CBN for high carbon

[Scotty]

Has anyone tried CBN wheels for high carbon Japanese knife steel (Aogami Super etc)? Thanks

[brandonzou]

Yes. It works. CBN wheels are working good on high carbon steel. CBN works for hardened steel, the harder the better.

[Scotty]

Thanks

[Ken S]

Scotty,

When I was researching and testing CBN wheels a number of years ago, part of my research involved watching videos by the two major vendors at the time (D-Way and Woodturnerswonders) The D-Way videos showed how to clean the wheel after it became clogged from grinding mild (unhardened) steel. The cure was to grind some hardened steel.
I believe that is where the caution about carbon steel originated.

Ken

[Scotty]

Thanks.

[RickKrung]

Woodturners Wonders sells a product to apply to CBN wheels to help reduce that clogging and reduce friction, wear and heat buildup.  It is a push-up stick.

I have some but have not used it much, probably because my usage of an 8" CBN wheel on a low speed bench grinder has been light and the 10" CBN wheel I run in water on my T8. 

Rick

[Scotty]

Thanks.
Are you running WTW CBN in water?
Any issues?
I have been using the Tornado in water with no problems.
The Spartans are another story -  the hubs are not wide enough and extra spacer are required so as not to impact the frame or water trough sides.

[RickKrung]

Thanks.
Are you running WTW CBN in water?
Any issues?
...snip...

Yes.  And No. 

Yes, I'm running in water with the ACC solution.  With full knowledge that my warranty may be void because of it. My choice to take the risk. 

No, no problems, but I am careful to dry it with towels and then compressed air at the end of use sessions - not between wheel changes.

Rick

[Scotty]

Thanks.
Kinda what I have been doing.
Sharpco out of Korea states that he has never had a problem. (Actual quote was "no problemo")

[Ken S]

Based on emails with WTW several years ago, I believe they voided the warranty because of complaints from careless users who left their CBN wheels in the water troughs without using any corrosion preventing solution. I think this was done to prevent hassles from irate customers who were using the wheels incorrectly rather than because of problems with the wheels themselves. In fairness to WTW and the others, these wheels were designed for sharpening woodturning tools with high speed dry grinders, which they do well. (I include half speed 1725RPM grinders as high speed.) The D-Way CBN wheels I purchased back worked well, although only when used with Honerite Gold, the only anti corrosion solution available. D-Way wheels have a one inch bore. They sell very nicely machined reducing bushings in 3/4", 5/8", and 12mm. The 12mm adaptor works nicely with both the T4 and T8. However, the adaptors and wheels are made of non stainless steel. Using anti corrosion solution solves this problem.

Ken

[Scotty]

Thank you.
I have been using a HoneRite gold solution as well
I have had zero issue with the WTW Tornado wheels.
Cannot say I am a fan of the Spartan wheels though.

[3D Anvil]

Thank you.
I have been using a HoneRite gold solution as well
I have had zero issue with the WTW Tornado wheels.
Cannot say I am a fan of the Spartan wheels though.

May I ask what you don't like about the Spartan wheels?

[Alston]

How do CBN compare to Diamond wheels on a cost/longevity basis?

[Scotty]

Spartans, by definition are made bare bones,
My center hubs did not extend beyond the width of the cutting surface thereby necessitating additional spacers.
They appeared to be corroding and delaminating where the CBN meets the plastic.
I always used them with Honerite.
Having said that, the cutting surface was (and still is) performing as expected.
Might just be an aesthetics thing with me.
Ken at WTW is a standup guy.