Grinding Lathe Tools Without A Bench Grinder

In this video I demonstrate my method of how I use Dremel grinding wheels to produce some basic lathe tools. High Speed Steel is a great material to make custom lathe tools from and has been used to do this for many decades. However to make these tools most tutorials will have you use a bench grinder and guide, which I do not have access to.
Here I will demonstrating my method which produces some basic tools which are perfect for cutting brass, alumininium and plastic. I have used these tools for the past 6 months with few issues. There are not the perfect solution, but miles ahead of carbide, especially for cutting plastic.

[@ronbianca9722]

Great idea! I would be as careful as possible to protect/vacuum up the grinder dust. It can raise hell with bearings,etc. Stay healthy my friend!

[@jmtx.]

“Technical Grinding” - the no-feel way of grinding to get perfect geometries. I’ll definitely try this out! Thanks.

[@CreaseysWorkshop]

Many others have mentioned the issues this causes with abrasive dust. At least cover the ways with some cloth if you are going to do this. For a few dollars, you can buy a diamond dressing tool that will extend the life of your grinding wheels and allow you to ensure that they are perfectly true.

[@braddobson2060]

A good project would be to make a new tool rest for your grinder

[@OWSNubbles]

Super useful, thanks for this! I'm going to get a mini lathe or Sherline here soon, and will be working out of an apartment or garage (if I'm lucky). A bench grinder could be in the cards, but it's good to know there are other options!

[@tonyc.4528]

Great idea, going to try soon!!

[@daveys]

Good idea, but I’d definitely either fix the grinder or get a new one.

[@multidomar]

0:22 I see that your locking nut for the quick change tool post is loose, you will lose the center height. Great video btw ;)

[@artisanmakes]

It is easily the biggest disadvantage with these tool holders. The small M5 nuts come undone so easily. I will probably replace them with wing nuts to help lock them, but I always am checking the height for the tools.

[@drucker03]

​@@artisanmakes Maybe a better tool holder system will help. I made best experiences with a „Multifix“ system (developed decades ago in Switzerland an today available from several manufacturers).

[@davidspin5353]

good tip

[@JoZf_Gibson]

Merci

[@Pushyhog]

mini lathe mafia

[@bobuk5722]

Hi folks, well, if no grinder and rest it's one way. Apart from the wise comments below I would strongly suggest not using a bigger grinding wheel. They are speed rated and a faulty one, or one spun too fast, could explode with horrific consequences. The bits could be doing several hundred kilometres an hour. There is no protective guard with this set up. Wear safety glasses when grinding and do not stand in the line of fire with any grinder, tempting as it is to get a close look. In a factory grinding wheels are only fitted and tested by trained qualified technicians. You are likely to be safe with the small Dremel size ones but do not go bigger. If you need a bigger wheel, buy a decent grinder - it's the much safer option. BobUK.

[@user-sj6ub8gq5m]

Hi 250w banch grinder is it enough?

[@artisanmakes]

Ok sure that it would.be for grinding small tools

[@reiniertl]

And buy a second lathe because this one will die sooner than expected. Method looks great, probably is a good idea to get a minilathe and transform it into a cutter grinder.

[@artisanmakes]

Funny you should say that, about a year ago, not so long after this footage was filmed the control circuit conked out and the cost of the replacement was about half the price of a mini lathe at the time.

[@reiniertl]

@@artisanmakes Replacement parts are usually quite expensive, particularly with these machines. The Chinese have in mind a disposable machine. I have a 12X23 and it only looks good where you can see, disassemble and it is ugly everywhere. Nonvisible precision surfaces will be just machined, and so on. The minilathe is not so lucky, being cheaper and smaller is usually worst. Grinding without protecting your machine will definitely wear it down way faster than you may think.

[@reiniertl]

@@davidwillard7334 If you buy one for business yes. if you are a hobbyist that wants to have a little fun then not so quite junk. These machines are also affordable and that's why they sell so many. This world is not China junk, USA great, there is a whole range of reasons to get one or another. I cannot afford USA great, but got China OKish for the money, even with all their issues.

[@reiniertl]

@@davidwillard7334 It is not a matter of happiness it is a matter of affordability. If there were more affordable options at better quality then I would consider those options as well. The point is that the USA market does not have offers in that price range and for that type of machines. It is not a point of China vs USA it is a free market after all who offers the product that you need or want at the price you can pay will always win. Moreover, Chinese machines are not all that bad if you are a hobbyist that who is not chasing micrometers. They will outlast you if you use them for about 8 hours a week and keep them well maintained. If you are running a business then things are different. And old machines are many times so worn and beaten up that they are as bad or worse than a new Chinese machine and many times unavailable.

[@Rheasound]

Cover the lathe bed first otherwise the life span will be too short.

[@stevelamperta865]

You have a lathe but you cant make a small metal rest for your grinder to grind hss ? are you kidding ?

[@ctrlz4439]

Mys thougts exacyly. Especially when we know what he can make. I would advise against this method also because of abrasive particles flying over lathe ways...

[@enedenedubedene4811]

So kann man die Bettführungen und Schlittenführungen ruinieren.👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼 Viele Grüße aus Germany

[@rjung_ch]

Schreib doch einfach was besser wäre, anstatt nur so negatives Zeugs zu schreiben. So doof.

[@enedenedubedene4811]

@@rjung_ch In meiner Ausbildung als Modellbauer in den 1960er Jahren, habe ich gelernt, dass Schleifgeräte jedwelcher Art auf einer Metalldrehmaschine nichts zu suchen haben. Weil immer mit dem Metallschleifstaub auch Korundpartikel auf der Bettführung liegen bleiben.

[@rjung_ch]

@@enedenedubedene4811 Das ist so, viele decken auch alles super gut ab, falls sie es doch machen müssen. Er hat das aber nicht von Grund auf diese Fach gelernt sondern macht es aus Spass. Ansonsten finde ich macht er es recht gut, 3 Jahre danach macht er immer wieder gute Sachen, Werkzeuge, etc. Also er hat auch später solche Arbeiten auch abgedeckt, also hat er es sich zu Herzen genommen, von dir oder jemand anderes. Gute Zeit noch.