I need to sharpen or touch up a carbide router bit. I am going to get a small diamond card to do it. What can I use as a lubricant on the diamond plate. I see some listed by Trend but way expensive.
I have watched some videos and it looks easy with a 600 grit diamond card.
I am sharpening a Leigh dovetail bit 112-8. I would buy a replacement but seems to be an odd size with 12° angle. If anyone has one, I would be interested in buying it.
I recently bought one to fill out my set. I'll see if I can figure out where from, I know that it wasn't easy to find one in stock. Did you search for just the 12 degree DT or more generic description?
I have searched a lot of places for a 12° Dovetail bit and failed. I am trying Lee Valley as they bought Leigh. The website does not show one. I did talk to Lee Valley and the part is back ordered until next month.....I hope it arrives then.
Out of stock most places and the 12° not a common angle. It is the one most likely to be used for half blind dovetails using them with D4 jig. I have used mine many times but is getting worn.
Lee Valley recently bought Leigh, so they will have all of the parts, and pieces. I have noted via email, that at least twice a year they have been having sets of the Leigh bits on sale, at pretty good mark downs. So if it isn't a pressing need, you might wait a bit, but get signed up for Lee Valley emails.
They have their "seconds" sales, which are DA bomb, and you can get Lee Valley, Veritas tools for literally pennies on the dollar, and I can hardly ever figure out where the "defect" is. So you get those, plus a lot of sale info, and I never get the feeling I am getting spam bombed, so done tastefully.
Also conveyed via email are when they have discounts on their gift cards. I usually get the $1,000.00 card, and it is $850.00 plus you can use them just like cash, for sales and other deals, free S&H anything, just like cash, so a good way to get a good price cut, and other deals as well. Unless you don't like saving $$$$$$.
Worst case is you sign up, don't like it, hit unsubscribe, and that's the end of it. LV is a quality outfit, and doesn't want to sully their good name making folks mad at them.
Anyhow I have bought sets for my Leigh jig, and they are the real deal, and just a lower price, so I call that a good deal. Seems the best deals are on sets, but they also have lower prices on single bits as well. As far as I know it's email only though.
When sharpening router bits with a diamond cards, I doubt that you really need a lubricant. The main purpose is to sort of float away the swarf so that it doesn't clog and you just won't generate that much. If you do, just brush it off with an old tooth brush and keep going.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
I think Nathan is right for the most part…unless you’re really going after them. A quick refurb on a bit on a diamond card can be done dry without any real harm, IMO.
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
The earlier I could get the 112-8 is early July. I tried sharpening my but not as sharp as new. I am dovetailing Red Oak and it is tough. I decided to switch from half blind to a thru dovetail. I had new bits and cut fantastic. Made one trial and need very minor adjustments. I am using a feeler gauge and digital height gauge to do the setups. Thanks for all the suggestions.
When an edge does not get sharp, I find it helpful to view it under magnification to see if there are chips or anything along the edge that are causing problems. If nothing else, it can help you figure out if it can be sharpened or it is time to scrap it.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
Birdseye? Did you sharpen up your bit? I suggested buying new because on a HSS bit you CAN sharpen them fairly easily, they just dull again real quick. On a carbide bit I have never had much luck doing much of anything to them, it's also why I have TS blades done. Router bits like Whiteside or these also get done, on cheaper ones it works better to just buy new, or that has been my experience.
I was a failure at sharpening the carbide bit. It was sharper but not good enough to do a good job in oak. I may try again to sharpen it.
I am making a plain heavy duty Red Oak box for some gear for my son. I decided to make thru dovetails instead of half blind. If needed, I can buy bits for it and get them overnight. I did a trial and the first attempt was very close and I am happy with them.
Yeah with a jig, if you get it dialed in, start making joints. I find the work part is getting it dialed in.
I have the Leigh Router table DT jig The RTJ400 It has that curved circle insert for your router table. Once you cotton to how that effects joint movement you about got it done. I've also found a lot of peeps say their bits fit, this and that, but if you buy the ones the company making the jig have, that makes it easier as well, at least that was my finding on the PC jig I started with, and this Leigh I have now.
WOW!!!!! I just looked at the link I had opened for my jig. $599. I just got mine a couple of years ago, and it was $325. I heard we were having some inflation..... Jeeesh I bought that 11 piece accessory pack for mine a year ago, and on that sale I talked about above, it was just over a Hundred bux.
