Cooks Sharpener (work Height)

[redbeard]

Been wanting a Sharpener setter for several years and finally pulled the trigger. Got the Cooks electric and the single tooth setter. So the Sharpener is on its way and was wondering what some of you prefer sitting in a chair or a bar stool height. My shop I have several  stools that sit nice next to my  34" work tables Iam thinking I will have to modify one to lower it. Don't want it to high. By the way Cooks is awesome to deal with there sending a box of super sharps with there can looking forward to trying those blades. Got the cams for my other blades also. Making room in my shop is going to be a chore. Might have to build a sharpening Cabin out back by mill.

[ladylake]

 
You might want to leave it higher as there's no need to sit and watch it once you get the height and how much you take off the face of the tooth set.  Should be great sharpener, the only complaint you'll have is why you didn't buy it sooner.   Steve 

[Chuck White]

Congratulations on getting the Cooks Cat Claw sharpener and setter!

They really do a nice job!

[bandmiller2]

I have my cats-claw set up on an average hight work bench and I sit in a swivel office chair, all the action is eye level. Its almost hypnotic to watch, good form with any grinder wear safety glasses. You may wish you bought the automatic setter as setting will become the boring bottleneck. There is a learning curve don't get discouraged. Frank C. Oh put something like a cookie pan under the grinder to catch "grits" and metal dust.

[NMFP]

The issue I have with the cooks sharpener as Frank C said is the dust.  If I had to do it again, I would close in the bottom of the sharpener and put a dust collector there for sharping under it.  The grinding dust, dust from wheel wear and so on becomes a real mess in a short amount of time.  Plan on building something around the base to catch the dust or it will be everywhere, including your nose.

[slider]

I also have mine mounted at eye level.You might want to hang a good light over it so you can see how much you are removing at each pass.You are going to wish you had bought the dual tooth setter.It's much faster.Good luck .al

[backwoods sawyer]

I have the sharpener and setter set up on oposite ends of an 8' pallet and lay out a couple 55 gallon drums when we pull out the sharpening equipment for the day. This lets me stand over the tooth setter to see the dial guadges real well (tall stool) and sit down to set up the sharpener.
I just use a spare lube pan from the WM sharpener to contain the grindings.

A dedicated sharpening shed would be a good option as it does take fair bit of space to handle saws. Good lighting is a must.

Pictures of sharpening room layouts anyone?

[ely]

my sharpening bench is about 43 inches high and that puts the cat claw up and in view really good. as far as the grindings I use a large magnet laying under the sharpener, I always wrap that magnet with a thicker piece of poly, when it starts to look like a fuzz ball I take it outside and carefully unwrap the magnet so that it stays clean. I put the grinding near an oak tree. it seems to like it,.

[starbits]

When I was at Yellowhammer's place he showed me his catclaw set up.   He had it set up on a timer.  Set the cut, mark the first tooth, set the timer and walk away.  When it had completed cutting the whole band it shut down.  It took him 30 seconds to reset for a finer grind, start the grind, reset the timer and walk away again.   Hardly any time at all spent at the grinder.  The height of the blade on the grinder I would guesstimate was about 48" , but I only saw it for 15 minutes a month ago so ask Yellowhammer if you need a more accurate number.

Starbits

[kelLOGg]

Pictures of sharpening room layouts anyone?

Here's an overhead view of mine.  It does take up significant space in my shop but a permanent setup is worth it.
Bob


 

[Deese]

I've got mine set up about about 4' off the ground. That way I don't have to do any bending over while making adjustments to the sharpener or shaping the stone.

[redbeard]

Thanks everyone for the valuable info. I was thinking about installing the setter like Kelloggs picture. The area I have picked out in my shop was a lapidary room I built back when I had that fever but sawmill took over and i have sold all the equipment. There's a Stainless steel table built in to the center of room its a old galley sink some of you might remember from your military days. Its 40" high I think I will try it out pics to come as soon as I clean the room out. I was talked into going with the single setter from the guy that did my blades and Marcie from Cooks also made the point if you have the time its just as accurate. $$$ was the third reason.

[PineNut]

My sharpener is on a table that is on casters. It is 34 inches high (because it is what I had) but I think 44 to 48 inches high would be better. I don't sit down while sharpening as I am usually doing something else after I get it set up. I made a new set of support arms for the band. Very similar to the original except that they are not welded to the mounting brackets but are pinned to the bracket. Then when not in use, I can pull them off and not upset any adjustments on them.

I have a single tooth setter, which is mounted on a 2 x 12 that is hinged to the wall. It can then be folded up out of the way when not in use.   

