Sharpening carbide tooling

[Jimbojones]

Does anyone here sharpen their brazed carbide tools?

I've got a number of used ones and they look serviceable but could stand a bit more of an edge on them.

I've got a green-wheel stone (silicon carbide) so that's hard enough to grind it but I've heard the health hazard just isn't worth it...plus its only single/fast speed so its difficult to get a fine edge.

Have seen a number of diamond files/stones that would allow a lot more control both in movement and dust produced...but no idea what size is most-useful (1x3? 3x6) nor what grit(s) (single girt, double sided e.g. 400/1000). Would assume you could also use something similar to put final edge on HSS tooling but of course, use separate sharpeners for each metal type.

What are others on the forum using?

 

[Dabbler]

I've reshaped several of mine. I use a regular AO stone if there isn't much to do and a green stone for major changes. I have a few of those cheap Diamond sharpening stones (I think on-sale Princess Auto for $6.99 or something). I use them for final sharpening of the edges. It doesn't take very long.

That being said I purchased two $10 diamond 4" grinding wheels for my Tool and Cutter Grinder for doing the same thing, but the above works fine for doing just a couple of tools.

 

[RobinHood]

+1 on the diamond wheel on the tool & cutter grinder. Works very well. I also have a set of these:



They seem to work well for a quick edge refurb.

 

[PeterT]

I've got a green-wheel stone (silicon carbide) so that's hard enough to grind it but I've heard the health hazard just isn't worth it...

Cant imagine any of this dust is great, but is the issue with the green wheel wheel dust specifically? Moreso than aluminum oxide grinding wheels or the material being ground?

 

[Dabbler]

-- It is the carbide dust that is toxic. The Aluminum Oxide and the Silicon Carbide grits are mostly inert, as far as I have been told. All of the risk can be mitigated with an easy-to-build dust extraction blower.

 

[Alexander]

I sharpen mine on the green wheel and finish them by hand with a honing stone. I don't think carbide needs a sharp edge . I always hand chamfer the edges about .005". The dust from the carbide is carcinogenic so wearing a mask makes sense. I'm not sure how I feel about the health risks. Everyone gets to make up there own minds about the safety when working inside your own garage .