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Veritas Sharpening System

I saw the review in American Woodworker Magazine. It did not discuss whether this would be good for sharpening turning tools. Are there any turners out there who have this sharpening system? What do you think of it?


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If you are referring to the Lee Valley Power Sharpening System (NUSS) they introduced last year, yes, I have one.

I've compared the NUSS and the Tormek at some length over at rec.woodworking. So I will keep my remarks on it brief (though check the rec.woodworking archives if you like, or get back to me if you want more).

The NUSS is an excellent sharpening system for flat blades such as chisels and plane blades. It has a very accurate and repeatable system jigging system for these blades, allowing the blades to be sharpened both precisely and very quickly (600 rpm for the platters). It also works pretty well for flattening the backs of such blades. For normal use, you can stick to the grit sizes that come with the machine, though I would add one additional platter to put a sheet of chromium oxide paper on (it's easy to use PSA rectangular paper and trim to size), this will allow you to put on a .5 micron (over 8000 waterstone) microbevel on. When the chrome paper wears, just load it with the green honing compound, and it will work even better. For flattening the backs, it is helpful to have a couple of additional platters and use all the grits. These platters will also do a fairly good job smoothing the flats on both large turning scrapers and the small scraper blades used for hollowing. Finally, the flat platters are handy to making flat grinds on steel rod, brass stock, etc., when you are making your own tools. The platter system is not useful for gouges and similar tools, as there is not jigging system for these tools.

The accessory 1 inch belt sander is simply marvelous for many turning tools. While still not great for gouges or skews, it is marvelous for dealing with all those little tool bits associated with hollowing tools, and IMO is simply the very best approach to sharpening the cutting hollowing tools such as the Woodcut Proforme, Exocet, and Hamlet Big Brother. I use the usual abrasive belts for tool bit grinding, the Berger tool, the sides of hollowing scraper blades and large turning scrapers. It is easy to set bevel angle with the included platform and the addition of that new small yellow protractor that Lee Valley and others sell quite cheaply. For the Proforme, Exocet and Big Brother cutting heads, I use a leather belt charged with green chromium oxide honing compound. I strongly recommend this as an ideal way to maintain these heads, as well as a way to polish the Kelton hollowers. I use the vertical belt sander at least as much as the platters, maybe more (of course I spend more time turning than general woodworking).

I have never used the included grinder wheel arrangement. It will only handle a six inch wheel, though it does turn at 1750 rpm. The unit also has a power takeoff at the belt sander/grinding wheel end. Here you can mount a Jacobs chuck (and hopefully they will answer may pleas to offer a collet system), and then mount a variety of self determined accessories. I have a 4 inch spiral stitched cotton cloth wheel mounted that I charge with green compound and use to polish gouge flutes before sharpening the bevel.

Overall, I use this the NUSS a lot and would be very reluctant to give it up. It is noisy, prone to strewing grinding dust around (even with the vacuum attachment) and can't gouges. So it isn't the perfect single purpose sharpener for turners, nonetheless, for someone with hollowing tools, it is a very desirable adjunct to a Tormek or dry vertical grinder.

In comparison, the Tormek has an excellent jigging system for gouges and skews, is quiet, doesn't throw grinding dust around and into the air, and does a quite adequate job on turning scrapers and (with the appropriate extra cost jig) will sharpened everything from power planer and jointer blades to axes and scissors. It does not work nearly as well for sharpening small hollowing tools bits and hollowing cutting heads
(Proforme, etc.).

If one were only to have one power sharpening system, I would choose the NUSS if I was mostly using hand woodworking tools, but choose the Tormek I woodturning was my principal activity. If I was committed to doing both, I'd have to vote for the Tormek.

Last thing. Both are extremely well made, come with really excellent manuals, and have good after sale support. The Tormek continues to come out with new or upgraded jigs (most recently one for small carving tools), that fit the existing units. The NUSS has gone through some upgrades which Lee Valley has provided without charge to prior owners. I know Lee Valley is considering adding a few jigs to the NUSS, but none are immanent to my knowledge. Lee Valley has the best customer service in the industry, with a 3 month money back guarantee.

As woodworkers, we are extremely lucky to have two such fine systems from two such fine companies.

 


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