St

"Sam the Cat"

08/04/2004 7:35 PM

sharpening router bits

I have a freud 3/4" double flute router bit that I seem to have worn out.
Cost is < $20 to replace -- any reason to think about resharpening ? If I
get it resharpened is there loss of width -- will it still be a 3/4" bit ?


This topic has 13 replies

BR

"Bernard Randall"

in reply to "Sam the Cat" on 08/04/2004 7:35 PM

08/04/2004 7:35 PM


"Pounds on Wood" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Don't know if I would bother to send it out. But I would try touching it
up
> myself with an EZ Lap hone. If it's a two flute straight carbide it's
> pretty easy to hone the flats.
>
> --
> ********
> Bill Pounds
> http://www.billpounds.com
>
<snip>
I agree, cleaning and touch up on the flats definityly prolongs bit life.
As a machinist I am used to honing lathe tools so I also do the same to
router bits, its comparatively easy to feel when the blade of the lap is
flat on the bevel and with just a few strokes it is easy to see the effect.
Get into the habit of counting strokes so you do all surfaces evenly.

Bernard R

Po

"Pounds on Wood"

in reply to "Sam the Cat" on 08/04/2004 7:35 PM

08/04/2004 11:47 PM

Don't know if I would bother to send it out. But I would try touching it up
myself with an EZ Lap hone. If it's a two flute straight carbide it's
pretty easy to hone the flats.

--
********
Bill Pounds
http://www.billpounds.com


"Sam the Cat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a freud 3/4" double flute router bit that I seem to have worn out.
> Cost is < $20 to replace -- any reason to think about resharpening ? If
I
> get it resharpened is there loss of width -- will it still be a 3/4" bit ?
>
>

Cc

"CW"

in reply to "Sam the Cat" on 08/04/2004 7:35 PM

08/04/2004 4:46 PM

Resharpening, around here, is about $5.00. Yes, the diameter will be
smaller.

"Sam the Cat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a freud 3/4" double flute router bit that I seem to have worn out.
> Cost is < $20 to replace -- any reason to think about resharpening ? If
I
> get it resharpened is there loss of width -- will it still be a 3/4" bit ?
>
>

Jd

Jules

in reply to "Sam the Cat" on 08/04/2004 7:35 PM

09/04/2004 10:58 AM

I wore one down on particle board awhile back. I bought a new one for
precision work, and had the old one resharpend. I still use the old one.
The five dollar resharpening on the face worked just fine. I rounded the
corners of the bit but even that is better. So give it a shot you will
probably be surprised.


Sam the Cat wrote:

> I have a freud 3/4" double flute router bit that I seem to have worn out.
> Cost is < $20 to replace -- any reason to think about resharpening ? If I
> get it resharpened is there loss of width -- will it still be a 3/4" bit ?
>
>

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to "Sam the Cat" on 08/04/2004 7:35 PM

09/04/2004 3:15 AM

"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >
> >
> >
> > If you specify the finish cutting diameter it may eat away too much of
the
> > carbide and or they may charge too much to grind to a particular spec.
> > That said the bit will still be good for rabbets or mortising for
hinges
> > after being sharpened.
>
> Or dados with Leon's excellent jig.


Thank you for noticing CW..


EP

"Edwin Pawlowski"

in reply to "Sam the Cat" on 08/04/2004 7:35 PM

09/04/2004 3:00 AM


"Sam the Cat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a freud 3/4" double flute router bit that I seem to have worn out.
> Cost is < $20 to replace -- any reason to think about resharpening ? If
I
> get it resharpened is there loss of width -- will it still be a 3/4" bit ?

Buy a new one and keep the old one. When you have three or four bits and
maybe a sawblade, send the whole thing to Ridge Carbide or other sharpening
service. Sending one bit out is not cost effective IMO as the shipping cost
will double the total cost. As a group, it is a savings.
Ed
[email protected]
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

Cc

"CW"

in reply to "Sam the Cat" on 08/04/2004 7:35 PM

09/04/2004 12:21 PM

I'm a machinist. I appreciate good tooling.

"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

>
>
> Thank you for noticing CW..
>
>
>

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to "Sam the Cat" on 08/04/2004 7:35 PM

09/04/2004 1:16 AM


"Sam the Cat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:xcednYzv6c4WeOjdRVn-

I get it resharpened is there loss of width -- will it still be a 3/4" bit



If you specify the finish cutting diameter it may eat away too much of the
carbide and or they may charge too much to grind to a particular spec.
That said the bit will still be good for rabbets or mortising for hinges
after being sharpened.




Cc

"CW"

in reply to "Sam the Cat" on 08/04/2004 7:35 PM

08/04/2004 6:30 PM

Unless you specify otherwise, router bits are sharpened like any other form
relieved cutter, on the faces only. The loss in diameter is due to the
relief on the edge. The further back you grind the face, the smaller the
diameter will be. The reduction is dependent on the amount they have to take
off to get it sharp. To achieve a particular size, the edges would have to
be ground. That would raise the cost to the impractical.

"Sam the Cat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> CW -- any idea on the loss in diameter ? Can one specify the new width ?
> Perhaps turning a 3/4" into a 23/32" ?
>
>

Cc

"CW"

in reply to "Sam the Cat" on 08/04/2004 7:35 PM

08/04/2004 6:33 PM


"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Sam the Cat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:xcednYzv6c4WeOjdRVn-
>
> I get it resharpened is there loss of width -- will it still be a 3/4"
bit
>
>
>
> If you specify the finish cutting diameter it may eat away too much of the
> carbide and or they may charge too much to grind to a particular spec.
> That said the bit will still be good for rabbets or mortising for hinges
> after being sharpened.

Or dados with Leon's excellent jig.

Cc

"CW"

in reply to "Sam the Cat" on 08/04/2004 7:35 PM

08/04/2004 6:23 PM


"Mike G" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Let me see, to avoid paying less then twenty dollars you have to find
> someone that sharpens carbide bits,

Easily found in most areas that have any manufacturing at all.

>pray they know what the hell they are
> doing,

Any place that does work for machine shops. Router bits are dead easy.

>get the bit too them, pay for the sharpening, then get it back again.

That's a judgement call. I usually send mine out with the milling cutters.


MG

"Mike G"

in reply to "Sam the Cat" on 08/04/2004 7:35 PM

08/04/2004 7:57 PM

Let me see, to avoid paying less then twenty dollars you have to find
someone that sharpens carbide bits, pray they know what the hell they are
doing, get the bit too them, pay for the sharpening, then get it back again.
All for a bit that probably held up for some reasonable length of time.

Doesn't seem like a question it would take a rocket scientist to answer to
me..

--
Mike G.
[email protected]
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net
"Sam the Cat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a freud 3/4" double flute router bit that I seem to have worn out.
> Cost is < $20 to replace -- any reason to think about resharpening ? If
I
> get it resharpened is there loss of width -- will it still be a 3/4" bit ?
>
>

St

"Sam the Cat"

in reply to "Sam the Cat" on 08/04/2004 7:35 PM

08/04/2004 7:51 PM


"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Resharpening, around here, is about $5.00. Yes, the diameter will be
> smaller.
>
> "Sam the Cat" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I have a freud 3/4" double flute router bit that I seem to have worn
out.
> > Cost is < $20 to replace -- any reason to think about resharpening ?
If
> I
> > get it resharpened is there loss of width -- will it still be a 3/4" bit
?
> >
> >
>
>

CW -- any idea on the loss in diameter ? Can one specify the new width ?
Perhaps turning a 3/4" into a 23/32" ?


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