Replies

1. 
   RickL | May 11, 2007 02:32pm | #1

   All commercial shops send them out for sharpening and should all hobbyists.  Check first in your local yellow pages and or with local commercial shop. Plenty of good places you can send them to if you live in some isolated area. http://www.bullsharp.com  http://www.ridgecarbidetool.com   Have you looked at the FWW links?  Few have it seems.  http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/fw_links.asp

   Local save shipping costs.

    

2. 
   hammer1 | May 11, 2007 04:45pm | #2

   You can have your router bits sharpened just the same as your saw blades. After a number of sharpenings, the size of the bit will change slightly. Some of my 3/4" straight bits are now the correct size for just about any size plywood, which is a blessing. It's also possible that fitted bits, like cope and stile bits, will no longer fit as well but it may take several sharpenings to notice a change.

   When you look at the amount of carbide on saw blades or router bits, you will see that the more expensive ones have much larger and thicker tips. This allows many more sharpenings. I still use bits that are 40 years old and have had numerous sharpenings. A good quality bit can last a lifetime.

   If you fill out where you live in your profile, someone may be near and have a suggestion for a local sharpening service. There are plenty of places where you can mail your bits. Sharpening is fairly inexpensive compared to replacement. Services use a specialized machine with a diamond cup wheel. The sharpening is done on the flat side of the bit, not on the profile. It's important to protect the edges of your bits from getting nicks. The sharpening process won't repair a nick. Carbide can be brittle, replacing it can be as expensive as buying a new bit.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match