White wheel for bench grinder ?

I'm looking to replace a wheel on my bench grinder. Will a white wheel be ok for HSS lathe tools and carbide end mills and slot drills? I'm seeking the best compromise as like many of you I have to get the most out of what I have.

I replaced the grey wheel on my bench grinder with a white wheel, both 60 grit. Can't recall the bond grades. TBH there doesn't seem great difference. If anything the white wheel is softer and doesn't seem to heat a HSS tool so much so I suppose that will be my slight preference. It needs dressing more often.

Edit, just noticedyour reference to carbide. A white wheel is definitely unsuitable, green is needed.

Edited By Clive Brown 1 on 17/06/2020 14:33:27

Hi Lee,

I use a white grinding wheel on my bench grinder for grinding HSS tools, this works well. For grinding carbide slot drills I use a diamond wheel in my home made Tool & Cutter Grinder, for me that worked better than a green wheel.

Thor

Sounds like the white wheel and a diamond wheel may be the route to take.

Thor may be running his diamond wheel at a slower, more suitable speed, than that of a typical high speed bench grinder.

Thanks ega .I'll take a look at the fpm numbers and see if it's possible to run a smaller diameter diamond wheel to achieve the correct speed.

Hi,

Don't forget, a smaller diameter wheel will result in a more concaved profile on your cutting tools.

What about a CBN wheel, wouldn't that be able to grind HSS and TC?

Adrian

CBN will grind both HSS and carbide OK.

I use a coarse grey wheel on one side of my bench grinder for rough shaping HSS before giving it a final polish on the CBN wheel. The CBN wheel is too slow for roughing, as it's a fine grain - I think. I originally got it for woodturning tools, but it's great for lathe toolbits.

Rob

True, but you could consider fitting a depressed centre wheel intended for grinding on its side.

Incidentally, I have found a Tyrolit A220 CBN dressing stick useful for dressing resin-bonded wheels.