On 17 Jul 2014 01:38:01 GMT, "DoN. Nichols"
wrote:

On 2014-07-16, wrote:
I have a couple of Ridgid pipe cutters. They are fine for many cuts in
copper but when cutting thin brass conduits even a slightly blunt
cutting wheel causes problems.

Replacement wheels cost $10+ here.

Questions:
1) Has anybody tried sharpening them? I had a go with a diamond hone
while clamping the wheel on its mandrel in a lathe. The jury is out on
the result.

I would be more tempted to use a toolpost grinder with the
compound set to parallel the sides of the wheel.

2) There are at least two kinds of wheels: Copper and stainless steel.
What is the difference? Would the stainless steel cutter be better for
the thin-walled brass conduit? Will the stainless steel cutter cut
copper but not vice versa?

As in "made for copper" or "looking like copper"? If the
latter, I would suspect that in reality it is simply copper-plated
steel, intended to minimize rust.

If made for use on copper, I would expect it to be sharper, as
the stainless would take more force to cut, and might crush the edge of
a sharp and hard wheel.

I should mention that I use the cutters to cut rings of various
diameters in copper and brass which means quite a few cuts and
consequent expense if the wheels have to be replaced frequently.

Hmm ... the cutter makes for less waste material, compared to
even the thinnest grooving tool.

Do you use it in the lathe, or do you turn it around the
pipe/tubing by hand?

Is it possible to make a toolpost mount for the cutting wheel,
and use it up close to a collet for maximum support.

Enjoy,
DoN.

Check Ebay. Ive bought factory original cutting wheels for a couple
bucks each for Ridgid tools




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"Living in the United States now is like being a Tampon.
We're in a great place, just at a bad time."