Apparently this sharpening tool has been around under various names since 2004 or earlier, but I just recently found out about it — I know: if I don’t start paying attention, I’m going to have to turn in my Toolmonger badge. The 12″ tall, 8″ diameter JoolTool™ (a.k.a. Ninja™) is a variable speed (500 to 5,000 RPM) dry sharpening system that has a 17° forward tilt for easy use, a vacuum port, and several accessories allowing it to sharpen, polish, grind, lap, sand, and deburr. Highland Woodworking and Japan Woodworker both have a basic package (inc. the JoolTool™, an instructional DVD, a backpad, a buff/polish felt wheel, a small block of honing compound, a variety of different grit discs for various materials, and more) available for $279.95.
Have any Toolmongers used one of these? What did you think? How does it compare to something like the Work Sharp? What’s your preferred tool for sharpening?
JoolTool™ [Manufacturer's Site]
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8 Responses to Hot Or Not: JoolTool
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I have not used one of these, but my preferred method is still and old fashion fine stone grinder, some wet stones, and a good strop. I like the feeling of being able to sharpen my tools without one of these. I know they would be fast, but i like modifying grinders, and making my own jigs to suit my style of sharpening. I have one grinder that faces normal, and had a rough stone and a wire wheel on it. and then one that has all gear removed, and faces backwards, and then i made a tilting plat to match up to it, this has fine stone and a buffing wheel with polishing compound on it, works great for my turning tools, my plane irons, my chisels, and knifes and scissors. Also works great for my mower blades.
kind of old school, but so are the guys who taught me to sharpen…
ShopMonger
p.s scary sharp, (glass plate with high grit sandpaper) works great, nice cheap way to get started, then when you want to upgrade get a surface plate of granite for $20-30……great for chisels, and plane irons, and even scissors…
How on earth does this thing work?
cl
Chris, you turn it over and stick it in your milkshake. Better to do it outside.
There is a video demonstration on their website listed under media.
It seems to be an interesting idea, but I don’t think I will be picking one up soon, as there are so many options to sharpen that I already have in the shop.
Too bad the manufacturer didn’t have someone outside review the website before launch. It is absolutely unclear how the product works until you dig down a few pages.
The WorkSharp products seem like a better solution (especially for straight-edged tools) at a lower cost.
i have used this tool.
it seems really scary at first, but it soon became my best friend. i can do anything with it like shape a knife edge ring or any type of special shank, with some careful maneuvering, i can even bring out the roundness of the shank. of course it does not replace a traditional lap, as it is a little limited in the flexibility and movement (all the sandpaper is stuck on the hard plastic) but it really does help to have around the shop. in fact, unless there was a ring needing very very special attention, i could take a ring from clean up all the way to polish (then rouge lightly with a flex shaft or other polishing machine) … very very helpful!
by the way, the lady doing the video is supposed to be hot, and is totally not, and doesn’t really use the tool very well. there’s a slight movement in the hand that is missing, and of course no one could work detail with the manicure she’s sporting. lol big time