Noob question, is my cutting bit dull?

[boogieman]

I got a MidAmerican about a month ago. I’ve done quite a bit of work on the pool hall’s house cues and worked on some old shafts etc. I’m just taking it slow and trying to learn as I go.

Anyway, this weekend I put a new ferrule on my old McDermott. It seemed as if the tip end of the ferrule didn’t want to cut as easy but cutting got easier the further down the ferrule I went.

Runout was good.

Is this a sign of a cutting bit getting dull? It’s hss. I’m flying blind here but I’ve looked up videos on sharpening them and do have a grinding wheel.

I’m guessing the ferrule is deflecting away from the bit as it may be getting dull.

I understand this is probably a ridiculous newbie question but I have no one else to ask. Thanks!

 

[Kim Bye]

HSS needs to be sharpened all the time, so it's very likely that's your problem. How far from the chuck do you work and what speeds and feeds are you running?
As always, pictures helps.

 

[DeeDeeCues]

To add to Kim's comments, phenolics can be very abrasive.

Hss is a great material, easy to sharpen, hard to overheat, but it requires maintenance.

 

[boogieman]

I was working about 1.25" from the chuck since it was a 1" ferrule. It's a hand operated so I usually just have to kind of feel the feed rate. Micarta ferrule material. It seems really tough so I have no doubt it could dull pretty quickly.

I'll work on sharpening it before next use. I was on break at work when I posted this, I have been thinking about it off and on since last night so I figured I'd ask the experts.

Thanks for the responses!

 

[Tom1234]

I use mainly Tomahawk for ferrules; cuts easily with sharp tooling. When the tooling is sharp, the removed material comes off in spiral, spring like threads. And I mean long threads and in one piece. If I don’t get this, I stop and sharpen the bit. Hope this helps in some way.

 

[boogieman]

So yeah... I sharpened it on a grinding wheel and it cut 10X better.

Thanks again!