woodcut TRU-GRIND User manual

Woodcut Tools Limited
Haumoana, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Phone + 64 (06) 875 1066
e-mail: [email protected]
The Woodcut Tru-Grind sharpening system will enable you
to sharpen all your woodturning tools, with only one jig:
 •BowlGouges
   •FingernailGouges
   •Scrapers
   •SkewChisels
   •PartingTools
TRU-GRIND
Tool Sharpening System
USA Patent No. US 6,935,937 B2
NZ Patent Appl. No. 521080
www.woodcut-tools.com
TM

SETTINGUPTHETRU-GRINDSHARPENINGSYSTEM
Open the box and identify all the parts: the Base-slide, 3screws for
securing the Base-slide, theTool-holder,Instructionbooklet,VideoCD,
and ShortSteelRod.
Watchthevideorstthen prepare to set up the unit on a wooden base or
direct to your workbench. You will need a screwdriver, square, pencil and
ruler to do the job.
In the course of this setup you may be able to create, or improve on, some
important features of your tool sharpening. Notably: the height of your
grinder above the oor; integration of a tool protrusion setting block with the
grinder base block; a better grindstone.
It is important that your grinder is at a comfortable height. We recommend
the centre of the grinding wheel be at approximately the same height as
your lathe spindle.
Mount your grinder securely on a at bench or table. It is best if the height
from the bench, and thus the foot of the Base-slide, to the centre of the
wheel is 150 to 160mm (6-6½ inches).
Next set your Tru-Grind base unit below the grinding wheel. Align the pivot
points as close as possible to the center line of the grinding wheel. For 6”
(150mm) wheels align the rear edge of the Tru-Grind base plate with the
centre line of the grinder. For 8” (200mm) grinders bring the base plate
forward to about ¾” (20mm) from the centre line of the grinder. Once you
have achieved this, mark and drill the holes for the Base-slide and afx the
screws rmly.
You may have to remove the manufacturers tool rest from the grinder if this
obstructs use of the Tru-Grind system. If you would like to have continuing
use of a simple toolrest at the grinder then you can add a Woodcut Sturdy
Rest (see page 16) to your Tru-Grind.
Add a stopper of hard wood along part of the front edge of the base board or
your bench 50mm (2”) back from the edge of the base board or bench. This
is for consistently setting the same tool protrusion from the Tru-Grind Tool
holder.
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Page 3
Fix a stopper of hard wood along part of the front
edge of the base board or your bench. This is
50mm (2”) back from the edge of the base board
or bench. This stopper will be chipped away with
repeated use so make it easy to replace.
Set up the Tru-Grind and grinder on your bench as above with centre of the
pivot points aligned with the centre line of the wheel.
Height from the bench to the
centre of wheel should be 150 -
160mm (6-6½”) for both 150mm
(6”) and 200mm (8”) grinders.
It may be necessary to place
a packer under the mounting
base of the grinder or under the
Tru-Grind Base-slide to get the
height correct.
GrinderHeight
GrinderLayout
StopperforChiselProtrusion

Page 4
INTRODUCTION
Your Woodcut Tru-Grind system is designed to enable woodturners to
repeatedly grind perfect bevels on all types of bowl gouges, spindle gouges,
roughing gouges, skews, and scrapers. Once the Base-slide is set up as
described, grinding a perfect bevel on a tool is very easy and you will be
able to repeat this perfect bevel every time you re-sharpen the tool.
The hollow ground bevel also gives you the ability to hone the edge easily,
and get it very sharp. Such a truly sharp tool will enable you to turn wood to
a nish so smooth that even the end grain requires no sanding.
WheelDressing
Dress your grinding wheels whenever they appear dirty or
are unevenly worn.
If grinding wheels are not trued and dressed (cleaned)
they will cease to sharpen and will overheat and burn the
tools. The Woodcut T-Bar dresser covers the complete
wheel face to give you an even at surface.
If you have removed the regular tool rest from the grinder
to t the Tru-Grind system then support the T-Bar Dresser
on a piece of wood resting on the grinder frame.

