If so how? I have used WD 40 with a steel brush and also used Windex to clean. Is there a better way?
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Do you clean your CBN wheels
- Thread starter William Rogers
- Start date
Russ Braun
TOTW Team
Great question!
I'm not sure it's better but I soaked mine in Simple Green, then scrubed them. I was pleased with the results.
Has anyone asked the vendor?
Yes, Ken Rizza (when he owned Woodturners Wonders) said to use WD40 and a steel brush. I works, but a little messy and looking for a better way to clean the wheels.
William, have you used them for metals other than hardened tool steels (such as turning tools)?
I think what I've read so far is what I've read before. I think @robo hippy has explained cleaning after grinding softer metals, so a quick search referencing him may help. I bet he'll chime in here at some point.
I have only sharpened HSS and harden steels with CBN wheels. However I am sure some wood does get imbedded into the wheel even though I try to remove it before sharpening.
The only thing I found was where Robo Hippy said There was an aluminum oxide block available, but again messy.
I clean my saw blades by soaking in a hot soapy solution (I use Dawn) for about an hour and then a quick scrub with a nylon brush and then rinse, dry, and oil.
Would that work for CBN wheels?
Would that work for CBN wheels?
Maybe some day, if I remember, I will do a video on CBN wheels since my old web site is not gone.... Dave Schweitzer of D Way tools told me he soaked his wheels in Simple Green and then hit them with a scrub brush. I have heard a number of times that using glass cleaners is not good for the wheels and your lapping plates, and probably the paddles, if the cleaner has ammonia in it because that can bother the nickel plating that keeps the CBN on the wheels. I do have automotive cleaners in the shop for this purpose, and use them on my lapping plates. I do have one 320 grit wheel that has a bit of imbedded metal in it and can hear it "ticking" as I sharpen. I have tried the old aluminum oxide grinding wheel, and it didn't get that piece of metal off the wheel. Oh, I have looked for it and can't see it with my eyes, but that may be me, and I have not looked really closely. I do have some hard aluminum oxide around some where, if I can find it. The AlO does make a LOT of dust. I have heard of using those rubber eraser sticks which I use on my abrasive discs to clean them up a little, and they can be used to clean up the lapping plates. I do generally apply a bit of the Trend lapping fluid to the bevels of my tools before sharpening. Wet madrone leaves a LOT of residue on every thing as I turn. Most of the time, other than the lapping fluid, I don't worry about it as long as the edge looks to be refreshed.
robo hippy
robo hippy
@robo hippy I do not use windex with ammonia.
I use a slurry of Barkeepers Friend to clean my water stones and diamond stones. Haven’t seen a need to clean my CBN wheels yet but I imagine that would work on them also. I’m sure it would be messy too but wouldn’t want to remove the wheels to clean them.
I use Krud Kutter. Also use that for cleaning diamond stones and for lubricant while sharpening. I have the very expensive Trend Diamond Abrasive Lapping fluid and IMO Krud Kutter works just as well.
I use Krud Kutter for cleaning saw blades.
Hello William! I soak mine in Easy Oven Off. I also use it to clean the chains of my chainsaws. Soak overnight for better results.
I don't think I've ever cleaned mine. Before sharpening I usually dribble a bit of diamond honing/lapping fluid such as "Trend" on the wheel, turn it by hand and spread it evenly around the wheel. After sharpening, wipe with a piece of paper towel. The paper towel is black and the wheel is cleaned of the HSS steel particles. Clean enough for me.
However, the wheels I use are 1000 and 1200 grit CBN, pretty smooth. I haven't tried or needed this with my quite coarse 60 grit CBN I use for shaping tools, or other intermediate grits.
A little lasts a LONG time. I've been using the same bottle for years.
JKJ
Maybe I'm doing it wrong. I've never cleaned my cbn wheels and they seem to work just fine. I spray water on the diamond plates to float off the swarf and wipe them with a dry cloth when done
john lucas
AAW Forum Expert
I just used a 180 grit DWay v wheel for close to 10.years. I definitely abused it grinding carbide and after I got tge dlick stick I ground carbon steel tools. I did clean it about a year ago using ken Rizza,s method. It looked better but I could not tell it changed the cutting action at all.
I don't understand, what are you grinding that it needs cleaning? What's getting stuck between the grit? I have at least 10 years on mine with no cleaning.
I cleaned mine once with wd40 and a brush, but didn't notice any difference. I would be sure to read the label on any chemicals you may use if cleaning aluminum cbn wheels. Some of the oven cleaners have caustic in them and will dissolve aluminum.
If I only turned dry wood, I can see that I would never need to clean my CBN wheels. However, constantly turning sloppy wet wood makes it a necessity some times.
I did grind some carbide on my CBN wheels once. I notices a significant drop in grinding ability right after. Diamond works better as far as I am concerned. I do have diamond wheels or my Tormek, and some day, I will mount them. The local Woodcraft store just closed and they had a sale, so I bought another one. It was on sale.....
robo hippy
I did grind some carbide on my CBN wheels once. I notices a significant drop in grinding ability right after. Diamond works better as far as I am concerned. I do have diamond wheels or my Tormek, and some day, I will mount them. The local Woodcraft store just closed and they had a sale, so I bought another one. It was on sale.....
robo hippy
In other words if you took 30 seconds to use a brass brush to remove the gunk from the tool, you'd never have to clean your wheels. Now I get it, but I still can't figure out why brushing the tool is too big of task for some.
Soak mine in cental heating oil or diesel overnight then use a brass brush. Certainly lots of black grinding dust in the mix so must be unclogging/cleaning. Is it any better afterwards, hmm, jury is out on that one.