Thread: Grinders

Doing the same. Vicmac discontinued making them. Looking at the Rikon 80-808 1HP with the idea of using CBN wheels.

Cheers Yvan

I have the Tormek, bought about 15 years ago. I use it mainly for chisels.

Drags soap box from under bench and stands upon the soap box.

I can say this, IF and it is a big IF. If you do not flatten the back of the chisel, there is no grinder in the world that can over come that shortsightedness.

IMNSHO if you use the sharpening system that slides the chisel side to side rather than bevel / handle, you will be unhappy with the longevity of the keen edge.

Steps down off of soap box and slides it back under the bench.

Rich, the Japanese sharpen side to side and they don't appear to have any problems with the result. Like all sharpening debates this could go on for ever.

Back on topic. I was using my half speed grinder last night and my 180 CBN wheel which is well broken in and was wishing it was either a full speed grinder or a coarser wheel. When I got both the combination was much much faster. I think I might drag out the full speed grinder and put the CBN on that to speed things up.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Back on topic. I was using my half speed grinder last night and my 180 CBN wheel which is well broken in and was wishing it was either a full speed grinder or a coarser wheel. When I got both the combination was much much faster. I think I might drag out the full speed grinder and put the CBN on that to speed things up.

Chris,

The "correct" speed of a bench grinder fitted with CBN has got me quite confused! Some will suggest slow speed, others full speeds. I have a 2nd hand full speed Abbott & Ashby and I am not sure if it isn't "too fast"? Woodworkers Wonders who manufactures CBN's suggests a slow speed grinder or, if full speed, to be quite careful because they are quite aggressive.

I also understand that not all steels can be ground which is a bit of a worry because I wouldn't know one steel from another...!

Cheers Yvan

The issue with CBN wheels is they become less aggressive after the wheel has been used for some time then stay at that level or near enough for many years for a typical hobbyist. Buying one then becomes a trade off in a few respects, if a new 180 grit wheel as mine is was on a full speed grinder it will be very aggressive and that may not be a bad thing if you are aware that it will become less so as time goes on. It is this change that prompted my remarks, I was grinding a very badly chipped 25mm chisel and it was slow going because of the size of it but a friable wheel would have been far slower. Saying that a CBN wheel should be on a half speed grinder is simplistic at best and ignores the change that occurs during use.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Rich, the Japanese sharpen side to side and they don't appear to have any problems with the result. Like all sharpening debates this could go on for ever.

YES! Like the old Johnny Carson joke about making the perfect Martini. LOL!

I'm only repeating what a couple of college Teachers told me. Based on logic and rational thinking and regardless of the method and the fineness of the final grit, there are scratch marks. Whether or not you see them depends upon the degree of magnification. If the scratch marks are parallel to the keen edge, the propensity of the keen edge to fail back to the scratch mark is greater. Sounds logical to me but that and a glass of flavored ice cubes will get MY true expert opinion. LOL

I saw this debate in another place recently with no hard conclusions drawn. My eyes are old so anything better than a 2000 stone finish looks like a mirror to me.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

I saw this debate in another place recently with no hard conclusions drawn. My eyes are old so anything better than a 2000 stone finish looks like a mirror to me.

I try to do to 8K.
Sharper? DUNNO but I'm able to remove my appendix with the chisel if need be.