On Oct 11, 10:56*pm, GeoLane at PTD dot NET GeoLane at PTD dot NET
wrote:
How do you guys sharpen your end mills?

Tool & cutter grinder? *
Endmill fixture on a surface grinder?
Dedicated endmill sharpener?
RWL

I save the new ones for aluminum and the occasional careful finishing
cut on steel. Mostly I pick up used, dull, sometimes rusty US-made
cutting tools second-hand and resharpen them, partly because they are
good steel and partly from a recycling ethic.

I bought one of these to grind the lengthwise edges;
http://www.wttool.com/product-exec/p...ter_WT_Import_

It does work but not well, setup is fussy and the stop finger and its
support are poorly made. I had better results from a spring finger
made from a hacksaw blade.

These do a good job on the end flutes;
http://www.nolansupply.com/small_images/67677143.jpg
These are the first images that Google showed, not where I actually
bought them.

Put a straightedge across the end of a new end mill and notice that
the edges are slightly angled. The fixture grinds a larger angle which
could be a problem if you want to drill a flat-bottomed hole, though
it doesn't affect milling a pocket.

I grind a small bevel on the outer corner with the fixture at the 30
degree tilt, which seems to make the end mill stay sharp longer.

Since it's easier to grind the ends than the edges, I rough out steel
with plunge cuts and only use the side edges to finish.

Good luck with your new mill.
Jim Wilkins