched off, slide the arm in or out to
match the bevel
angle on the tool, and lock the arm into place. Taking all the
normal safety precautions it is now a simple matter of switching the
grinder on and sharpening the tool of your choice.
(Continued on page two) |
|