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SHARPENINGINSTRUCTIONS
Grinding grit can damage your eyesight. Make sure you are wearing
approvedsafetyglasses before starting your grinder.
BasicstepswithTru-Grindsharpening
These are the basic adjustments to be made when sharpening all
woodturning tools with the Tru-Grind jig:
1.ToolProtrusion - In the setup instructions, we suggested you screw
a block to your bench, approximately 2 inches (50mm) from the edge,
which you use to set the protrusion of the chisel end from the Tru-Grind
Toolholder. This setting must be consistent every time you grind the tool.
2.ThepositionoftheToolholderPivotLeg determines the style of grind.
Use position 1 for grinding standard traditional bowl gouges and roughing
gouges. This will give a bevel angle which is similar on the sides and on
the nose. The greater angle that you adjust the Pivot Leg to the Toolholder
head (or the greater the number), the more will be the difference in bevel
angle between the nose and the sides of the tool, and the further back you
will grind the sides of the gouge, i.e. increasing the length of the ngernail.
You may need to nd the closest setting notch to the previous angle and re-
grind your gouge so that this setting can be used for future re-grinds.
Position 9, with the Pivot Leg pushed all the way forward, is used for
grinding scrapers and ring tools.
3.AdjusttheBase-slide. After steps 1 and 2 above are set, you must
adjust the Base-slide in or out to get the desired angle of your bevel,
particularly on the nose of the chisel.
4.Recordthesetting. For each chisel write down, or record in some other
way, the angle setting of the Toolholder and extension of the Base-slide.
AidstoSharpening. As the grindstone will wear and result in your
recorded Base-slide positions being erroneous, make or obtain a jig which
will repeatedly and accurately set the distance between the grindstone and
the pivot point on the Base-slide.
To have a good example of a standard grind to refer to, obtain the Woodcut
Tru-Grind Proler.

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Traditionalbowlgouge. Used on its side
with the ute facing in the direction of the
cut. With the bevel rubbing for a smooth
nish even on end grain. Usually 10 to
15mm wide.
Bowlbottomgouge. Used on its side
with the ute facing in the direction of the
cut. Intended for use in the bottom of
bowls. Usually 10 to 15mm wide.
SpindleorDetailgouge. The main
shaping tools of the spindle turner. Used
for detail work, beads, coves, and ogees,
to which the modern round shape is
particularly suited. 5 to 15mm wide.
SpindleRoughinggouge. An essential
tool for between-centre work (spindle
turning). This tool quickly reduces square
timber to the round. Also ideal for long,
shallow curves. Usually 25mm wide.
SkewChisel. The skew will produce the
nest possible nish when used correctly.
For cleaning end grain, pommels, rolling
beads, etc. when both long point and heel
can be used. 15 - 50mm wide.
Diamondpartingtool. An excellent all
round parting tool. The double taper
provides clearance along the sides of the
tool to prevent excess binding while cutting.
SUGGESTEDSHARPENINGANGLESFOR
COMMONLYUSEDTOOLS
FingernailorCelticGrindbowlgouge.
Used on its side with the ute facing in
the direction of the cut. With the bevel
rubbing for a smooth nish even on end
grain. Usually 10 to 15mm wide.