[NMFP]

Height of the work platform isn't as critical as having a sold and secure place to mount the machine.  A bought a used machine from a guy one time and it was on an old army  work bench on wheels.  Convenient to roll around but the issue was that there was too much vibration and it caused an erratical grind.  He sold the machine because he couldn't get it to work correctly.  I purchased it, took it off that table and mounted it on a stationary work bench with no vibration and it worked great.  he called a month or so after I purchased it to see if I had the machine figured out and I told him.  He was embarrassed! He fought with it for almost 6 years trying to make it work.

Do what is comfortable for you.  if you like standing, make it higher and if you like sitting, make it lower.  That's the joy in living in America, you can do it your way!

[YellowHammer]

I can't add anything about work table height but I'd recommend buying one of these lighted opticscopes at the local drugstore for about $20.

So that as you sharpen you can see when the tip still has a dull edge or corner and still needs work.  The dark tip where I burned it isn't good either.


Keep taking passes until until it looks more like this with sharp corners and a good chisel tip.


YH

[leroy in kansas]

Got mine set  on the work bench when I use it. Have to move it out of the way for storage. I vote for the cabin out back. A person should also include all the amenities in such a place.

Leory

[woodyone.john]

YH is that blue from burn or do you use doublehards.I use doublehards and when there is no more blue they dont last to long on the saw.

[Brucer]

The top of the blade is 4'-8" off the floor on my setup. That's just about perfect (for me). It takes very little time to mount the blade, and I'd rather be standing when I do. The blade is just below my eye level when I adjust the grinder; that's perfect for a good close look at the grinding wheel where it touches the tooth. And it's also a perfect height for examining the tooth up close to check the final grind.

Once the grinder is running I go and do something else (such as sitting down at the setter ;)).

[pine]

Height of the work platform isn't as critical as having a sold and secure place to mount the machine.  A bought a used machine from a guy one time and it was on an old army  work bench on wheels.  Convenient to roll around but the issue was that there was too much vibration and it caused an erratical grind.  He sold the machine because he couldn't get it to work correctly.  I purchased it, took it off that table and mounted it on a stationary work bench with no vibration and it worked great.  he called a month or so after I purchased it to see if I had the machine figured out and I told him.  He was embarrassed! He fought with it for almost 6 years trying to make it work.
Do what is comfortable for you.  if you like standing, make it higher and if you like sitting, make it lower.  That's the joy in living in America, you can do it your way!

This is a very convenient posting redbeard as I am looking at the same thing.

I am getting ready to try to come up with a permanent mounting/table solution for my catsclaw and dual setter so I can start to use them as well.  I had thought about mounting it on a caster wheel table so I could roll it out of a corner for space for the blade but this posting about vibration really makes me question if I want to do that.  Waiting for more comments to come.  I really want to come up with a good solution.

kelLOGg
From your picture it looks as if the setter is on the opposite side of the table from the sharpener and the blade goes around which ever device you are not using at that moment.  If true then you can only use one at a time, is that correct, or am I missing something in the picture?

[kelLOGg]

kelLOGg
From your picture it looks as if the setter is on the opposite side of the table from the sharpener and the blade goes around which ever device you are not using at that moment.  If true then you can only use one at a time, is that correct, or am I missing something in the picture?

That's right - I can either set or sharpen, not both at the same time. It would be quicker to set one band while the previous band is being sharpened but I have a space constraint.
Bob

[Chuck White]

Mine is set up almost exactly like yours, Bob!

[bandmiller2]

Alas my sharpener is set up in a cramped old cellar, where I set and grind on the same bench. Ideal would be a purpose built room with good natural light a wood floor and enough overhead to hang open bands on the wall. Most sharpeners require space behind them for the band to lay level as its fed around into the wheel. The support of the band in back is critical to keep it feeding level into the sharpener and not rocking. I used to spend much time peeking at the teeth even had a cheap computer microscope and the doctors ear light and magnifier. Now I don't bother I sharpen before the band is dull once around and give the teeth a tweek with my finger. If tramp is hit its more involved. Frank C.

[kelLOGg]

Mine is set up almost exactly like yours, Bob!

Do you also have a 1950s Kelvinator refrigerator  ;D in your shop? That thing is amazing and still  runs. We use it as an overflow unit. It was in our first house when we bought it in 1974 and moved it when we moved. I'm guessing at its age.

Bob

[backwoods sawyer]

 

 

For space I mounted them on oposite ends of the pallet so that both the sharpener and the setter can be used at the same time.

stand to set, sit to sharper, kinda backwards but works

[pine]

I have similar space limitations, thus I was interested in the interlaced/overlapping sharpener/setter but was not certain how well it would work.  Looks like you got it work well and have no blade interaction/interference with the supports of the opposite setter/sharpener that is not being used.
Still would like to figure out how to make it where I can move it but the vibration issue that was brought up makes me a bit nervous about caster/wheels.