Experienced turners know that learning to sharpen tools is arguably more important than learning to cut with them.  Whilst most tools can be sharpened with a straightforward platform -style jig such as the O'Donnell jigs, or the Sorby jig , certain advanced styles of grind such as the Celtic (Swept-back/Irish/O'Donnell etc.) and fingernail types are more easily ground and maintained using specialist jigs such as those by Hamlet and Robert Sorby, shown on this page.

Not an easy one to phrase this!  Not a jig for grinding Celts but an aid to producing the Celtic grind which features on many of the Hamlet bowl gouges which we sell - and on some other brands too.  In fact, this could be described as the "factory jig" as it has its origins in the very jigs which are used in the factory for producing these grinds so accurately and repeatably.

Simple to use and easy to install and set up, I can personally recommend this jig most highly

The principle on which the jig is based is well proven and the simple set up is illustrated above - albeit this shows my own, flawed installation (for which I have my own excuses!).  The parts supplied include the mounting block and retaining stirrup, into which the gouge is clamped, the base mounting arm (the green part) and a fixing bolt.  To install the jig, all that is required is to drill a hole to clear an 8 mm bolt, in line with the centre line of your grinding wheel and where there is freedom to move the base arm in and out (towards and away from the wheel face).  Use the supplied bolt to clamp the arm in place, fix a gouge in the block, securing it with the stirrup clamp and drop the rounded end of the pivot arm into the recess provided in the outer end of the base arm and you are ready to go.

Use this jig to maintain the factory-ground form on any Celtic-style gouge or to make your own Celtic gouges from standard forms.  I found it superb for "regularising" the hand-ground Celtic gouges which I have had on my rack for years - now they are all wonderfully uniform and even - and I can keep them that way with no trouble at all.

The jig will accommodate bowl gouges from 3/8" diameter to 1" diameter.  (NB:  This is the actual diameter, not the nominal diameter)..

Robert Sorby Grinding Jigs

Photo courtesy Robert Sorby

Robert Sorby produce a range of sharpening jigs which can be adapted for use with most dry grinders.  All three models are illustrated, above.

445 Fingernail Profiler:  An answer to all those prayers for help in producing an even and consistent fingernail grind on spindle and bowl gouges!  Fully adjustable to enable both long and short profiles to be achieved and easily reset to pre-determined positions to make regrinds consistent.  The clamp system will accept gouges ranging in diameter from 1/4" (6mm) to 3/4" (20mm).

446 Universal Sharpening System:  A large, robust platform assembly of all-steel construction. Features captive spanners to lock the height and angle of the platform.  Also includes an angle-finder to aid in setting up at the correct angle for the tool's bevel angle.

447 Deluxe Universal Sharpening System:  A combination of the two devices detailed above.  The fingernail profiler can be dropped back or the arm removed completely to give clear access to the flat platform for square-on grinding.