Diamond coated steel plate

[Dave Steve]

  Within the last year or so there was a response to a question on engraving that told of a source of diamond coated steel plates.  These could then be epoxied to a backing of appropriate thickness as replacements for the Lindsay Graver Sharpening Fixture diamond stones.  I can't seem to find this thread.  Does anyone recall this post?  By my own mistake I have worn out the 120 stone in the Lindsay kit.

[Curtis]

My set of diamond coated plates were getting pretty worn after years of use, and I have switched over to using these from engraver.com.  Very economical and they can be adapted to mechanized sharpening.  I rigged up a half inch platform for my Worksharp tool and use it for shaping new gravers.  Then I switch manual use with the disks on the holder shown in the second link.

https://www.engraver.com/set-of-three-5-inch-diamond-wheels-for-graver-shaping-sharpening-and-polishing/

https://www.engraver.com/sharpening-disk-holder-for-5-inch-diamond-disks/

Curtis

[Ky-Flinter]

Hi Curtis,

This topic comes along at the perfect time for me.  I recently got a WorkSharp machine for sharpening chisels and gouges, and I've been thinking about adapting it for shaping gravers.  Are the disks on engraver.com stiff enough to run by themselves, or do you put them on top of a WorkSharp glass plate?

I'd love to see some pictures of the platform you made for your WorkSharp, ol' buddy    Thanks.

Ron

[rich pierce]

Is 1200 grit good as the finest grit for sharpening gravers?

[Curtis]

Hi Curtis,

This topic comes along at the perfect time for me.  I recently got a WorkSharp machine for sharpening chisels and gouges, and I've been thinking about adapting it for shaping gravers.  Are the disks on engraver.com stiff enough to run by themselves, or do you put them on top of a WorkSharp glass plate?

I'd love to see some pictures of the platform you made for your WorkSharp, ol' buddy    Thanks.

Ron

Ron, I'll have to get some "fresh" photos, but here is what I initially set up with the Worksharp.  If I remember correctly I stacked two glass wheels (one with a leather home) as a platform to support the diamond disks.  The disks are not really stiff enough to be self supporting in such a setup.

I had to substitute a longer retaining bolt with a washer for the screw that came with the Worksharp.  The setup was a bit taller than the desired 1/2" height, so I used a scrap plate of sheet metal (not in the below photos) to go under the Lindsay sharpening template.  The setup is quite primitive but hey - I'm a primitive kinda guy! (not to mention cheap)    I'll try and get a current photo posted tomorrow, and a more exact description of what I used to support the disks. Using the Worksharp as a power hone REALLY saves a lot of time.

I use a little Windex (or similar) for lube when I sharpen or grind the gravers.





Curtis

[Curtis]

Is 1200 grit good as the finest grit for sharpening gravers?

Rich - Not really, in my opinion.  My original 2000 grit diamond "stone" is still in good enough shape for a final polish, and if I really want I polish I follow up with 5 and 3 micron film.  The polishing film I use is leftover from my days as a computer nerd,    I used it to polish the ends of fiber optic connectors. 

Tira Mitchell at Engraver.com sells some polishing films that serve the same purpose.  I think if you used those, or some fine grit diamond paste to follow up the 1200 grit disk you should be fine, or of course you could use a 2000 grit plate if you can find one.

https://www.engraver.com/polishing-film-discs/

I did some searching and it looks like there are finer grit discs available elsewhere - here is one place (I have not purchased from the below linked site, so I have no experience with them)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/771179446/6-diamond-coated-flat-lap-lapidary?ls=r&external=1&rec_type=ss&ref=landingpage_similar_listing_top-2&content_source=f0ec26ed8417e3c69807991b49a11203%253A21bcd8c78d95d2da6b54bb9d5abfd3b6105f7630&logging_key=f0ec26ed8417e3c69807991b49a11203%3A21bcd8c78d95d2da6b54bb9d5abfd3b6105f7630&variation0=3022308698

Hope that helps!

Curtis

[T*O*F]

Is 1200 grit good as the finest grit for sharpening gravers?

Rich,
Depends on what kind of engraving you are doing.  Highly polished gravers are generally only used for "bright cut" engraving where smooth cuts create a sparkling effect because of the highly reflective surface.  In most cases, they use diamond paste followed by a ceramic stone.

[Ky-Flinter]

Thanks Curtis.  Great info.

Ron

[Curtis]

Ron, here are some photos I took today - try not to laugh at my chintzy setup.  Sometimes I throw something temporary together and it never gets changed to the "permanent" arrangement.    The photos should be self explanatory.  The sheet metal "spacer" on the Worksharp deck is basically the same thickness as the diamond disk.  When I am done engraving I just remove the diamond disk and the top glass plate and the Worksharp is once again ready for woodworking tools.

I forgot I had to use a bronze bushing and a section of 1/4" copper pipe on the replacement screw (instead of a washer) to make it snug.
The setup works well and beats spending a thousand bucks or so on a GRS power hone.







Curtis

[Carl Young]

Curtis, thanks for starting this thread! And all of the great ideas you share...
Carl

[Ky-Flinter]

Curtis, you are the man!   Thanks!

Ron

[Not English]

I feel a little left out or behind the times. I learned to sharpen my gravers by hand. I've not always had good results trying to use modern sharpening methods. They do attract my attention tnough.