Tool Cutter Grinder

Got fed up of thinking should I buy a Universal Tool Cutter Grinder, yes I know there are loads of thoughts about this subject, yes I know you can buy loads of new drills, milling cutter, etc for the price. What the hell ~ I just went and got one after several years thinking about which to make or buy, make, model, size, where from and all that.

Well I just went and got this.....

Its from RDG Tools, well made, good fit and finish, everything is smooth and tight, I'm really impressed for the money and I'm going to enjoy fiddling in the shop with it ~ Yes I know some of the other are easier to use and are smaller, but you can only sharpen the ends of milling cutters. I really do love messing with machine tools and this will give me no end of fun playing with it.

The quality is much better than the photos on the web page show

Its from RDG Tools (check out the web page, its under new tools, scroll right down to the bottom of the page)

Will put up some more pictures, and don't hesitate to ask any questions ~ will do my best to answer, I'm no expert, just enjoy playing in the workshop

Very nice, I remember a few years ago looking at them on the RDG stand at the Harrogate show. They had a special show offer on one there of somewhere between £500-£600 if I remember correctly. I was almost, very nearly, on the verge of being tempted.

They are based on the old Deckel or Alexander machines. I remember the Vertex badged examples first appearing and these looked excellent, but much more expensive than yours. Then some lower cost versions appeared, some of which looked rather rough and ready. But the one I looked at from RDG, like yours, looked very good for the money with a good finish and well made and machined parts and accessories.

I have never used that type of cutter grinder, so it will be interesting to here how you get on with it and what it is capable of, particularly with it being a Far Easten copy of the original machines.

Edited By Lathejack on 06/05/2016 22:57:52

Edited By Lathejack on 06/05/2016 23:01:27

I think quality wise its much better than a lot of the other especially those seen on ebay and youtube, the fit and finish is much better than I was expecting, the tool holders fit on a dovetailed slide with gib strip, all three fit snug without any major adjustment of the gib, just slacked the lock screw. I wasn't expecting that. The lathe tool holder is a bit cheapo but the other accessories are well made and well finished, the paint and finish is much better than my lathe and milling machine

The only down side is the lack of instructions, but for me that is the interesting part, working out how to use and set it up. As an apprentice many years ago I spent a week or two messing about with a Clarkson which stood unloved in the corner of the machine shop. I got great satisfaction when some of the machinist started asking me to sharpen and dress some of their tooling (most just went to the stores for new due to the time required)

The best part for me is I now falling asleep thinking about using it ~ Not laying awake thinking about buying or making a Tool Cutter Grinder

I did convert an Emco Unimat once over its OK just to dress up the ends of milling cutters but lack the rigidity ~ This thing is really solid ~ it's 50Kg

Its always nice to buy a new toy!

This one looks similar to yours - **LINK**

Oooh that green eyed monster has landed on my shoulder... once you've gotten used to it would you be willing to touch up some tooling for members... for some small remuneration of course ?

George.

Nice.

I too have spent too many years wanting/needing one of them!

One day....

Jim

George, you can come and use mine, its not as posh as that shiney new one, its a Clarkson.............

I'm in Durham