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StandardTraditionalBowlGouge
Fit the bowl gouge into the Toolholder.
Tighten it down so it is rm and straight.
We suggest approximately 2 inches or
50mm of tool protruding from the front of the
Toolholder body. This protrusion must be the
same each time you grind.
Next adjust the pivot leg until it is parallel with the handle of the bowl gouge
(position #1 on the Toolholder). Fit the pivot ball at the bottom of the leg into
the rear pivot point on the base slide. Move the Base-slide in or out until
the correct bevel angle is achieved. We set the bevel angle of our traditional
gouges at 35 degrees. This angle can be checked with a Woodcut Tri-gauge.
Hold the Tru-Grind Tool Holder comfortably in your hands. Locate the ball
foot of the Tool Holder in the Pivot Point. Apply the chisel to the grinding
wheel and rotate it from side to side. Recheck your angle. Now continue to
grind until you have a sharp edge. With this system you may grind all of the
gouge at one time or you may grind the
sides or the nose or whatever area you
need to. When reshaping a badly ground
gouge, work on the sides only, until they
are correct, and then blend the nose to
match.
It is important that the pivot leg angle is
the same every time. So once you have
decided on which angle to use, mark
the number on the handle of the tool for
next time. It is important to use the same
settings to get a consistent regrind.
If a long-uted gouge is slim or won’t
align true in the Toolholder then insert
the Short Steel Rod supplied under the
clamp block “V” and into the ute of the
gouge. Tighten as normal.

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SpindleRoughingGouge
Roughing Gouges should be sharpened
with the Pivot Leg at position # 1 and at a
bevel angle of 45 degrees.
This will result in a ner edge towards the
wings of the gouge than at the centre, but
the tool will operate just as well as one with
exactly 45 degrees across the whole edge.
The end of a Spindle Roughing Gouge
should be straight across - no grinding back
of the wings.
SpindleGouge
This style of gouge has the sides of the
tip ground back. To achieve this you need
to adjust the pivot leg on the Toolholder
forward to between positions #4 and #8.
The higher the number, the more the wings
or sides will be ground back. Take note of
the number setting you have chosen. This can be written on the wooden
handle of the gouge to help you repeat the same grind.
FingernailorCelticGrindBowlGouge
This style of gouge has the sides of the
tip ground back. To achieve this you need
to adjust the pivot leg on the Tool Holder
forward to between positions #4 and #8.
The higher the number, the more the wings
or sides will be ground back. Take note of
the number setting you have chosen. This
can be written on the wooden handle of the
gouge to help you repeat the same grind.
The ute shape should be parabolic or “U” shaped to acheive a good Celtic
or Fingernail grind.

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SkewChisel
Place your skew chisel into the Tru-Grind Toolholder with the blade verical
and the point at the bottom. Adjust the protrusion to 2 inches or 50mm from
the toolholder body and clamp it down rmly. Put the pivot leg into the rear
base pivot position and lay the body on its side. Adjust the Toolholder leg
angle until the cutting edge
is horizontal with the face of
the wheel. Then lay it on the
wheel and adjust the base
slide until the bevel angle
is correct - we suggest 22
degrees. Start the grinder and
commence sharpening. The
more you move the skew from
side to side, the more radiused
will be the edge. The shape
of this edge is a personal
choice. Rotate the Toolholder
to sharpen the other side.
PartingTool
Place the tool in the Tru-Grind
Toolholder horizontally with the same
tool protrusion as other tools. Next
lay the tool on the wheel and adjust
the pivot leg until the point angle is
approximately 35 degrees.
Rotate the Toolholder to sharpen the
other side.

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TraditionalScraper
Place the scraper in the Toolholder protruding as before and clamp tight.
Next move the pivot leg forward as far as it will go i.e. position #9 (where it
is level with the nose of the scraper). Place the pivot leg into the forward
pivot position on the base slide. Move the base slide in or out to adjust the
bevel angle as required (Generally around 55 degrees).
Apply the scraper to the wheel and rotate
until your preferred shape is achieved.
This method can also be used to sharpen
Ring Tools used for hollowing.
Negative-rakeScraper
A square-ended negative-rake scraper
is sharpened like a skew, but usually
with less angle to the cutting edge.
Negative-rake scrapers with an unequal
and curved sharp edge need to be
sharpened using a regular grinder tool
rest or the Sturdy Rest on the Tru-Grind
system.