Replies

1. 
   UncleDunc | Jan 11, 2004 06:46am | #1

   The green wheels are generally used to grind carbide tools. The pink ones are for hardened steel.

   Norton has a website. I didn't see any basic grinding tutorial, but there was a link to Norton University, which might have some introductory material.

   http://www.nortonabrasives.com/industrial/home/

   Leonard Lee's book on sharpening has a very thorough introduction to abrasive technology as it relates to sharpening woodworking tools. It's available from Lee Valley or Taunton, or any of the big online book sellers.

1. 
   edcross1 | Jan 11, 2004 08:05pm | #2

   Thick question again but what are likely to be carbide tools e.g drills etc. I presume that chisels planer blades etc are hardened steel. Would either of these be right for sharpening standard masonary bits?

   thanks agin for the info Uncle Dunc

   edcross1

1. 
   UncleDunc | Jan 11, 2004 11:18pm | #3

   If a cutting tool, a saw for instance, has an insert attached to attached to each tooth, a piece of material that is clearly added on rather than machined in place, the insert is almost certainly carbide. The carbide is brazed to the tool body, but the braze metal is sometimes covered with paint or chrome, so you can't always tell by the color. Some tools are solid carbide, not inserts. Solid carbide tools that you'd meet in a woodworking context include router bits and jointer and planer knives, which you can recognize because they're noticeably heavier than steel tools the same size.

   The green wheels would be appropriate for sharpening masonry bits. For carbide woodworking tools, the green wheel will cut the carbide, but the experts advise that precise mechanical work holders and diamond grinding wheels do a much better than freehand grinding. Not trying to discourage you from trying it, just something to watch out for.

   And yes, chisels and plane irons are hardened steel.

2. 
   Steinmetz | Jan 12, 2004 01:38am | #4

   edcross, Green wheels are for grinding only carbide. They are very soft and wear away fast. Also they will 'Take a set' that is; wear into a groove.

   Not recomended for precision work and Won't grind steel.  Wheel must be continually dressed to keep it round and true.   The white, salmon and pink are for steel and finer grits are for touch up or honing .

    I used to use the green wheels to sharpen carbide masonary bits where accuracy in not that important.

   The principle behind the softness of the wheel is it's 'Friability'

   That is, the ability to cut and shed the grains and thereby expose sharp new grains. A good wheel dresser, is a tool with a metal handle holding 4 or5 'Spur' shaped wheels.

   To dress the wheel, start up the machine then ,while resting the lip of the tool on wheel rest, advance it from left to right and back to right. Use even pressure and start  and finish the dressing with some overhang of the tool. I generally chalk up the wheel's diameter with chalk and when all the chalk is gone the wheel is round again.

   A diamond wheel dresser costs more and does a neater job as it can be controled to cut only a tiny amount at a time.  Stein

   Edited 1/11/2004 5:52:21 PM ET by steinmetz