loading

Guangdong JSWAY CNC Machine Tool Co., Ltd. since 2004.

Sharpening Woodturning Tools - How Sharp Is Sharp Enough?

Many beginning woodturners and even some experienced ones are confused over the question of sharpening their tools, in particular wondering how sharp a tool needs to be. This tends to be further confused by the tendency for woodworkers to not restrict themselves to only one kind of woodworking. In other words a woodturner may find themselves at the wood lathe one hour and using a hand plane or a wood chisel the next. Now the question becomes whether the lathe tool needs to be as sharp as the hand tool. The answer may lie in considering the type of wood and work each will do.

Hand planes are designed for removing wood leaving as smooth as surface as possible. They move across boards that are progressively flatter and flatter as well as smoother and smoother and will leave a surface only as fine as the edge on their blade. In addition, they are propelled with the motion of arms and hands and cover a fairly small area in a relatively large segment of time compared with a wood lathe.

The wood that planes work with is generally fairly clear with few knots and irregularities. It has also been brought to a point of relative flatness and finish before the planes start their work. Hand planes are really the finish tools of the modern cabinet maker. As such they need a very fine edge that leaves a finished surface ready for fine sandpaper or a cabinet scraper.

Woodturning tools on the other hand are the roughing tolls of the woodturner as well as the finishing tools. They will attack a rough piece of wood that may include bark complete with grit from felling on the woodland floor, all sorts of knots that add character to the finished piece or even cross grain and bark inclusions found in many burls. A fine edge will last only seconds rather than minutes in such circumstances.

In addition, a wood lathe moves the material so quickly that the fine edge of a wood plane would dull very quickly under the friction of the movement. Rather a more robust, thicker edge is needed. Instead of the edge from water stones and leather strops, the rougher edge from a grinding wheel is sufficient for the woodturner.

Grinders using eighty grit aluminum oxide wheels will leave an edge that is sufficiently strong and sharp enough to remove a lot of wood and last well. The surface that is left behind is ready for sanding or scraping. In fact, many spindle turners will use a skew chisel to leave a surface that will not need any sanding or only that of papers higher than two hundred grit of finer. Some bowl turners use scrapers with a fine edge to achieve similar results.

The answer to the question of how sharp is sharp enough really is the sharpness that works for the tools and the work at hand. It will vary for the tool used but the end results speak for themselves.

Many of us have heard about cnc service and seen some of these units in operation in mill axis, multi axis cnc machine and mill axis spaces.

We are proud to be one of the largest suppliers out there. You will love what we offer for your cnc service solution. Check our website at JSTOMI CNC Machine or call to talk to our customer service department with any questions you may have.

Zhongshan JSTOMI CNC Machine Tool Co., Ltd. usees sentiment analysis to understand what their customers care about and leverage that information to reposition their products, create new content or even provide new products and services.

GET IN TOUCH WITH Us
recommended articles
knowledge Case Info Center
How to Mitigate Deformation in the Machining System of Swiss-Type Lathes Forces Causing Deformation in the Machining System


Methods to Reduce the Impact of Force-Induced Deformation
To minimize the impact of force-induced deformation on the stability of Swiss-type lathes and enhance machining accuracy and stability, the following measures can be taken:
JSWAY Company Shines at the Jakarta International Industrial Week

JSWAY Company’s Professional Team Performance
As one of the exhibitors, JSWAY Company showcased the excellence of its professional team at this Jakarta Industrial Week. The team members of JSWAY Company, with their enthusiasm and professional knowledge, actively engaged in exchanges with customers from all over the world, providing them with detailed product introductions and technical support. They not only demonstrated JSWAY Company's advanced technology and high-quality products in the fields of CNC machines, milling and turning centers, and Swiss-type lathes, but also left a deep impression on customers with their enthusiastic service.
The booth of JSWAY Company attracted the attention of many professional visitors. Through professional explanations and demonstrations, the team members successfully conveyed to customers JSWAY Company's technological advantages and innovation capabilities in the field of CNC machines. Their positive performance not only enhanced JSWAY Company's brand image but also laid a solid foundation for the company's further expansion in the Southeast Asian market.
Manual Milling Machines vs. CNC Machines: Which is Better?

Compare manual mills and CNC machine advantages, costs, precision, and applications to choose the right technology for prototyping, job shops, or production.
How to Improve Precision of  Swiss-Type Lathes through Fixture Adjustment

Improving Precision and Service Life through Fixture Adjustment and Maintenance


Fixture Adjustment Methods:


Fixture Maintenance Methods:


By properly adjusting and regularly maintaining fixtures, the machining accuracy and service life of Swiss-type lathes can be effectively improved, ensuring efficient and stable production processes.
How Does CNC Machine Tool Bed Stress Affect Machining Quality?

The stress in a machine tool bed can influence machining quality in several ways:

Machining Accuracy


Deformation and Displacement: Stress in the bed can cause structural deformation, which in turn affects the positional accuracy of various machine components. For example, insufficient rigidity at the tailstock support of the bed may lead to positional deviations of the tailstock center, with maximum displacement deformation reaching up to 0.13465 mm. Such deformation directly impacts the relative positioning between the tool and the workpiece, resulting in machining errors.
How the Multi-Process Integration of Swiss-Type Lathes is Achieved and its Effects
In summary, the multi-process integration of Swiss-type lathes, achieved through advanced CNC systems, multi-axis linkage, power tools, and automation features, offers significant benefits in terms of precision, efficiency, and versatility. This integrated approach not only enhances production efficiency but also reduces costs, making Swiss-type lathes an ideal choice for modern manufacturing needs.
Features of Differences Swiss-Type Lathe Power Heads and Their Impact on Machining

Differences in Machining Effects with Different Power Head Configurations


Single Spindle vs. Dual Spindle: Single-spindle Swiss-type lathes usually come with one side power head and are suitable for machining relatively simple parts. In contrast, dual-spindle lathes can be equipped with more power heads and can even perform simultaneous machining on the main and secondary spindles, significantly improving machining efficiency and complexity.


Side Tool Post vs. Horizontal Tool Post: Power heads with a side tool post structure perform better when machining difficult-to-chip materials, while those with a horizontal tool post structure are more efficient for machining easy-to-cut materials.


In summary, the power heads of Swiss-type lathes offer significant advantages in machining accuracy, efficiency, complexity, and adaptability. Different power head configurations can be selected based on specific machining requirements to achieve the best machining results.
Application Cases of Pitch Compensation for  Swiss CNC lathe
Pitch compensation is an important means of precision improvement in CNC machines. By compensating for the pitch errors of the lead screw, it can significantly enhance the positioning accuracy and machining accuracy of the machine tool. The following is a detailed description of the methods, steps, and application cases of pitch compensation:
no data
Copyright © 2025 Guangdong JSTOMI CNC machine tool co.,ltd. | Sitemap | Privacy policy
Customer service
detect