router bit sharpening

[Bill in seattle]

does anyone have any good ideas or resources for router bit sharpening machines? diamond hand files don't really work when you have 20/30 bits to do. I have seen in the past there are some things out there but don't remember where. sending them out is getting to be more challenging.
what do you do?

 

[Eli]

http://thorvie.com/router_bit_grinders.html

 

[tvgordon]

Moon's Saw &Tool supply out of Orlando sells router bit sharpening machines (you will have to Google their website - I can't remember it). They also sell used sharpening machines.  I use a Foley model 380 tool and cutter grinder to sharpen my router bits.

Tom.

 

[Dave Rudy]

Check out jooltool.com.  There are a number of videos, including, IIRC one on sharpening router bits.  This is one neat tool!

 

[Dave Ronyak]

The site link you provided took me to an obsolete site, 3M is supposed to update the site sometime.  However, when I went to the old site, I did not see any tool holder for router bits or any mention of how one would/could precisely hold router bits to precisely grind their working surfaces.  Do you know of a link for that?

Dave R.

 

[bruegf]

Check out jooltool.com.  There are a number of videos, including, IIRC one on sharpening router bits.  This is one neat tool!

I just saw the Jool Tool being demo'd at the Grand Rapids woodworking show.  It looked impressive.  The lady doing the demo was able to sharpen carbide router bits, planes, chisels in mere seconds.  I do wonder, however, how much of its ease of use was due to her skill vs the ability of the machine.  It was, none the less, quite impressive.  I watched her ding the heck out of the edge of a chisel and bring it back to a razor edge in a matter of a minute or two.

Fred

 

[Mike_Chrest]

I did not see any tool holder for router bits or any mention of how one would/could precisely hold router bits to precisely grind their working surfaces

Looks like they use a felt tip marker to blacken the face of the carbide then grind the black off by eye. Since you can see through the "stone" might be pretty accurate. They have a diamond and ceramic disc available. Not too expensive. The grinder seems kind of expensive for a variable speed motor in a plastic housing. Could probably chuck the "Ninja discs" in a drill and do the same thing.
http://www.jooltool.com/media.htm    The video is number 7.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

The need for operator skill is my concern.  I still remember those "vegimatic" demonstrations at county fairs when I was a kid.  Those people could do about anything with those machines, or so it seemed.  But most purchasers were only able to do much less, and a few gave themselves nasty cuts.

The old Craftsman router bit sharpener attachment held the bit (1/4 inch shank) and had indexing screws to slowly and precisely advance it into the grinding wheel which was mounted in the router's collet. 

Dave R.

 

[Dave Rudy]

I did not see any tool holder for router bits or any mention of how one would/could precisely hold router bits to precisely grind their working surfaces.  Do you know of a link for that?

Dave R.

Dave,

No holders are used.  When you buy the tool, you get a lengthy video that takes you through its applications, including sharpening of drill bits and router bits.  What makes this sharpener unique is that you can see the edge as it's being sharpened, so you can adjust the attitude of the bit or tool as you go.  Woodcraft has them -- you should be able to go to one and try it out.

Check out jooltool.com.  There are a number of videos, including, IIRC one on sharpening router bits.  This is one neat tool!

I do wonder, however, how much of its ease of use was due to her skill vs the ability of the machine. 

Fred

Fred, the biggest problem I have found with sharpening is that you do everything blind.  With this machine, you actually watch the edge as it is being sharpened.  It makes all the difference in the world.  There is a learning curve, as with all technique based tools.  But I find it relatively easy and quick to master the system.  I am sharpening turning tools, with compound angles and curves (like carving tools) and have little problem with all but the most complex after about 4-5 sessions.

The grinder seems kind of expensive for a variable speed motor in a plastic housing. Could probably chuck the "Ninja discs" in a drill and do the same thing.

Mike, The sharpener needs to be fixed (in fact, screwed or bolted to the table) so that the sharpening disc is in a fixed location.  This would be difficult with a drill.  You would also have to replace their cone-shaped arbor to get a tight fit on the discs.  If I can find one sharpener that actually works to give me quick, repeatable sharp edges, it's worth it as far as I'm concerned.

Prices on tools are sometimes driven as much by functionality as intrinsic value.  You take this out of the box, it works.

 

[Mike_Chrest]

Well, I needed to sharpen some router bits and remembered this post so I cobbled a Jool Tool clone together.

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Got the spindle from Woodcraft on closeout for something like $8.00. Put a piece of drill rod in the socket so I could chuck it in the drill.

Bought the Zeiss Vise on Ebay for $30. Drill is a "recon" $50 special.

The most expensive part was the diamond "Ninja" disks. Had to pay full price for them.

Good news is it works Don't know how long the grit will last.

Mike