Honing for HSS

Just curious to what people use for a final hone on your HSS tools .

Sean

If I bother at all I use a diamond lap or an "India" oil stone.

Fine diamond plate or file with WD40 as lubricant.

WD40 is ideal for cleaning diamond if it has been used dry and got a bit "bunged up"

I normally don't bother, but if I do I use a medium diamond hone.

Andrew

I normally sharpen on a 60 or 80 grit belt. If I want a finer finish I swap the belt for a 240 grit.

Just bought a set of honing stones so will see how it goes,lathe is in bits just now ,threading/feedspeed  gearbox issues

Sean

Edited By sean logie on 03/10/2016 10:14:32

Like so many topics on this forum Sean - the answer to your question does depend to some extent on the kind (and size) of work you are undertaking. As a general rule - honing is a useful thing to do the smaller the work you are undertaking and/or the finer the 'cut' you wish to take (given that a sharp tool is essential to take a very fine cut). However, I also view "honing" as a useful way to keep tools sharp without regrinding them.

Whilst I don't know what you had in mind when you asked this question - my eye was drawn to the word "final" in your question and it reminded me of Don Gordons views on the subject. Don wrote a series of articles called Low Cost, High Precision in ME about his use of watchmaker techniques to build his small scale marine engines. For really sharp (small) tools he recommended the use of Diamantine and oil on an aluminium plate to put a mirror like shine on his very fine tools and gravers. I've tried it and it certainly works very well when you need a really sharp tool for a small part. Any watchmaker supply shop should stock it. I use Swiss Bergeon Diamantine (from HS Walsh) - a small pot of which will probably last my lifetime.

Of course, when roughing scrap mild steel down to size, my tangential tool holder gets used (the tool of which still gets slightly rounded at the tip) because it's so quick to regrind if damaged - so it is very much about using the right tool/method for the appropriate work...

Regards,

IanT

For fine work one of these with water.

Russell.

Cheap diamond slip.

Neil

I use an old oil stone I found in a drawer in the kitchen. Rough on one side, smooth on the other. Bit of WD40 or 3in1 oil and it seems to work ok. I have diamond files, India stones and Arkansas stones kicking around but never found the need to use anything other than the old oil stone.

I too use a diamond hone to finish the cutting edge on HSS tools. In fact I also use the diamond on carbide.

Thor

As a jig-borer in the 70's, Arkansas stone was the preferred medium. I have continued using this grade of hard, very fine grit ever since. I would recommend its use, almost mirror finish is possible. Excellent finish is transferred to the workpiece. They are, as the name suggests, from Arkansas USA. Available from Cromwell tools.

Me too I suspect Roy. Forced purchase during my apprenticeship along with a few other things that sent my tool bonus negative, The stone was one of the more expensive purchases that included a small tool makers square and a few other essential bits and pieces. It's pretty well clogged with HSS now and I have had some success cleaning it up with a diamond lap. It might be a stone from some where else.

I also have my brothers stone. He gave it me when he changed job away from a toolroom. He works in technical sales for an aerospace outfit now. The stone is a white aluminium oxide slip stone about 1/2" square. The rad he used on his tools is worn into it from placing it on the tool tip and pulling it up every time he took a finishing cut.

I think Norton still produce India stone if some one wants a quality make. It might be what mine is.

I've tried using some 5um aluminium oxide film that 3M produce on a piece of Tantung using water as a lubricant. Looks interesting even though the film I have is intended to be used on fibre optics plastics.

John

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The problem with Arkansas stones is twofold. 1/ they are expensive and 2/ they don't bounce when dropped. Consequently I have a good few 'short bits' that I was lothe to part with - until my 'after retirement' clear out this winter, so watch this space for bargains! Roy M.

Edited By Roy M on 04/10/2016 12:45:03

Edited By Roy M on 04/10/2016 12:45:37