Grinder upgrade - adding a Kodiak tool platform to my Oneway Vari-Grid System

[@glencrandall7051]

I don't know where this video has been hiding but I just found it today. Excellent information. I have most of the equipment you are using and from the same source. Good equipment and good dealer. I am revamping my shop and must rebuild my sharpening station. This video should help. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@ureasmith3049]

Hey bud thanks for sharing this. What's the thickness of the wood base your grinder sits on? I just got that grinder setup with the cbn wheels and one way setup.

[@haroldsworld]

a good piece of 3/4 plywood with a 3/4 and a 3/8 piece of plywood raising the grinder. You don't need that if you have a 1 hp versions. thanks for watching

[@ureasmith3049]

@@haroldsworld Thanks. Yep I got the 1 hp version.

[@thomasbeckwith2555]

An EXCELLENT video sir...very informative and the filming was awesome. But where did you acquire the "guillotine" lever to position and lock the Kodiak tool platform in to the Vari-Grind base plate? In the Kodiak video Ken mentions the guillotine lever is available, but can't seem to find it. I've sent E-mails to them and they have not responded back. Thank you.

[@divchief07ut]

I have most of the equipment I need for my lathe setup sitting in the currently being remodeled shop. Questions - Is the Wolverine setup different for the Kodiak rest? Which mounting do you recommend for initial setup? Thanks for the video!

[@haroldsworld]

The Wolverine by itself is tricky to get a gouge sharpened correctly. You have to purchase something like the Geiger system to set it up (which is what I use). The platform requires you to set up the angle, which can be a pain. Especially to set it the same angle each time. But I also had the Wolverine system before the Kodiak came out. So, I adapted and combined the two (hence this video). I did so after looking at the Kodiak system at a symposium and talking to Ken of woodturners wonders. If you are a new or beginner I might go with the Kodiak. Simple and will get you most of the angles you need. I have some friend who would argue with me on that point. Kodiak restricts all 3 degrees of freedom. Which on an Ellsworth grind or Irish grind the sweep requires you move the gouge manually. I still haven’t master it. I have found out that there is no exact sweep angle. You get one on the Kodiak, just not sure it is a true Irish grind. Personally, I think these matters more to the experienced turner than the newbie or intermediate turner. If I had no equipment, I probably would buy the Kodiak system. I only have pieces of both so take it for what its worth. Of course, Harwood and Batty will tell you that you don’t need either. The nice thing about that is if you become a disciple of them, there is no addition equipment to buy. I hope this was of help, just remember the lathe is the cheap part of turning. Thank you for your comments.

[@divchief07ut]

@@haroldsworld Thanks Cap! Well I already have the lathe, Wolverine, grinder, tools and CBN wheels. I did some turning years ago on a Shopsmith Mark V and enjoyed it. I am retired and have a shop at my disposal and am going to give it another go. The Geiger System looks interesting at first glance. i'll have to check it out. I was particularly interested in the Kodiak platform for sharpening plane blades and chisels. Another $100!!!! Oh well it's only money!

[@haroldsworld]

@@divchief07ut If you have the wolverine just get the Kodiak platform and the Geigersolution system. Your in business, I would also suggest you find your local woodturners club. Great source. However, if you just want to sharpen plane blade and chisels, you should consider the Worksharp 3000. Stumpy Nubs has a great video on this. Once I get my planes and chisel to the angle that I want, I use a really fine grit 3600 to touch up the edge, which only take a second. Scary sharp blades. Yes, its only money. Stumpy Nubs video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i56wqHyBr7qUnbM May the wood be with you. Harold

[@divchief07ut]

@@haroldsworld I received my Kodiak and got everything installed and had some problems - 1) the "sliding" tool rest didn't slide due to poor machining. A few minutes with a file fixed that. 2) With the recommended Wolverine mounting the platform does not fit around the wheel after about 35 degrees. I came back and rewatched your video and notice that your installation moves the base back considerably, which allows "proper" fit to the Kodiak. How does this effect the gouge sharpening and does that give the proper angle as indicated on the platform? 3) My first use was to sharpen a plane blade which was a minor disaster and major hassle. If the wheel and the are not set exactly perpendicular the plane blade edge is skewed. Getting this right took a lot of effort and time but now it seems I need to backtrack and relocate the bases!! Arrgh!

[@haroldsworld]

@@divchief07ut That is really what my video is about. LOL The quality of the Kodiak is a little suspect, but like you say a little file work takes care of it. I had to do the same thing to mine. Especially on slot and the jigs that fit the slot. Looks like when they stamped them or burnt them no one did any QA to see they slide. I don’t have a problem with that except once I hit it with a file, but the finish is gone. I live in humid Florida and things have a tendency to rust. As John Arbuckle once said “ you get what you pay for” The platform angle is dependent on the relationship between the square arm on the bottom and the platform. If you move it father away or closer the angle is the same. It just is more unsupported. This is why I set my Oneway platform back so I got minimal clearance between the platform and wheel when the platform is installed all the way in. I will tell you that there are 2 Kodiak platforms. The second one has a banana shaped grove and slide guide on the index side of the platform. The original one didn’t. I don’t use the Kodiak Platform for gouges or plane irons. Like I say in the video for gouges I use the wolverine jigs set up with Don Geiger’s Solution System. I am no Stuart Batty I need a little help to get my gouges sharp. Plane Irons I use a Worksharp 3000, I had it before the grinding system and it is far superior to a grinder. I went out to my grinder and grabbed and old plane iron and stuck it on the Kodiak with there 90 degree jig. You are right it isn’t square. I put it on my Worksharp and sure enough it started to sharpen on one side. I can get a nice edge, but not square. You could compensate with your plane as it looks to be off just a little. The Kodiak is a stamped system and the manufacturing tolerance are sloppy at best. You would need to machine it to get better tolerance and that would be big money. Probably not worth it for wood turning tools. One thing I did find out was you need to pick one side of the 90 degree jig and stick with it. Hope this helps. Thanks for the comment and feedback. Harold

[@dutenn]

Hey bud! I have similar setup but you have your grinder elevated a bit. What amount did you raise it? Never knew, coming from wolverine system.

[@haroldsworld]

I have a Rikon 8” ½ house power grinder. You need 6 ¼ to 6 ½ inches from the base plate to the center of the attachment bolt on the grinding wheel. In my case I raised the grinder with an 1 1/8 inches spacer to get that measurement. That is right out of the Oneway wolverine manual by the way. Thanks for viewing my video.

[@ericmoorehead1100]

I presume you have 8” CBN wheels?

[@haroldsworld]

I do. I picked them up from Woodturners Wonders. I have a pair of Mega wheels 1.5 inches. 80 and 350. I think if I did it again I might get a 80 mega and a 220 4in1. I like the rounded corners. Yes they are expensive but they last forever and don't change shape and no dust. I use them to sharpen not only my gouges but carbide cutter. You could probably get by with one if you are on a budget. Thanks for watching, hope you found it helpful. Harold

[@jackthompson5092]

Cannot turn up the volume to properly hear what you are saying.

[@haroldsworld]

Sorry, the audio is a little low but when i turn my sound up I have no problem hearing. You may want to check your computer or iPad volume. I had to turn mine up all the way then then adjust the volume in the KZbin video. Thank you for watching