shaping stone wheel

[Ryan Minchew]

I have bought a tool post grinder wheel to cut nail nicks in a few slip joints. I bought the diamond shapers and the stone shapers. I don't have a way to hold the diamond in a way to shape the wheel at a 45 degree, but I held the stone shaper and got my shape. My problem is the wheel seems to be out of round now. I can put the diamond in the vice and find the out of round spot. When I goto to hold the shaping stone against it, it seems to go out of round. My question is two fold how can I shape the stone into round and is 45 the angle I want? Thanks

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If you are dead set to use an abrasive wheel, I would put it on a lathe and use the diamond tool to shape it. Clamp the diamond in the cutter holder.
The problem will most likely be that a 45 degree knife edge will always be hard to maintain.

I would ,instead of a grinding wheel, use a 45 degrees carbide wheel cutter. The ones that are used on a key making machine are perfect for cutting nail nicks.
Often you can find a used key cutting machine that will have the wheels, a vise you can modify to clamp the blade, and motor to run it. Check with some older locksmiths. The old manual ones are useless to them, now that everything is automated. I paid $10 for one with a box of cutters.

 

[Ryan Minchew]

Thanks Stacy, I finally got it trued up in the mill. I'm only doing one slip joint with a nail nick, and finishing up a couple of orders with silver studs. I don't see myself making slip joints anymore, moving to liner locks and didn't really want to spend the money on a carbide cutter.
If I do end up making more I'll look into getting a old key machine. Thanks again