Diamond tool holder.??

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Are they as good as is they say. i.e do they do 'what it says on the tin' or is it hype.?

Also what size of shank is recommended for 'model' engineering.? It's nice to have a chunky and sturdy holder but of little use if you cannot get it into the work.

Cheers, Nick

Hi Nick, Yes they are good, but as I'm too tight to buy at the prices they want I made my own. It's not hard to make one if you have a mill. Keith.

I've made several. They're good for basic turning and facing, easy to sharpen and HSS for them is inexpensive.

Easy to make as well, both angles are 12°.

Hi Nick, they are good, I splashed out for one & use it for about 98% of my machining needs, Brass, Steel, Aluminium, although you really need a chip breaker in the tool for this stuff as it comes off in long slivers.. very sharp! so I tend to use a carbide or HSS bit with chip breakers in for Aluminium.

They come in 3 sizes... 8 - 9.5 - 12mm ( so it says in the advertising blurb ) so you can get on to suit all size machines, I got the 9.5mm for my machine & as said it's good albeit expensive, if you have a mill then you can make one, there is a thread on here that deals with these cutters & some have links to drawings to make one.

George

This may be of help.

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=85172&p=1

Hi Nick

Have a go at building the Michael Cox one.

I use mine for ruffing and finishing cuts.

HTH

Cheers Michael.

Lots of good links about them on the second page of this post:

http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/showthread.php?t=22458

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Cheers folks.

Nick

Agree wholeheartedly with previous replies - I splashed out and bought both LH & RH versions plus the parting off tool ...... and apart from using a round shaping tool and boring bars they have been in permanent use since unpacked over 12 months ago. A really excellent tool choice and the expense side of things soon fades as you get to appreciate just how good they are.

One point is that the supplied sharpening jig leaves your fingers VERY close to the grindstone wheel, so I have manufactured a longer version. I also had to fit a spacer onto the grinder tool rest to bring the base of the tool sharpener in-line with the wheel centre line.

Buy, and enjoy the freedom and flexibility they offer.

Cheers Barry

I am going to try the Wimberley holder soon (when it arrives this side of the pond!)

It will be interesting to compare it with a tangential tool.

Neil

OK Neil what's a Wimberly holder??, I have both lh & rh diamond tools and they'r great as above I use them for 90 percent of my work I bought 1 in ozz & the other by post & the customs stiffed me £20 !! that was before you could purchase them in this country.

Graham.

Have a look here: http://www.wimberley-tools.com/

In USA/Canada it is ~half the price of the diamond toolholder

I have not tried a Wimberely but will be making a diamond - on my long todo list.

Oh yes, the usual disclaimers.

I'll say more about the Wimberley when I have it in my greasy paw. Those who have one, speak highly of it.

Neil

Picking up on this thread somewhat late in the day:

Vic, 12 deg. angles for the tool bit, what angle does the grinding jig have on the ones you have made?

Chris

Hi Chris, 30° from the horizontal. Even for folks that have bought their toolholders I'd reccomend making the grinding jig. It's much nicer to use than the supplied one.

The Wimberley tool looks quite interesting but at a rather expensive $85 shipping to the UK plus the tool cost of $59 I'll wait or make one.

Paul

Having just looked at the Wimberley holder manual the tool grinding procedure seems to be as intricate as for a regular cutting tool whereas the Diamond Tangential tool grinding procedure (AND alignment in the tool holder) is just so straightforward, achievable by anyone of any level of expertise, and more importantly - consistent.

Why not try both tools Neil and do a comparison in MEW? Think I know which tool will come out tops!!

Barry

Because I've made my very own tangential holder that fits my QCTP!

Neil

I think you're right Barry. The Tangential tool is quick and foolproof when it comes to sharpening.

I've also made a height gauge specific for my Lathe as well so set up is very quick. Probably quicker than using a QCTP.

You are right Vic in that the tangential tool is very easy to adjust for height. The essence the QCTP however is in the C hange part. Whilst I use the tangential tool for much of the time other tools are more tricky to get right. Once the boats are set up then tool changes are quick and easy.

Here is my little selection:-

Cheers

Norman