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HSS Tool Blank Grinder

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EtheAv8r11/05/2011 14:09:24
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I have ordered the Eccentric Diamond Tool Holder. I will need to grind the 1/4 HSS tool bits; one of the aspects that drew me to the diamond tool holder was the simple tool grinding as well as the high quility finish available from this simple cutting tool.

I am probably too old to learn the skills necessary for grinding complex tool shapes required for conventional HSS tools - and I have enough other stuff to learn anyway, so I will probably opt for replacable tip tools for all lathe cutting operations that are not suitable for the diamond tool holder, parting off excepted.

So to the point of this post. I need to buy a suitable bench grinder - there are lots about, and I understand there may be a lot of 'junk' - particularly regarding the suitable robustness of the rest... so are there any recommendations as to which machine to buy, and which grinding disks will I need? Not looking to spend a fortune, and I want the machine to be as small as possible.

The help, guidance and advice I am recieving from those of you who are responding is very gratefully recieved!

Ramon Wilson11/05/2011 15:49:57
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Hi Edmund
 
I don't know if they are still available but I have a couple of small 5" bench grinders made by Slibex.
One has been in constant use for many years and runs as smooth as you could wish for in a grinder. The other is set up with deburing and polishing wheels and has had nowhere near the same useage. They are a bit too light for roughing out tool blanks though but as you don't intend to go that route something like it should be more than adequate. At the time they were very reasonably priced relative to others available.
 
For what it's worth I bought a cheap 6" one to do the roughing. It tackled that ok but no matter what I did to it it would vibrate like hell. It's been relegated to the garden shed and replaced with a Ryobi 8" which really is the business for removing metal but indoing so produces far more grit in the air than is 'healthy' (for the other machines) so that  is getting fixed to a board for easy transfer to the bench outside when neccessary.
 
Hope that helps a little but I'm certain others will add
 
Regards - Ramon

Edited By Ramon Wilson on 11/05/2011 15:52:05

Ian S C12/05/2011 00:17:34
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7468 forum posts
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Ramon, I wonder if it would be feasable to set up a vacuum cleaner to reduce the air born dust problem, I have similar trouble myself. Ian S C
GoCreate12/05/2011 01:48:15
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Hi
I was thinking of
 
or
 
Anyone any experience of these
 
Nigel
EtheAv8r12/05/2011 13:29:21
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111 forum posts
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Both the Ryobe and the Record look OK, apart from flimsy tool rests, but I am willing to pay a bit more... and thinking of perhaps a Creusen? These appear to me (with no real knowledge) to be better built, and I like to by right and buy once wherever possible.
 
Do I need a 200mm (8") or will a 150mm (6") be perfectly adequate?
NJH12/05/2011 14:06:23
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6" is the usual size and the Creusen is a Rolls Royce in the grinder department - nice to have but maybe a bit OTT for a few 1/4in tool bits!. However it always pays to buy quality so, if funds permit .... then let me know how good it is and maybe I can persuade my wife that this would be essential and a suitable present for my birthday!
You will not be disappointed with your Eccentric tool holder. It comes with a tool grinding jig which makes the process simplicity itself.
 
Regards
 
Norman
Ramon Wilson12/05/2011 17:20:45
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Hi Edmund,
If the budget will stretch to Creusen then go for it. As for size the 8" would probably be over the top for what you need. A 6" would be ideal - big enough to rough blanks should you need and not so big as not to be able to put a finish on, however that will depend on the grit of the wheels fitted for instance the wheels on the Ryobi are finer grit than the old six incher. That said the bigger the more grinding power you will have but I wouldn't say it's essential.
 
Hi Ian whilst the Ryobi is excellently built - it even has small lights built in over each grinding face - strangely enough it has no provision for any form of extraction. It will be easier, when it's required to hack out some blanks, just to take it outside.
 
One point worthmaking is it's much easier to rough out HSS blanks if they are held in a decent 'handle'. A hole drilled in the end of a piece of round bar for round stuff and a slot cut into it lengthwise for square. Clamp with a 4 BA or 3mm grubscrew (two or three for the square)  Much better control and fingers stay much cooler
 
Oh yes, the 'Slibex' I referred to is actually a Slibette 5. Another Senior Moment there then but then it was a while ago when I bought it
 
Regards - Ramon

Edited By Ramon Wilson on 12/05/2011 17:22:16

NJH12/05/2011 18:36:50
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2314 forum posts
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....."One point worthmaking is it's much easier to rough out HSS blanks if they are held in a decent 'handle'. A hole drilled in the end of a piece of round bar for round stuff and a slot cut into it lengthwise for square. Clamp with a 4 BA or 3mm grubscrew (two or three for the square) Much better control and fingers stay much cooler"...

Ramon - Thanks what a brilliant idea!
 
Now why didn't I think of that.
(Witness the blisters on my fingers!)

Regards

Norman
Ian Welford12/05/2011 21:54:39
300 forum posts
I have heard it said that water cooling ( if you let it get too hot) can lead to micro fracture lines in the tool bit- anyone experienced this?
 
The Creusen is definately high quality. I went for an 8 " wolf industrial but also had a 6" Black and Decker "Professional" range grinder and can recommend them too.- damn site cheaper than a Creusen. If you go down the Creusen route consider their slow speed grinder as then you can sharpen carbon steel tools with little risk of over heating- it just takes a bit longer!!
 
Ian
Ian S C13/05/2011 10:57:59
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7468 forum posts
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I often leave the tool in the tool holder, maybe pull it out a bit and tighen the screw down again, thats with 1/4" HSS, then put it back in the tool post and center it again.
I think its carbide tooling that should be allowed to cool naturally rather than water cooling to prevent cracking. Ian S C
EtheAv8r16/05/2011 10:47:44
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111 forum posts
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I was just about to go for the Record bench grinder - with a 5 year warrenty it looks excellent value and is low cost and will almost certainly do all I need - I just consigned myself to the fact that I would have to make a better tool rest.
 
However at the last moment I thought so what, and went mad and ordered a Creusen HP7500TS Powerline Grinder (Slow Speed)
 
Should arrive tomorrow.
 
Then in the meantime I needed to sharpen the supplied tool blank to test my new Eccentric Diamond tool holder over the weekend, so I used my bench disc sander....... and it semed to do a good job (did I actually need a grinder????). Anyway, sorted.
 
Thanks for all the advice.

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