Grinding Wheel Dressers

Re: Grinding Wheel Dressers

John McGaw

I have a diamond-embedded type and use it sparingly and it does what it is meant to do. I'll say that my sparing use probably comes about more from the recognition of how expensive those friable white wheels are and reducing their diameter unnecessarily pains my cheap soul.

couldn't be without one

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I don't see how anyone can grind tools with a wheel dresser. The dresser performs two critical functions. It shapes the wheel for various needs, for example crowning for sharpening plane blades and chisels. And, it restores sharp grits to minimize burning. I use this one from Lee Valley for soft tool grinding wheels.....

Re: Grinding Wheel Dressers

johannaj

I found that losing control of the dresser can have drastic results. I was "freehanding" it when the wheel yanked it away and jammed it between the wheel and the housing. Broke the dresser, cracked the wheel. Hmmmm... freehanding is not a good idea.

Re: Grinding Wheel Dressers *LINK*

John in NM

We always had one in welding and machine shops at the various telescopes I've worked for.

I prefer the star wheel kind as they make quick work of the job (the little wheels are replaceable). Basically the more expensive ones in the link.


https://www.amazon.com/grinding-wheel-dressing-tool/s?k=grinding+wheel+dressing+tool

Very true

John in NM

Though I've never had that happen with dressing tools I've had it happen with other parts. I will only do light cuts (like dressing up drill bits) with no tool rest.

The rest is supposed to be 1/8" or closer to the wheel, and generally adjusted near the vertical tangent of the wheel (a little under is ok, but too much and it will be grabby).

I used to scoff at the need until I had a part grabbed and flung out through the dust vent. Like a drill press, I think a lot of people find bench grinders to be very mild tools and are surprised when they bite!

Re: Grinding Wheel Dressers

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

I have never used a grinding wheel dresser before. As I start to do more turning and also try to improve my drill bit sharpening, I am thinking about getting one. My casual observation of other people's shops is that they are used by some people and not by others. I also see online that there is a wide variety of prices. I am just canvassing opinions. Do you use one? Do they do a good job? What should a person look for if buying one?

John, wheels are friable and it is vital that the surface of a wheel is (lightly) dressed to expose fresh grit and remove burnished areas. If this does not occur, the wheel will not cut cleanly and, instead, is likely to "polish" the steel instead. This creates heat, which damages the blade.

Secondly, the surface of the wheel may be shaped by the dresser. This may be flat, which is preferred by some, or crowned, which is preferred by others. I used to crown the wheels when I had one.

For some years now I have used CBN wheels which, while more expensive, do not need dressing as they do not wear and lose their shape.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I use a dressing stick

kneale brownson

This one's from Rockler:

Re: Grinding Wheel Dressers

John K Jordan

I have several kinds and they all work, some with more precision, some last longer.

The kind with a thin layer of diamonds on a flat surface gets the wheel quite flat but some dressers lie that can wear out quickly. I use it with the tool rest up almost touching the wheel. One like this: https://www.amazon.com/SINYUM-Grinding-Dresser-Diamond-Deburring/dp/B07923N6SL

I like this one better, have to mount it in something and it's harder to get a wide wheel perfectly flat but the diamond is embedded all the way through the block on the end. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009IO7DIQ

My favorite is a single-point diamond on an adjustable screw. The base has an angled ledge which slides nicely along the front of a Oneway Wolverine tool rest. You take several passes and works quite well.



Tormek sells a diamond dresser for it's slow-speed wheels but it will work only with the Tormek support.

I use a silicon carbide dressing stick to shape the narrow wheel for the chainsaw sharpener and a small one that comes with a Dremel to dress their grinding bits. Works OK. Cheap.

There is a very good dressing stick called "Norbide", but expensive about $80-$90. A friend gave me a piece to try and it seems hard as diamond (but probably not). He's been using the same stick for 40+ years. I've used the piece to make special profiles on a wheel.

The "old" style kind with several hardened star disks works too, but harder to get the wheel surface flat. I haven't used mine for many years.

https://www.amazon.com/Forney-72390-Dresser-Grinding-Wheels/dp/B003X418BK

All that said, I rarely use any of these any more. Switched to CBN wheels on everything except for a couple of grinders I keep for mild steel. CBN is the way to go for HSS, IMO, and apparently for many other woodturners. Never need dressing (can't be dressed!)

JKJ

Re: Grinding Wheel Dressers

William Duffield

I use one of the T-shaped sticks like Bill shows. I rest it on my Wolverine flat tool rest. I use it for my Aluminum oxide wheels which I keep for things like axes and lawn mower blades. I also have a grinder with CBN wheels for turning tools and other hardened tool steel. Do not attempt to use a dresser on CBN wheels! It will ruin the dresser and the expensive tools. At one time, I had a single point diamond dresser that I thought I could make a fixture for, like the one J. K. J. shows. In metal, it would have worked, but I decided wood would be sufficient. It was not.