Woodworker's Journal 2008-32-4, страница 55

SHOP TEST

LAP SHARP LS-200

Price. S595 Phone: 707-473-0593

The difference in thickness between the 4mm platter intended for coarse abrasives and the 3mm one for fine abrasives produces a 1° difference in bevel angle. Thus, simply switching to the fine grit produces a microbevel on the tool.

The Lap Sharp is accessorized with a spray bottle. Spritz the abrasive just before grinding or honing. The water cools the operation and carries away metal and abrasive particles.

Grinding single-bevel tools is only part of the Lap Sharp's capability. The motor can be reversed to grind double-bevel edges as well.

the tool. There is a risk of overheating, but I found that with my fingers on the tool blade, I was well aware of the temperature of the steel. Just quench the tool if it gets too hot.

Setup is straightforward. The tool-rest elevation establishes the bevel angle: the higher the rest, the steeper the angle. The post has marks and a positive detent every 5° between 15° and 45°. Adjust it to the bevel angle you want.

The blade projection from the tool holder is the same, regardless of bevel angle. A nifty setup jig helps you get it right every time. Securing short-bladed tools, like butt chisels, can be a problem. A shorter projection — set up using the same jig — is the solution, though it changes the bevel angles; a conversion chart is on the jig.

Unfortunately, Veritas doesn't make any guides for sharpening gouges and V-tools. To sharpen a curved-edge tool, you have to position the tool bevel against the platter when it's stopped, then grip the tool's shank with your knuckles against the rest and rock the tool. Clearly, it would take practice to master this task.

I^p Sharp LS-200: While basically simple, this machine laps, grinds and hones all manner of tools — chisels, plane irons, scrapers, carving and turning tools, even jointer and planer knives. Only three tool-guiding jigs are required to handle all of this sharpening. Among its unique features are a deadman-type foot switch, reversible rotation and both wet and dry operation.

The foot switch frees your hands so you can hold the tool in position on the abrasive while you switch on the power. This is especially helpful in lapping the backs of tools.

Sharpening knives and other double-bevel tools is where reversibility is important. Sharpen one bevel with die platter spinning counterclockwise, then reverse the rotation to hit the second bevel.

The machine comes with four machined aluminum disks, each with a different abrasive applied—

120-, 80-, 35- and 10-micron (approximately equivalent to 120-, 220-, 320-and 800 grit). An optional polishing pack has three additional disks with 5-, 3- and 1-micron abrasives for honing and polishing a cutting tool. (One micron is roughly equivalent to 8,000 grit.)

Although you can use the Lap Sharp dry, the basic kit includes a spray bottle for wetting the abrasive. The water cools the tool and carries away the swarf, which extends the abrasive life.

To a purist, many of these features are critical. If "good enough" is a concept repellent to you, this is your power sharpener. You can lap tool backs flat, not just flat enough. You get the benefit of wet sharpening without the waterpark mess.

The basic machine doesn't come with any tool holders or guides, so if you get it, you must do it all freehand. Three tool guide packages are available. The primary guide accessory, for straightedged tools, adds $80 to die price. A guide for curved-edge tools costs $120, and the jointer-planer knife jig costs a whopping $250.

Best Bet Picks for a Razor Edge

My vote for "Best Bet" wet sharpener is the Grizzly T10010 — a great value if you soup it up right. For a drier grind, the versatile and competitively priced Work Sharp also earns a "Best Bet" award. You can spend a whole lot more, but you won't find a simpler system for sharpening your most-used tools^,^

Bill Hylton is a widely published author and frequent contributor to Woodworker's Journal.

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August 2008 Woodworker's Journal