Hello,

Following my recent question about sharpening sds chisels, I would
like to buy a bench grinder. I know nothing about these. I had a look
at the Screwfix web site. the basic Titan model has a dozen good
reviews.

Sorry to ask such a silly question but which wheel would I use to
sharpen the chisels or do I use both (starting with coarse and then
going onto fine)?

I see there is a "wet and dry" model. What's the wet wheel for? Surely
not for my chisels; would they go rusty?

Thanks.

Stephen wrote:
Hello,

Following my recent question about sharpening sds chisels, I would
like to buy a bench grinder. I know nothing about these. I had a look
at the Screwfix web site. the basic Titan model has a dozen good
reviews.

Sorry to ask such a silly question but which wheel would I use to
sharpen the chisels or do I use both (starting with coarse and then
going onto fine)?

I see there is a "wet and dry" model. What's the wet wheel for? Surely
not for my chisels; would they go rusty?

Thanks.

Not a reccomendation, but Lidl have one for £19.90 on the 16th
http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pa...ch_Grinder.ar1

Toby...

On 9 Feb, 17:12, Stephen wrote:

Following my recent question about sharpening sds chisels, I would
like to buy a bench grinder.

Given that they're all pretty cheap now (assuming Happy Shopper
quality), I'd suggest one of the single ended fast wheels with a big
slow wet wheel at the other end. Costs a little more but it's a lot
more useful.

The big wheel is big, wet & slow. This gives a slower and cooler
grind, which is better for sensitive steels such as better woodworking
tools. You can sharpen them to be sharp, without risk of overheating
and burning them. The fast wheel makes things "wedge shaped" rather
than actually sharp. It's OK for SDS chisels and even metal-cutting
cold chisels, but it's not good enough for wood.

A bigger wheel is also "flatter", so you get less of a "hollow ground"
effect. Although a good thing for some razors, this isn't a good thing
in a wood chisel, as it gives a tip shape that's less well supported.


TBH, I don't use a bench grinder like this for much at all - HSS wood
turning chisels on the big wheel and that's about it. Most things like
SDS chisels I do instead by clamping the chisel in a vice an taking an
angle grinder with a flap wheel to it instead. An angle grinder is
generally a much more versatile piece of kit and well worth owning
(get lots of varied disks too).

In article ,
Stephen wrote:
Following my recent question about sharpening sds chisels, I would
like to buy a bench grinder. I know nothing about these. I had a look
at the Screwfix web site. the basic Titan model has a dozen good
reviews.

Lidl has one next week for not a lot. I've got a couple of their power
tools - a big angle grinder and an orbital sander and I'd say they are at
the top end, quality wise, of cheap power tools.

--
* I like you. You remind me of when I was young and stupid

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Mon, 9 Feb 2009 09:25:11 -0800 (PST), Andy Dingley
wrote:


The big wheel is big, wet & slow. This gives a slower and cooler
grind, which is better for sensitive steels such as better woodworking
tools.

[...]
TBH, I don't use a bench grinder like this for much at all - HSS wood
turning chisels on the big wheel and that's about it. Most things like
SDS chisels I do instead by clamping the chisel in a vice an taking an
angle grinder with a flap wheel to it instead. An angle grinder is
generally a much more versatile piece of kit and well worth owning
(get lots of varied disks too).

Thanks for the fast replies. I shall look at the Lidl one, though that
is dry only. Sorry if this is a daft question but why don't the wood
chisels rust when used on the wet wheel? Or is it that the wheel is
just moist rather than splashing water everywhere like a tile cutter?
Is that a better way of sharpening wood chisels than an oil stone?

I have both sizes of angle grinder so I could give that a try (with
the smaller one). Why do you find that to be a better method than the
bench grinder?

Thanks.

On 9 Feb, 21:53, Stephen wrote:

why don't the wood
chisels rust when used on the wet wheel?

Well they will do, except that you dry them afterwards. You also drain
the water bath out, or else it gets a bit clarty in there with rust.

I usually sharpen my chisels by hand on waterstones, then dry them off
and treat them with camellia oil. If I'm rescuing old ones that need a
lot of grinding though, or making new edged tools from forged, then
I'll do the initial grinding on a wet wheel grinder. Mine's a Record
(actually a Scan) that's about 80 quid, so rather cheaper than a
Tormek. This is slower, albeit smaller diameter, and has a very good
quality stone.

Is that a better way of sharpening wood chisels than an oil stone?

Oil stones aren't great, as they don't leave a particularly good edge.
Generally one of the water-lubricated stones (Japanese / Belgian
waterstones, diamond, ceramic (Shapton) or Scary Sharp (Wet & dry
sandpaper stuck to glass) ) will give a better edge.

I have both sizes of angle grinder so I could give that a try (with
the smaller one). Why do you find that to be a better method than the
bench grinder?

I use an angle grinder a lot more than I use a bench grinder, so I'm
more dexterous at putting just the shape I want onto something.
Generally I'm either doing crude cold chisels any old how, or else
subtle curves on a woodturning gouge and I find I can form these
better with an anglegrinder. YMMV, especially if you have a gouge
grinding that holds them for you.

On Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:53:31 +0000, Stephen
wrote:

On Mon, 9 Feb 2009 09:25:11 -0800 (PST), Andy Dingley
wrote:


The big wheel is big, wet & slow. This gives a slower and cooler
grind, which is better for sensitive steels such as better woodworking
tools.

[...]
TBH, I don't use a bench grinder like this for much at all - HSS wood
turning chisels on the big wheel and that's about it. Most things like
SDS chisels I do instead by clamping the chisel in a vice an taking an
angle grinder with a flap wheel to it instead. An angle grinder is
generally a much more versatile piece of kit and well worth owning
(get lots of varied disks too).

Thanks for the fast replies. I shall look at the Lidl one, though that
is dry only. Sorry if this is a daft question but why don't the wood
chisels rust when used on the wet wheel? Or is it that the wheel is
just moist rather than splashing water everywhere like a tile cutter?
Is that a better way of sharpening wood chisels than an oil stone?

You use a wet wheel to keep the job cool. I used to have the job of
sharpening stone cutting drills and boring bits for mining. Used a 12
inch 120 grit cup wheel with a continuous stream of water directed at
the job. Not nice in winter when you have 500 double headed bits to
sharpen in a morning. I used to keep a bucket of warm water to dip my
hands in to stop them freezing.

Wood chisels and plane blades should only be sharpened on a grinder
when they have lost their profile. Use a wet wheel if possible or keep
dipping in coolant. Finish with an oil stone.

A small bench grinder is well worth having if you use a lot of metal
cutting drills or masonry drills.

I have both sizes of angle grinder so I could give that a try (with
the smaller one). Why do you find that to be a better method than the
bench grinder?


I've never used an angle grinder to sharpen a chisel but for cold
chisels it should be okay with a bit of care. Just make sure you don't
get the job too hot so it loses it's temper.