Have a customer that has a large pile of end mills needing sharpening.
Mostly HSS, but some carbide. We're in northern California, half an hour
north of Sacramento. Anyone know of a competent shop between say, Reno
and the SF Bay Area they'd care to recommend?

They're about to send a batch to a local shop that deals mostly with saw
blades, circular and lumber mill type. At one time they didn't do end
mills, and I wasn't aware that they do now. So I stopped by today to ask
some questions. The guy that does the grinding came out, and soon as I
started asking questions, gets -very- evasive, mumbling, can't remember
the brand of grinder they use, mumbles about how complex the geometry
is, and worst of all, bows his head and covers his eyes while doing his
best to not really answer my questions. I have very strong reservations
about these guys being able to do even a half way decent job.

As for my customer sharpening mills, they just use their mill to modify
parts as needed. They do automation, and sometimes things just need to
be tweaked and modified a bit. Under size cutters are not an issue for them.


Jon

On Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:50:38 -0800, Jon Anderson wrote:

Have a customer that has a large pile of end mills needing sharpening.
Mostly HSS, but some carbide. We're in northern California, half an hour
north of Sacramento. Anyone know of a competent shop between say, Reno
and the SF Bay Area they'd care to recommend?

They're about to send a batch to a local shop that deals mostly with saw
blades, circular and lumber mill type. At one time they didn't do end
mills, and I wasn't aware that they do now. So I stopped by today to ask
some questions. The guy that does the grinding came out, and soon as I
started asking questions, gets -very- evasive, mumbling, can't remember
the brand of grinder they use, mumbles about how complex the geometry
is, and worst of all, bows his head and covers his eyes while doing his
best to not really answer my questions. I have very strong reservations
about these guys being able to do even a half way decent job.

As for my customer sharpening mills, they just use their mill to modify
parts as needed. They do automation, and sometimes things just need to
be tweaked and modified a bit. Under size cutters are not an issue for
them.

I can't help you much, other than to say that given your description of
the guy's response to your questions, you really don't want them
sharpening your end mills.

--
www.wescottdesign.com

On 9/24/2011 10:34 AM, Tim Wescott wrote:

I can't help you much, other than to say that given your description of
the guy's response to your questions, you really don't want them
sharpening your end mills.

They're not touching mine! But my customer is about to send them a big
'ol box of dull end mills. I'm going in Monday morning to strongly
advise they only send in a couple to see what comes back. There's a new
person in charge of all this stuff and not knowing any better, decided
to use this local outfit. Hopefully I can steer them away, and that
would be easier if I had somewhere to steer them to....

Also going to recommend they shop the MSC sales flyers, and even eBay
(which is where I buy most of my end mills these days)


Jon

On Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:34:32 -0500, Tim Wescott
wrote:

On Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:50:38 -0800, Jon Anderson wrote:

Have a customer that has a large pile of end mills needing sharpening.
Mostly HSS, but some carbide. We're in northern California, half an hour
north of Sacramento. Anyone know of a competent shop between say, Reno
and the SF Bay Area they'd care to recommend?

They're about to send a batch to a local shop that deals mostly with saw
blades, circular and lumber mill type. At one time they didn't do end
mills, and I wasn't aware that they do now. So I stopped by today to ask
some questions. The guy that does the grinding came out, and soon as I
started asking questions, gets -very- evasive, mumbling, can't remember
the brand of grinder they use, mumbles about how complex the geometry
is, and worst of all, bows his head and covers his eyes while doing his
best to not really answer my questions. I have very strong reservations
about these guys being able to do even a half way decent job.

As for my customer sharpening mills, they just use their mill to modify
parts as needed. They do automation, and sometimes things just need to
be tweaked and modified a bit. Under size cutters are not an issue for
them.

I can't help you much, other than to say that given your description of
the guy's response to your questions, you really don't want them
sharpening your end mills.

Id have to agree.

There are many grinding shops that would love to have the business, who
actually KNOW what the hell they are doing. And with UPS..it could be
done in Alabama as well as 15 miles away.

Gunner

"In the history of mankind, there have always been men and women who's goal
in life is to take down nations. We have just elected such a man to run our
country." - David Lloyyd (2008)

On 9/24/2011 5:21 PM, Gunner Asch wrote:

There are many grinding shops that would love to have the business, who
actually KNOW what the hell they are doing. And with UPS..it could be
done in Alabama as well as 15 miles away.

I know there are, and I'm hoping not everyone here is throwing away dull
end mills. Someone must be able to recommend someone....

As for distance, it's not my decision where to send them, and I am
pretty certain the customer doesn't want to ship cross country.

So, you know of anyone in SoCal you'd care to recommend?

As for me, I happen to have a pretty decent collection of end mills that
could use some freshening. Considering the scarcity of tooling suppliers
down under, I sure would like to get them touched up.
Or buy plans for a Quorn... G

I'll ship mine anywhere in the US, so that should open things up some.
Yes, yes, I know, I can google shops. But having had a couple shops do a
poor job and charge me richly for the work, I'd much prefer to deal with
a shop someone knows does good work.


Jon

On Sun, 25 Sep 2011 08:51:58 -0800, Jon Anderson
wrote:

On 9/24/2011 5:21 PM, Gunner Asch wrote:

There are many grinding shops that would love to have the business, who
actually KNOW what the hell they are doing. And with UPS..it could be
done in Alabama as well as 15 miles away.

I know there are, and I'm hoping not everyone here is throwing away dull
end mills. Someone must be able to recommend someone....

As for distance, it's not my decision where to send them, and I am
pretty certain the customer doesn't want to ship cross country.

So, you know of anyone in SoCal you'd care to recommend?

As for me, I happen to have a pretty decent collection of end mills that
could use some freshening. Considering the scarcity of tooling suppliers
down under, I sure would like to get them touched up.
Or buy plans for a Quorn... G

I'll ship mine anywhere in the US, so that should open things up some.
Yes, yes, I know, I can google shops. But having had a couple shops do a
poor job and charge me richly for the work, I'd much prefer to deal with
a shop someone knows does good work.


Jon

http://qualitymachiningspecialists.com/

ask Jim for the phone number of the tool grinder who shares a corner of
his shop. Black guy and he appears to be pretty damned good.

Gunner

"In the history of mankind, there have always been men and women who's goal
in life is to take down nations. We have just elected such a man to run our
country." - David Lloyyd (2008)