Cutting tool reconditioning can mean the difference between that costly carbide bit being a bargain or just a very expensive bit of metal. Cutting tool reconditioning is not the same as resharpening. When you resharpen a cutting tool, it will not act like the same bit you bought. It will still cut and may even do the job you want it for, but after a cutting tool is reconditioned, it is just like a new tool again and will have all the characteristics of a new tool. When you resharpen a cutting tool, the edge and point geometry will not be the same as when it is new, but cutting tool reconditioning will ensure that everything about the cutting tool is just as when it was new.
When getting your cutting tool reconditioning done, make sure to have these four points covered. Your contractor doing the reconditioning should make sure to identify the drill point geometry and coating (if there is one) before doing any of the other work involved. This will allow him to set up his machinery properly to give you back a reconditioned as new cutting tool. In some cases, the tool as originally purchased may have been as close to ideal as you were able to find it. During the inspection process, you can discuss this with your reconditioning contractor and if he is good at his job, he should be able to adjust the drill point geometries to better suit your needs.
The next step in the cutting tool reconditioning is to regrind new surface on the cutting areas. This step is very important to making the tool like new again or if needed, more suited to your needs than the original. This step is better done today by computer numerically controlled grinding machines then the old style of controlling it by hand. Computer numerically controlled grinders can be more precise than hand eye coordination is. This is how your cutting tool can come back like new again.
The next step in cutting tool reconditioning is to chamfer or round the edges just enough to prevent splitting and chipping when you use the cutting tool. If the edge is too sharp. The first time you use them, they may split or chip, thus ruining the cutting tool for further use. It has to be sharp enough to do the work required, but not sharp enough to become brittle. This is very important in the cutting tool reconditioning to make it like a new tool again.
The last steps to take are the quality inspection and recoating if needed. Quality inspection should not be done with the naked eye. At the minimum, a microscope should be used to examine the cutting surfaces and locate any imperfections. Good cutting tool reconditioning requires this inspection so any defects can be corrected before the recoating process. After the quality inspection, the last step is to reapply any coating that is needed to make the cutting tool operate at maximum efficiency. When this step of the cutting tool reconditioning is finished, you will have a like new cutting tool once again.
About The Author:
Logan is a published author of a popular online furniture making magazine. In his free time he enjoys refurnishing old furniture and remodeling his home. Needless to say, he is an expert on a large variety of power tools and he will share his list of essential tools needed for over 100 projects at http://www.mtakata.com. Visit the
ridgid power tools website to learn more.
