On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 20:19:16 -0800, "Harold & Susan Vordos"
wrote:



Diamond tools run at elevated speeds should not be used on anything
containing iron. You'll find that these tools will hold up quite well
cutting things like rock, but not well at all on steel of pretty much any
kind. Reason? Diamonds are, of course, carbon, and iron has an affinity
for carbon, so at elevated temperatures the diamonds tend to dissolve into
the steel you're trying to cut. That dulls the diamonds rapidly, leading
to higher temperatures, and, of course, faster dissolution of the diamond.


Actually, diamond tools work quite well against steel if run slowly! quite
handy for honing tools with.

Regards
Mark Rand
RTFM