Popular Woodworking 2006-10 № 157, страница 16
Tool Test Norton 3X Grinding Wheels R The biggest challenge with dry grinding your tools is that the steel will heat up quickly and then lose its ability to keep a sharp edge. Because of this problem, water-cooled grinders have become popular with woodworkers. They'll never, ever destroy the edge-holding properties of your tools, but they also cut agonizingly slowly if you need to remove a big chip or - heaven forbid - change the grinding angle of the tool. Now there is a good patch of middle ground for woodworkers. Norton has introduced a line of 3X Super Cool Grinding Wheels that run on your dry grinder (no matter if it's a highspeed or low-speed machine) but they're much less likely to ruin the edge of a tool compared with the gray wheels that come with grinders and even the nice white wheels we've tried. Now, if you're determined, you can still overheat the tool's edge and destroy it, but if you simply grind at a steady pace, you'll find the edge stays much cooler. This also causes the work to go much faster than with a gray or white wheel because you don't have to pause n Remarkably Cool for the tool to cool down or quench it in an oil bath every few passes. The Norton 3X wheels are ideal even for heavy grinding sessions. Recently I ground back a bunch of fore plane irons for friends so they had an 8" radius curve at the cutting edge. I usually only had to pause once during each grinding session, and that was probably me being over-cautious. In my opinion the #60-grit and #80-grit 3X wheels on our 8" grinder cut quite fast and seem to require dressing about as much as our older wheels. The wheels are made with a patented ceramic alumina and are available in four common grits (#46, #60, #80 and #100); in 6", 7" and 8" diameters; and with a variety of bushing sizes. They should fit almost any grinder out there. One more thing: The price is quite reasonable compared to other premium grinding wheels. If you haven't thrown away your gray wheels yet, do it. Pick up a Norton #80-grit wheel to try and you'll never go back. — CS For more information, circle #172 on Free Information Card. SPECIFICATIONS Norton 3X Super Cool Grinding Wheels Street price: $35 to $75 Grits: #46, #60, #80, #100 Bushings: V2", 5/8", 3/4", %" Performance: ••••O Price range: $$$ Norton Abrasives: 254-918-2306 or nortonabrasives.com/consumer Bostitch Air Power for Woodworkers While the compressor and 23-gauge pinner from Bostitch shown here aren't offered as a kit, they showed up in our shop at the same time. I think they make a great combination for most woodworking projects, so we'll talk about them both. First, the compressor. This is one of the smaller-capacity (1.6 gallon) compressors available on the market, but for our applications, that's fine. Recycle time (how often the motor needs to kick on to maintain proper firing pressure) is an important statistic. I was able to fire 10 2"-long, 18-gauge brads (or 23 13/16"-long, 23-gauge pins) before the tank needed to recharge. That's decent performance for most woodworking tasks. The motor runs at a comfortable 76 decibels and the vibration from the motor doesn't cause the compressor to walk across the floor. It's also one of the most user-friendly compressors I've seen. The tank and oil-free motor are all housed internally with only the dials and controls necessary to operation exposed. It's a less intimidating compressor than most. At less than $200, this is a good home woodworking compressor, though the price is a little high compared to the competition. The 23 -gauge pinner is a great companion to the compressor. Headless pinners are perfect for much of the small detail work often found in woodworking. The Bostitch model offers a length capacity up to 13/16", while many top out at 1". The pinner performs well in both hardwood and softwood, with easy depth-of-drive adjustment. The Bostitch pinner prices out as a bargain against much of the competition. PW —DT For more information, circle #173 on Free Information Card SPECIFICATIONS Bostitch 23-gauge Pinner Street price: $120 (HP118K) Pin range: V2" to 13/16" Safety: Dual trigger Weight: 2.4 lbs. Performance: ••••• Price range: $$$ Bostitch: 800-556-6696 or bostitch.com SPECIFICATIONS Trim Air Compressor Street price: $180 (CAP1516) Delivery: 1.8 CFM & 90 PSI Motor: 1.5 peak HP (8 amp) Tank size: 1.6 gallon Weight: 19.5 lbs. Performance: ••••O Price range: $$$$$ Bostitch: 800-556-6696 or bostitch.com 24 Popular Woodworking October 2006 |
