Grinding an HSS parting tool

[Col_T]

I fancy trying to grind a parting blade in 1/4” square HSS stock. I’m aiming for the resulting blade to be 1/16” wide, and about 1/4” deep, so that leaves a block of 1/4” x 3/16” material to be removed.

The obvious option appears to be grinding, which will be very time-consuming, as I only have a hobby rated grinder which really does not like grinding for longer than about 20 minutes - DAMHIK! Are there any better, preferably quicker, ways of getting this done?

[RReid]

In a similar situation I have used a cut-off wheel in Dremel tool to remove some of the excess material.

[simplyloco]

In a similar situation I have used a cut-off wheel in Dremel tool to remove some of the excess material.

Me too. Works a treat, especially if you have a high speed milling spindle to keep the disc in the right place!

[Col_T]

Thanks, chaps.

Gives me something to try tomorrow.

[Jasonb]

Even with a small benchtop grinder it should take you a lot less than 20mins. a 1/4" tool is not large and you are not going to be able to make the 1/16" section that long.

If you do want to save time then a 4" grinder and thin cut of disk will make quicker work of it than a Dremel

[pirmin]

a coarse CBN cup wheel would remove material fairly fast.

[paul gough]

A small hobby rated grinder would be taken by most of us to be a 6 inch bench grinder. As Jason says more than adequate for small HSS tool grinding. Perhaps a more accurate description of the machine would enable us to give better advice. Regards, Paul Gough.

[Chipswitheverything]

If you fancy an alternative to the grinding, you could make up a holder and use simple hardened silver steel parting tools that can be filed to shape easily. This is a tool made from one of the small tool designs written up by Geo H. Thomas in Model Engineer magazine. The top rake is incorporated in the angle for holding the tool.  Dave

[Jo]

I like that Dave 

I use DA collets: the little ones (DA200) have really nice small round holders that go in a standard boring bar tool holder and the collets can hold various "retired"    centre drills that have been re-ground down into small parting tools, etc.

Jo

[Stan Stocker]

I'm guessing your grinder has the original stone like wheels provided with it.  Treat yourself to a nice 46H name brand wheel and odds are many of the things you hate about grinding will be reduced.  It still sucks unless you have great dust and grit control, but it will suck a lot less :-)
Stan