Simple shop made tungsten grinder

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I was looking at some of the dedicated grinders for tungstens, and realized that there was a simple and inexpensive way to make one from a spare moto-tool, some scrap aluminum  I had from another project, and some cheap diamond cutting discs.  The moto-tool has a cap at the end that is threaded 5/8-12, and I figured I could build a grinding head that would screw on in place of that cap.I turned , bored and then threaded the part that would thread on to the moto-tool, and then threaded the end for the grinding section(I buggered up my first attempt and rather than starting over, I built it back up with the TIG and re-cut the threads.Boy I love doing stuff twice.NOT!!!)      I turned, bored and threaded the grinding section, then I drilled 4   3/32" holes(This is the size tungsten that I mainly use) at 20,25,30,35 degrees to the grinding wheel and intersecting the wheel in the middle of the abrasive portion of it.I left the walls of the grinding section pretty thick so as to give the tungsten as much support as possible and to add a little weight as I use it standing upside down( This way the dust settles  into the cap not around the tool shaft) It only takes a few seconds to grind a new tip on the tungsten and the angles are repeatable and accurate.If I find that I want a different angle or if I start using different sizes more I can always drill more holes to get what I want.  Here are a couple more pics of the assembled grinder and its components.It isn't pretty, but it functions well and that is all I really care about.Hope you find this project interesting.
Reply:Here is a better pic of the different angles I ground on some tungstens with this grinder for a test.
Reply:That's a great idea. Brilliant
Reply:i was   trying to come up with something similar   .       great   idea    and nice build!>Innovations are what i leave behind for History
Reply:wow thats slick dude !!
Reply:Thats excellent!
Reply:Thanks.  The hardest part of this project was determining how to drill the holes so that they would hit the wheel at the required angle and in the center of the abrasive part of the wheel.I also wanted to make sure that the tungsten hit the wheel at as close to a right angle as possible, that way the grinding striations were longitudinal as possible and ,so they were facing into the rotation to help minimize burrs on the tips.I drew it up on TurboCad and then carefully laid them out on the piece, then used a digital angle gauge to set the piece up in the vise, milled a flat spot and drilled.Here is a pic of the tungstens in the holes so youy can see how they hit the wheel.
Reply:i'd buy one if you sold it ESAB MigMaster 275Miller Econotwin HFMiller Syncrowave 250
Reply: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+sharpenerRemove 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!"The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:that's pretty clever dude. nice ideaESAB Heliarc 252
Reply:rotate the tungsten between thumb and finger ?
Reply:Much cheaper home version of the diamond grinds and others moto tool powered tung grinder.  Have a beer or three with the cash you saved on a much better and nicer tool/  Thats a two thumbs up...BobI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:you might refine the design and draw a blueprint of it, print a copyright on it and get a patent .  you never know you might be able to sell a couple tons of them, and make a nice retirement fund.tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:Nice idea but just a few pointsThe angle seems a bit obtuse , you want the taper to be about 2 1/2 times the diameter of the elctrode.Also are the grind marks running in line with the length of the elecrode? ... that also is important.A good guess is better than a bad measurement
Reply:Here is one I built older post. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=50085diameter of the wheel has a effect of length of point.very nice work on yours tool junkieLast edited by acourtjester; 07-29-2011 at 10:09 AM.Reason: more info
Reply:ill send you $50 for one. if you put the correct angle on it.
Reply:yea it should be a verticla grind with a bit of a radius to it. where it would get a little hairy is after you got some wear on the cutoff wheeltackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:excellent, with no more to say.
Reply:Can you make me one? Pm me a price. I would love to bolt this to the side of my welding table.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by BrettNice idea but just a few pointsThe angle seems a bit obtuse , you want the taper to be about 2 1/2 times the diameter of the elctrode.Also are the grind marks running in line with the length of the elecrode? ... that also is important.
Reply:Originally Posted by bruceryou might refine the design and draw a blueprint of it, print a copyright on it and get a patent .  you never know you might be able to sell a couple tons of them, and make a nice retirement fund.
Reply:How much? Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:why are we bastardizing HF tools? you would think by now that HF actually has a tungsten grinder, no?The copy everything else. They might as well.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain