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What do you do with your dull end mills?
11/16/2011 7:46:46 AM
I picked up a used Cuttermaster sharpener that is supposed to easily sharpen end mills. It came with wheels for carbide and hss and attachments for taper and radius.
I was wondering if it would be worth keeping to generate a little extra income with it or if it would be too much of a headache. I don't know what companies charge for resharpening. My original plan was to resell it, but I have a pile of dull end mills that I want to try it on first.
I'm not soliciting business in this post, just getting info.
I was wondering if it would be worth keeping to generate a little extra income with it or if it would be too much of a headache. I don't know what companies charge for resharpening. My original plan was to resell it, but I have a pile of dull end mills that I want to try it on first.
I'm not soliciting business in this post, just getting info.
11/16/2011 8:50:18 AM
Send it to me for 1 week and I will do a FREE evaluation for you on whether to keep it or sell it. 
11/16/2011 9:18:12 PM
Originally Posted By Schleprock:
Send it to me for 1 week and I will do a FREE evaluation for you on whether to keep it or sell it.
Send it to me for 1 week and I will do a FREE evaluation for you on whether to keep it or sell it.
No kidding. I bought several 5 lb batches of endmills on Ebay a few years ago, and the packagers just dumped them into large boxes. No padding, no nothing. Just 5/10 lbs of endmills going through USPS shipping.... Picking up the boxes at USPS, it sounded like shattered wine glasses whenever I moved the box.
You can tell they used to be sharp, but when I complained to the seller, they offered to send me replacement batches.
Yep, shipped the same way....
11/16/2011 10:40:29 PM
Originally Posted By Elwood_Blues:
Yep, shipped the same way....
Yep, shipped the same way....
Incredible.
And they probably vote too.....
Eli: You have any pics of this rig?
11/16/2011 11:49:04 PM
It is the one on this website http://www.artcotools.com/cuttermaster-end-mill-sharpener-c-750.html
It has most of the accessories on that page including the z-axis riser and radius attachment. I wish it had the work holder for lathe tooling, but I should be able to make something for that.
It has most of the accessories on that page including the z-axis riser and radius attachment. I wish it had the work holder for lathe tooling, but I should be able to make something for that.
11/17/2011 9:46:27 AM
That's what I thought. I can buy a LOT of end mills for $3700......
But the offer still stands.
But the offer still stands.
11/17/2011 1:01:07 PM
Originally Posted By Schleprock:
That's what I thought. I can buy a LOT of end mills for $3700......
But the offer still stands.
That's what I thought. I can buy a LOT of end mills for $3700......
But the offer still stands.
I payed less than $600 for mine. I will probably keep it for a while.
11/17/2011 1:57:50 PM
Originally Posted By Eli75:
I payed stole it for less than $600 for mine. I will probably keep it for a while.
Originally Posted By Schleprock:
That's what I thought. I can buy a LOT of end mills for $3700......
But the offer still stands.
That's what I thought. I can buy a LOT of end mills for $3700......
But the offer still stands.
I payed stole it for less than $600 for mine. I will probably keep it for a while.
Fixed that for you.
11/17/2011 3:45:04 PM
There's a regrind shop in town, sometimes I go there.
Sometimes I turn them into centers, punches, doo-dads...
Sometimes I turn them into centers, punches, doo-dads...
11/17/2011 10:05:28 PM
I have a pile of reamers and end mills I would like to get sharpened. I think everyone has a box. It seems like everyone selling them has them tossed into a box or coffee can, too.
11/18/2011 2:41:52 AM
Originally Posted By Cole2534:
There's a regrind shop in town, sometimes I go there.
Sometimes I turn them into centers, punches, doo-dads...
There's a regrind shop in town, sometimes I go there.
Sometimes I turn them into centers, punches, doo-dads...
Whats the name?
I have a couple dozen dull endmills between here and work.
11/18/2011 8:01:01 AM
Originally Posted By GNRNR:
Whats the name?
I have a couple dozen dull endmills between here and work.
KP Supply, they're on 5th and Penn.
Originally Posted By Cole2534:
There's a regrind shop in town, sometimes I go there.
Sometimes I turn them into centers, punches, doo-dads...
There's a regrind shop in town, sometimes I go there.
Sometimes I turn them into centers, punches, doo-dads...
Whats the name?
I have a couple dozen dull endmills between here and work.
I dont know if they actually do them there, but the regrinds I have been using work /cut great.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
11/18/2011 9:49:39 AM
Sharpening used end mills smaller than 1/2" is hardly justifiable in industry for several reasons. The labor cost of a skilled tool griinder, the end mill will be under size, and many other considerations. If you want an exercise in frustration, give it a whirl. Carbide insert tooling has nearly eliminated the "Tool Grinder " job title from the machining industry.
Taking the time too calculate the correct RPM and Feed Rate for the material being machined in addition to using flood coolant will usually result in minimal wear or dulling of end mills. When machining is done with proper planning and calculation the end mill will last to the point that the cost of replacement is off set by the number of inches machined. The cost of the end mill is charged to the job. (The used tool is the end mill often sold on ebay.)
The home shop practice of feeding by hand rather than power feed and spraying the tool with WD 40 when it gets hot is like peeing into the wind. Most learn after the first try, others never do!
Sit down and do some reading in the "Machinist's Handbook" and in short order you will have the answer to your question.
Taking the time too calculate the correct RPM and Feed Rate for the material being machined in addition to using flood coolant will usually result in minimal wear or dulling of end mills. When machining is done with proper planning and calculation the end mill will last to the point that the cost of replacement is off set by the number of inches machined. The cost of the end mill is charged to the job. (The used tool is the end mill often sold on ebay.)
The home shop practice of feeding by hand rather than power feed and spraying the tool with WD 40 when it gets hot is like peeing into the wind. Most learn after the first try, others never do!
Sit down and do some reading in the "Machinist's Handbook" and in short order you will have the answer to your question.
11/18/2011 10:20:04 AM
Having undersized endmills is great. Need a .375 slot? Use a reground 3/8 then clean up the sides.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
11/18/2011 1:46:31 PM
Originally Posted By Cole2534:
Having undersized endmills is great. Need a .375 slot? Use a reground 3/8 then clean up the sides.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
Having undersized endmills is great. Need a .375 slot? Use a reground 3/8 then clean up the sides.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
I Agree. I also like to use them as roughers. 1/2 inch endmill ground to .480 program it as a .500 and clean up with a new one.
I have sent batches of .375 and larger endmills to Frasia. For 1/2 price of a new one they will sharpen and re apply any coating that was on there to begin with. I'll try to find the price list.
