Simple Sharpening

Gentlemen

Does anybody out there have a simple way of touching up end mills and slot drills without the use of a dedicated machine, all i am looking for is an easily made jig that will allow me to bring the edge back, obviously if it is too far gone then a new one is the answer but I cant warrant the cost of a proper machine let alone the room taken up by it.

Regards

Dick

How about Harold Hall's "Sharpening End Mills in an Offhand Grinder" (MEW-170).

 

I don't think you'd get much simpler.

Sid

Many thanks for that,I used to subscribe to MEW from the beginning but I found it bcoming typecast what with scale models of lathes and drilling machines etc, I seem to recall that when this site started there was something about subscribers of ME & MEW having unlimited access to the archives, I dont recall any mention of extra charges for this service. I dont suppose I am allowed to ask if somebody can email me the appropriate pages as dont have access to the archive.

Regards

Dick

Hi Richard

 

The info. you seek is in Workshop Practice Series No 38 ( Tool and Cutter Sharpening by Harold Hall)  available, for a modest sum, from this site.

 

Regards

 

Norman

Hi Richard,
Although I have a homemade Stent, I also made a little jig for the smallest mills. Basically it is a Vee block with a special Clamp. This clamp carries a bar which is parallel to the ‘Vee’ of the ‘Vee’ Block. On the top of this bar is a fixture with two moveable (hardened) rollers which guide a diamond file. On the bottom there is a movable stop on which the bottom of the end mill sits.

Posted by NJH on 19/03/2011 18:50:21:

 

Hi Richard

 

 

£4.21 from Amazon, free delivery.

 

Terry

 

Gentlemen

Many thanks to all concerned, ordered said book plus screwcutting in the lathe from amazon, probably need a new grinder now to go with the other two, (one is for rough grinding with a wire brush on the other end) plus the 4.5" and the 9" angle grinders not forgetting the very useful dremmel tool, just a thought , I will now have to make more shelf space or cupboards to put all my stuff away, just how many tools do I really need?

and before anybody says you only need the tools required for the job in hand I defy anybody to say they have all the tools they need, you can never have enough tools, that is what SWMBO has been told,( and she believes me).

Regards to all

Dick

Hi Richard

 

......"probably need a new grinder now to go with the other two..... "

 

Wait until you receive Harold's book before you buy a new grinder - he has a suggestion in Chapter 13 of his book .

 

Should keep you busy for a while!

 

Regards

 

Norman

 

 

Posted by Richard Parsons on 20/03/2011 08:28:11:

If there is enough interest I will find the thing and write it up.

Perhaps it should also be pointed out that the MEW-170 version (and presumably the one in the book, I haven't checked closely) is not really suitable for sharpening centre-cutting end mills.

 

(Unless Harold knows something I don't - not an insignificant possibility)

The answer Sid is not practical with the item in MEW 170 and very time consuming to set up using either of my grinding rests, as it would be if using the Quorn. In these cases I do not consider it to be worthwhile, better to purchase a new one.

 

However, if one is prepared to forgo the centre cutting facility it is as easy as sharpening a conventional end mill, even on the device in MEW. Just grind out the centre using the corner of the wheel, or preferably using a saucer shaped wheel if available, and with that done sharpen it in the same way as for a standard end mill.

 

I note Richard that you have stopped purchasing MEW I would though suggest that you get a copy of the next issue (176) as there will be an article that I have provided. This giving much more detail than I have provided in the past regarding using my grinding rests for sharpening workshop tools.

 

Harold

Yes, I realised the difficulty, Harold. I just wanted to point it out to Richard lest he was expecting to be able to sharpen centre-cutting mills.

 

Your point is well taken about converting them to regular end mills on regrind. Most of the EMs sold around my neck of the woods seem to be billed as centre-cutting these days although I rarely have much use for that ability. Even if I'm plunging to use an EM as a drill, I usually find it easier to drill out the centre of the hole first.

 

Does come in handy for a slot the odd time though.

Posted by Richard Parsons on 22/03/2011 12:14:26:

Hansrudolph. I went yesterday to find the thing. It and the other things in the box (jigs for making and sharpening spindle moulder cutters and all my router bits) had vanished. I know who had them and if I catch up with him it will be a dynamite enema job.

A Hungarian Puszta rat? I had to look up enema; something I don't hear every day.

Don't use too much dynamite, we don't like colored rain over here .

I am making a series of sketches of the device but I have a simplified it for ease of construction and use. I will post these and instructions on how to ‘diddle it’ in a few days.

Sketches are ok; many thanks!

Greetings, Hansrudolf

Posted by Richard Parsons on 22/03/2011 12:14:26:

Hansrudolph. I went yesterday to find the thing. It and the other things in the box (jigs for making and sharpening spindle moulder cutters and all my router bits) had vanished. I know who had them and if I catch up with him it will be a dynamite enema job.

A Hungarian Puszta rat? I had to look up enema; something I don't hear every day.

Don't use too much dynamite, we don't like colored rain over here .

I am making a series of sketches of the device but I have a simplified it for ease of construction and use. I will post these and instructions on how to ‘diddle it’ in a few days.

Sketches are ok; many thanks!

Greetings, Hansrudolf

Hansrudolf have posted sketches and instructions in a new thread called Tool Hone

Regards

Dick