Sharpening Tool Bits
- Thread starter lockwood
- Start date
I have a video from the Little Machine Shop' website. It show you how to make your own with a grinder and HSS blanks. Pretty good stuff.
Sharpening bits is all about knowing the right angle. It's really very simple, but you need practice.
You can either do that or buy new ones. They are really not very expensive, but sharpening many times comes is better than new ones.
Sharpening bits is all about knowing the right angle. It's really very simple, but you need practice.
You can either do that or buy new ones. They are really not very expensive, but sharpening many times comes is better than new ones.
I like carbide tool for wood turning. Green Wheels works very good for me.
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Sharpening lathe tools
If you're going to make your own tools from blanks, you really need a bench grinder.
If you plan to buy pre-made tools and just need to "put the edge back on them", you can use a honing/sharpening stone.
I've even used my belt sander on occasion to sharpen my tools.
If you're going to make your own tools from blanks, you really need a bench grinder.
If you plan to buy pre-made tools and just need to "put the edge back on them", you can use a honing/sharpening stone.
I've even used my belt sander on occasion to sharpen my tools.
This setup works very well for me. Once you set the correct angle using a 220 grit belt the bits cut just like brand new. Just don't let the bit get too hot, plus dipping the bit in light oil before sharpening seems to really help and it only takes two passes to get it real sharp.
Attachments
What about cabide???
For carbide. Waste of money to use a green wheel on HSS. I like HSS for cue making unless I am machining IV 4 or G10.
I rough in my bits on a grinder then finish with a wet stone.
Larry
I have a powered wet wheel. I tried sharpening a tool bit and it came out a tad thin, looked like a parting bit. Definitely an art to it.
I will take the advice and try my wet stone from now on.
I will take the advice and try my wet stone from now on.
I bought a set of 5 ...... 1/4 in tool bits with indexable carbide inserts. You can find them on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/5-1-4-MINI-LATH...089?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b0ceea41
They cut razor sharp and stay sharp almost for ever.
I will never go back to grinding tool bits..
Trust me, Get these, you won't be sorry.
Kim
You can buy the same ones from Harbor Freight for $20 and not have to pay for the shipping.
I like this set up for sharpening the end of the bit. Do you have angle blocks for touching up the other two angles? Getting the bit hot is not as much of a worry as long as you keep a can of water to dip it in right after sanding or grinding the ends. Dipping in the water while hot seems to give the steel a little surface temper (hardness) and causes it to stay sharp longer than just using a sharpening stone cold which removes the surface temper.
Hello Chris,
I do not have angle blocks for the other two sides, I have thought about doing so but have not done it yet. I have been using a diamond stone to touch up the other sides. Do you have a good setup that you can share?
I just free hand sharpen them on a grinder. I use to have a grinder that had a real nice pivoting fence and I could clamp blocks on it for what ever angle I wanted. It gave out and I have not replaced it. I think a square block of wood about the length of your bits, could be held up against your guide and allow you to sand the other two sides.
What is a green wheel?
NOT cheap. It's a grinding wheel made just for carbide. They wear down quickly too. Check with an industrial supply company to see if they have one that fits your grinder.
Larry
Grinder and a stone to hone by hand.
Available cheap on an ebay near you.
20 seconds on Google: priceless
http://www.sherline.com/grinding.htm
Dale