Can You Sharpen Chisels Using a Bench Grinder?

Because of how fast the lathe spins your woodblock, you shave off hundreds of feet of wood in a relatively short amount of time. Because of this accelerated use, your chisels will show signs of wear and tear almost immediately, requiring you to sharpen them about every 15 to 20 minutes.

Because of how often you need to resharpen them, it’s essential to know the quickest way to get them back into working order. Know how you can sharpen chisels using a bench grinder to speed up the maintenance process and get you back to turning.

Set Up the Right Bevel Gauge

Every chisel you have may use a different bevel angle, and it’s important to position your tool exactly how you want it. Before starting the grinding process, you need to set up a bevel gauge to get the exact result that you need. Without establishing the angle you want and eyeballing it, you run the risk of getting the wrong angle, affecting your turning and impacting the design of your wood piece.

Move the Chisel To Cover the Blade

Your chisel’s blade may be wider than the coarse wheel itself, and without proper technique, you may end up with an uneven edge. Move the chisel from side to side to ensure that you have an even edge, and that the chisel is not lopsided on either side.

Make Sure To Cool the Metal As You Sharpen

Keep a cup of cool water nearby as you sharpen your chisel. The act of sharpening will generate a lot of heat, and that heat will distort the shape of your chisel.

After placing the chisel on the grinder for a few seconds to sharpen the edge, you’ll need to dip the edge in the water to immediately cool it down. Neglecting this step runs the risk of deforming the blade and reducing the effectiveness of the tool when you get back to work.

Hone the Edge On a Whetstone

The grinder should not be the be-all-end-all of your sharpening process. It speeds up maintenance but does not get the best results; for that, you’ll need to hone the edge on a whetstone or sandpaper. Using a whetstone applies the finishing touches to your chisel, making it ready to use and getting you back to work faster compared to just using the whetstone alone.

Use the Proper Equipment

Knowing how to sharpen your chisels with a table grinder means utilizing other means to get the best results. Using woodworking bench grinders will significantly speed up the maintenance process, but you need to apply it properly and use the other sharpening tools in your toolkit to make sure you do the job perfectly.