Tig electrode sharpener? any recommendations?

[Ducman82]

Hey fellas.

Im in the market for a good sharpener thats not a thousand dollars, but good for the at home/ small shop work environment. what do you use? pros cons?

thanks alot!

[Donoharm]

so you're doing some orbital welding?

[Bob the Welder]

A very simple, cheap and easy to use sharpener can be bought from..............I hate to say it...................Harbor Freight! http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...lade+sharpener

Remove one guard that encloses the diamond wheel, chuck your tungsten in a drill and have at it. You can put any angle you want on very easily and can blunt the points if you want and use it to cut your tungsten to length.

I've used one for about 2 years now and love it. Be sure to use a 20% off coupon!

[shovelon]

If you want something multipurpose. This is it. I have 2 of them. When the belt gets dull, flip it over and use it some more. I use this sander not only for sharpening my tungstens, I grind, radius, chamfer, and deburr parts with it also.

The cost about $400 bucks. Bought mine about 20 years ago and other than having to reskin the backing plate they are holding up like a champ. I still believe they are made in USA.

[Ducman82]

Originally Posted by shovelon

If you want something multipurpose. This is it. I have 2 of them. When the belt gets dull, flip it over and use it some more. I use this sander not only for sharpening my tungstens, I grind, radius, chamfer, and deburr parts with it also.

The cost about $400 bucks. Bought mine about 20 years ago and other than having to reskin the backing plate they are holding up like a champ. I still believe they are made in USA.

thats not a bad idea....

[fdcmiami]

this is not a home item but i guess it could be; i keep it in my gang box on the truck. you can rest it on a flat surface upside down and lock the trigger to the on position and grind away. it's a little expensive but i see them on CL sometimes. beats the 7 in milwaukee grinder.

Amazon

Amazon

[fdcmiami]

Bosch 1274DVS 3 x 21 in. Variable Speed Belt Sander ; amazon links verboten it would seem.

this is the unit.

[skelley521]

I am getting ready to test the 2% lanthanated.
I have free samples coming from various vendors. They are pre-ground with different tapered angles. Some fine point and some are blunt.
I requested the standard 20RA smooth ground finish over the 10RA mirror polish.
Can't wait to test out the different included angle per taper to find out how they hold up to the different amperage.

Edit: I just use a 6" sanding pad on a grinder, 80 grit on it at the moment. Also have a StiloTig enroute also.

[welds4d]

I normally just use a belt sander as well. You can chuck your tungsten in a drill if desired. I have a little home-made gizmo that another welder turned me onto years ago, made out of a piece of small SS tubing and a bent piece of TIG wire...looks like a slide whistle....the tungsten rotates from the friction of the sander or grinder...

[skelley521]

Hey Bob, I've been eyeballin' the blade sharpener out for some time now.
How much of the wheel face has a diamond surface and how many time can you sharpen before replacing?

[Bob the Welder]

Mine has a band of fine diamond coating that is 9/16" wide on a 4" diameter wheel. I bought an extra wheel with mine (about $10 IIRCC) but have not had to replace mine yet. I have turned it around and have started using the other side.

If you touch up your tungsten before it gets all messed up it will last quite a long time. It does just as good as our $1000 dollar sharpener at the union hall and way better than using a sanding belt or a tiger paw on an angle grinder. Plus it's pretty darn quite. I've been using mine for a couple of years (not that much welding at home but I do sharpen my tungsten for work a lot of the time). Can't hardly go wrong for around $50-$60. Overall, I'm VERY happy with mine.

[skelley521]

Nice, Thanks Bob. Gonna pick one up this weekend.

[GBM]

Bob, that link does not work for me... can you list the SKU numbers on what you are referring to ? I tried entering my own search but several things might qualify for what you were referring to... Thanks...
Or skelly ...can you point me in the right direction ?

[skelley521]

Here

[shovelon]

Are you talking about this?


I see the black blade cover. Is this what you remove?

[skelley521]

Yeah, cover/guard, if it's in you way and small children don't have access to the switch.

[Bob the Welder]

This cover.

[GBM]

Thanks, looks very nice...
Might could make another cover with proper size and direction holes in it .... perhaps even clear so you could see the progress....

[zapster]

Regular 'ol bench grinder on a pedstal base with the guard removed is what I use..

Stand behind it and use the top of the wheel..

Cordless drill works great as a spinner..

...zap!

[CEP]

Originally Posted by zapster

Regular 'ol bench grinder on a pedstal base with the guard removed is what I use..

Stand behind it and use the top of the wheel..

Cordless drill works great as a spinner..

...zap!

Like so?

[zapster]

Originally Posted by CEP

Like so?

Sorta..
Lose the guard and stand behind it..
Sparks go away from you..

...zap!

[CEP]

How do you get around OSHA with the guard removed? I've been nailed by OSHA for having the rest more than an 1/8-inch from the wheel!

[Bob the Welder]

Won't give near as nice a finish as the saw sharpener. Can't blunt the points very well with a grinder. Does work OK though.

[zapster]

Originally Posted by Bob the Welder

Won't give near as nice a finish as the saw sharpener. Can't blunt the points very well with a grinder. Does work OK though.

I never blunt a point.

...zap!

[Bob the Welder]

By CEP;

How do you get around OSHA with the guard removed?

At home use. A lot better than holding a 4 1/2" grinder with one hand while sharpening your tungsten with the other. But then again, I've never seen an OSHA inspector in a boiler.