Inherited Pro Edge - not quite the pro

Hi Ben

You are probably right about the age/storage of the belts, mine do not curl some of those are not new, but not very old either! I store them in the workshop between 2 turned posts the same diameter as the rollers, not under tension but in position! There is no noticeable slack on the table position guides, but there is a fraction of a degree or it would be hard to locate them! this small variation makes no difference to woodturning tools, but probably would to plane / bench chisel blades.

Third item I just checked mine not with a dial guage but with a simple fine point felt tip against the side, got a clean circle so no detectible "wobble" it is simple to to remove the roller, I would say it is worth doing to see if you can spot the problem, see link below for replacement parts.

I would also suggest that as an inherited piece it is worth checking the backing plate behind the belt this is a consumable part and it will suffer from scoring and distortion over time, especially if it has been used for rolling bowl gouges and the like on (us wood turners use a lot more curved tools than carpenters tend to).

I have used many different sharpening systems, and would have to say that the ProEdge is the best one for woodturning tools, it is not necessarily the best for all sharpening needs. Though if the machine is in good condition and you aim at getting mostly reprofiled to 240 grit then consider either using the trizact belts or maybe moving onto a stone for final sharpening it should speed up your sharpening even for planes and bench chisels.

For my bench chisels I reprofiled and flattened the backs on the ProEdge, then I slipped a steel rule under the back edge of the table to create a small micro bevel which I maintain on a stone, intention is returning to the ProEdge when that becomes worn, But I do so little flat work that hasn't happened yet. I would suggest if the 0.5 or so degree in the main angle concerns you you take a known good blade, coat it in marker pen, and finesse the table to it by hand turning the belt to ensure a clean removal edge to edge of the marker pen before reprofiling the battered ones.

Look at replacement parts link for new back plate and pully bearings and consider new belts depending on how battered either start with the 60 or 120 grit and aim at around 1200 trizact for planes and bench chisel finishing belts link.