Thread: Affordable Tungsten Blade Sharpener

Originally Posted by chambezio

Howdy Gents and Gentettes

This is my first ever thread but I thought it worth blabbing to all.

This here computer thing is still quite novel for an oldy like me, but it has introduced me to Ebay and a Blade Sharpener that works a treat for not a lot of money. Yes its origin is Chinese but some real engineering and thought has gone into it. It comes in a large cardboard box with the machine encased in styrofoam.

To set the blade up is a little fiddly at first, but once you get the idea it really is easy to use and it wouldn't take long to pay for itself, by not having to send out your blades for attention. It uses a very thin motorised diamond wheel, which you push back and forth across the tooth (removing the bearest whisker) until it is sharp then rotate the blade to the next tooth. Its not fast but its saving you money so why worry.

The sizes of blades it can accomodate is 100mm up to 300mm and it will do not only TCT, but with a change to a regular wheel (supplied) you can do HSS blades as well.

The only contact I have had with the seller was through Ebay so to find him you would go to "tools" "TCT Saw Blade Sharpener" and he trades under "out back jacks" (one word) The price is "buy now" $119 plus P&P. When I get organised I am going to see if I can sharpen router bits with it as well

I hope that this may be helpfull to some Regards Rod

Router bits take a very special sharpening machine. My grand father was a tool and die maker. I have one of his small machine that sharpens milling cutters and it will not sharpen router or shaper bits. If you buy top quaity bits it will take you a long time to make them dull. The cheap bits have a very low grade of carbide and will not hold an edge and are not worth sharpening. You loose a little of your profile everytime you sharpen them. door sets never line up very well after they are sharpened. I use Forest Saw blades. They are all $120 USD and up .for a 10 inch.They will cuit your fingers just picking them up. They last a long time and I send them out to be sharpened. The China sharpeners have too much play in them. You want all the tips to be exact. This takes quality control. Let us know how it works out for you. I hope it does what you want. I get my 80 tooth blades sharpened for $20 each. I seldom send out router bits. I just buy new ones. I have 3 shapers and I sent out the cutters. I just pay the bill and move on. LOL

I agree with RStocker, I would be very suprised if a machine for tha price would be ridgid enough or be accurate enough to sharpen TCT router bits, if it would do the job sharpening shops would not spend $5-6000.00 on machines for the purpose

Hi Chambezio,

Please keep us updated as to how this sharpener is working for you. Sounds like you are happy with it so far. There is a lot of crap on fleebay...but sometimes things work.

I am in the process of finding some way of properly sharpening my jointer and thicknesser blades (and various other bits and pieces) myself...I hate paying people to do something that I should be able to do properly myself.

Brad

Hi Brad,

I also have this problem and have searched the forum for help. Got some but no easy solution. I find that the professional sharpeners take too much metal off in the process and the blades become useless too quickly.

If you find a practical solution start a new thread and we can all learn something.

John

Hi John,

I have a 15" thicknesser so I think I have my work cut out...although it's only sharpening, not rocket science

If I do find something I will post the details.

Brad

Hi John and Brad , any success on sharpening the thicknesseser blades? My little 8" thicknesses planner still has sharp blades but its only a matter of time till I also need 2 learn how 2 sharpen them .

good luck ----mat

in the American magazine Fine Woodworking issue 30 sept/oct 1981 on page 14 there are two methods for sharpening jointer/thicknesser blades

Originally Posted by Mathuranatha

Hi John and Brad , any success on sharpening the thicknesseser blades? My little 8" thicknesses planner still has sharp blades but its only a matter of time till I also need 2 learn how 2 sharpen them .

good luck ----mat

Yes I did solve the problem. Because my blades were 13", cost $55.00 plus postage and only lasted a month or so with my usage I felt I could afford to spend $70.00 to get a solution.
I made a rough jig to allow me to hold 1 blade at a time at bench height with the cutting edge roughly parallel to the top. I then purchased a "flat diamond stone" made by EZE-LAP Diamond Products in the US. I found this in a Bunnings. I just follow the normal proces of sharpening the 2 bevels and the back of the blade. I then polish the surfaces using 180 and then 240 grit dry sand paper. It only takes a few strokes with the diamond flat stone to get a new edge and the end result last seemed to last as long as the professionally sharpened blades but has virtually not taken any steel off the blades. If you want to give me a call on 66792071 I can explain further or even show you.
By the way the stone has worked a treat when I used it to sharpen the axe so I could cut winter firewood.

John

By two bevels do you mean your blades are reversable? If they are not you only put one bevel on them

if you put a back bevel on a thicknesser or jointer blade there is less tear out on cross grain cant remember what degrees though

Originally Posted by China

By two bevels do you mean your blades are reversable? If they are not you only put one bevel on them

I'm sure that the original blades had 2 bevels on each cutting surface. Any way the way I am doing it seems to work well but im sure it is the diamond stone that is the key to success.
John

Well you learn something everyday, I have never had a problem with tear out, I ran my own sharpening shop for 5 years only ever ground knives with one bevel, I was never asked to add a second bevel, my main custermers were all industrial clients.