Vlog #77: Dude, Where’s My Dining Table?

Video Notes:

  • Time flies when you’re having fun! I’ve been getting ahead with some stuff and have a few projects done and ready to edit. The dining table should be out this weekend….fore real this time.
  • Subscribe to my friend Matt’s YouTube channel.
  • The Atlanta trip was a huge success on many fronts. Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by and say hi. Also thanks for the conversations in general. It was a great learning experience for me. Tons of information gained.
  • Anyone have a good “last time purchase” suggestion for a bench grinder and/or wheels for sharpening lathe tools?
  • Matt and I put up a tool wall. Video in a few weeks.
  • Mat and I made a lathe stand and tool rack. Video in a few weeks.
  • I filled up an entire side and then some on my small sticker cabinet. Holy moly.

39 COMMENTS

  1. Jay, definitely get an 8″ slow speed grinder.I got an older version of the Delta Power Tools 23-197 8-Inch Variable Speed Bench Grinder and like it very much.
    For sharpening jig, I use a Kelton which has been discontinued but is available at Lee Valley. Otherwise, I would go with the Oneway jig.

  2. For a grinder, the 8″ Rikon with the Oneway System is my choice. For wheels, I’d look at CBN or Diamond wheels, they last longer and leave a better finish, like any other sharpened tool, the smoother the cut, the longer the edge lasts. There’s nothing wrong with aluminum oxide wheels, they just wear faster and require semi-regular flattening.

    • Thanks for the suggestions Thomas. Several people have mentioned CBN wheels as being the best so that’s the route I’m leaning. Quite pricey though. Just need to get a grinder model decided.

  3. I would like to add my vote for the Rikon slow speed grinder with the one-way jig. Mine is great, I have not jumped on the CBN wheel bandwagon yet, but when mine wear out I might think about it. The stock wheels are working wonderfully for now.

  4. Hi Jay,
    You can not go past CBN wheels .No mater what ever you buy in the way of a grinder you must have CBN wheel . The best are electroplated.
    You will never have to buy grinding wheels again .I have an 80 grit and a 120 and they are used for Lathe tools they are the best. There are lot of reasons to buy CBN wheels but just two fact cool grinding and long lasting .They cost more but are some much cheaper in the long run.
    john

  5. I would consider looking at the Tormek. The system is hard to beat when it comes to sharpening lathe tools (and everything else). Kind of costly but you have it for a lifetime.

  6. A wolverine jig and low-speed grinder from Woodcraft. And a set of CBN Wheels they’re pricey but very long term and leave a beautiful finished edge. That’s what I use, wish I would have bought it at first.

  7. Hey Jay,

    Everything looks Great! Glad the Green Bay emblem made it to you in one piece. Thanks for making such awesome content.

  8. I say knock out a wall or two and expand your shop Jay, getting pretty full. You could do a whole series of videos on it, probably be good for at least 50 of them. Just like Wranglerstar has been doing his home renovation videos. However, that would be a serious undertaking and would cut into actual woodworking videos. Probably spendy as well, and oofta…a lot of work don’tchya know. Alright…I will stop with the Midwestern speak. Bye.

  9. Jay, how do you determine which channel a segment goes on? Just wondering. Always enjoy watching, listening, and learning.

    • Hey Dale. I try to keep my main channel as “business” as possible meaning primarily projects or bigger announcements like giveaways and such. My second channel is for anything that didn’t quite turn out good enough to be on the main channel and for any conversational style or personal stuff.

  10. check out the worksharp 3000. Very simple and fast to use. Very effectiveI I switched from a more traditional grinder to the worksharp. Cost is about $200.00. Small footprint to you will find yourself using it more often. sharp tools are good, mine sits right next to the headstock of my lathe

    Good Luck

  11. Tormek – very good grinder system. I’ve used these by myself in a small workshop , and by lots of people in a large community workshop. Industrial strength; lots of jigs, lots of options; easy to set up and use with accuracy.

  12. Jay, I just unboxed & assembled the Harbor Freight lathe that my wife gave me for Christmas….4yrs ago~! Finally have a shop big enough for it now (I showed you a pano-pic in Atlanta). ;-) I’ve scoured the Internet & YouTube for lathe stand/cart ideas to replace the factory metal legs that came with it, then I saw this latest Vlog and would love to see what you’ve put together for yours. Not sure if you have the footage (or the desire) for a future build video on it, but maybe a clip of you showing it off would be great.
    Thanks~!

  13. I had been an Art Director-Creative Director for the advertising industry for the last 36 years and have a small-big advise on your postcasts.
    DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING! Keep everything the way you are doing.
    You have what it takes to make it.

  14. Jay- I have heard good things about this one… I use a 12 inch sanding disc on my old Shopsmith 10er… pretty good lathe and the sanding disc gives me full control over grit and speed… I have even heard of guys mounting an mdf wheel and using buffing/stropping compound. My huge investment in my old American made lathe/drill press/ sanding disc- sharpener? $80 Here is a picture of how I have it set up… https://www.instagram.com/p/BEH9FxOEBy1/?taken-by=timroyalsr

  15. Jay, try looking at the Grizzly wet bench grinders. They have so mm e thatare iidentical to the Tormek grinders at 1/3rd the cost using the same attachments. I have one on order at this time it is on sale at $99.
    Currently I am using a 1/4 hp Sears 6″ grinder. I am using 80 grit wheels. Since I turn alot, you h Ave to be careful and not get the skews and gouges too hot or they will loose their termperment.

  16. Jay, I know that everybody is saying go with a conventional grinder setup, but as an alternative system my suggestion is to check Stephen Ogle’s unconventional system for lathe tool sharpening. He is on youtube like you. He has plans for his sharpening system. Building it would be very simple, you could build one yourself by just watching his video especially with your considerable skills.

    Bill Bidel

  17. Two options come to mind from a fellow woodturner.
    1st option is slow speed bench grinder with aluminium oxide wheels preferebly 60g for reshaping and 120g for sharpening.
    2nd option is the best is the Tormek T7 grinder with the woodturners kit will give you the best ever sharp edges on your turning tools.
    With the Tormek you can also add other options for your hand tool sharpening even jigs for sharpening knives in the kitchen to keep the ministry for domestic affairs happy.

  18. Jay – I would avoid the 8″ Delta variable speed grinder. I have one and it let the smoke out of the speed control one day. All I did was start it. As you probably know, all things that use electricity have the smoke built into them. If you let the smoke out, they don’t work any more. Heck – you can have mine if you want it. I replaced it with a Woodcraft slow speed grinder for $100. So far, so good. Decent wheels on it too.

  19. I would recommend the Rikon Low Speed unit. You dont want to burn your tips but also you will need a sharpening jig system. That would be the Oneway Wolverine Grinding Jig and a varigrind 1 dont get the 2 i wish i had not. Eventually you may want to get a CBN Diamond wheel to go on your rikon for very sharp tools.

  20. I purchased 8 inch slow speed grinder model-144290 back in 2004 and am very pleased with the performance and still have the original wheels. I’m not a daily turner, but will turn for a week or so and then go on to something else and return in a month or two. If I remember correctly I got it from Woodcraft store.
    Hope this helps.

  21. Jay, can’t go wrong with the Rikon slow speed grinder, you really need the slow speed with lathe tools. the second must is the Wolverine One-Way system which makes sharpening lathe tools a no-brainer. I also have a Tormek but it takes to much time for lathe tools which usually just need a quick touch up. That is partially because of setup time and partially because it is really slow speed. I haven’t changed the wheels on my Rikon from the ones that came with it & they have worked fine.

Comments are closed.