Sharpening a tank cutter
BenB - 14/1/10 at 05:32 PM
So I totally ignored the advice re 40rpm and oil when using my tank cutter on some galvanised steel (to be fair I hadn't read the instructions 
). So my tank cutter is now completely blunt and I rather need to use it before I can get a new one delivered.....
any advice on sharpening angles? I'm thinking grind it to an approx angle with angry grinder then some gentle filing then use my sharpening stone
and some oil. But what angles?!?!
And do I need to re heat-treat it? I don't think it glowing red hot and melting when I used it at X million rpm is what is usually recommended so
I might need to re treat it post sharpening.
TIA for any info
tonym - 14/1/10 at 05:51 PM
I suggest you save your time and go and buy a new one. Sounds well abused and if its been red hot will be useless
[Edited on 14/1/10 by tonym]
Confused but excited. - 14/1/10 at 06:20 PM
If the blunt tip has 'blued' and I rather think it would have, bin it and get another,
unless you are used to heat-treating/tempering your tools.
GMPMotorsport - 14/1/10 at 07:38 PM
Not worth the time or effort, buy a new one and look after it.
MakeEverything - 14/1/10 at 09:22 PM
Ive had some of mine since i was a junior apprentice, nearly 15 years ago. Once they are blunt, bit it.
paulf - 14/1/10 at 09:26 PM
If you want to try sharpening it then grind and file it to about 5deg clearance angle in the direction of cut, just make sure that the area behind the
cutting edge is clear in all directions .To harden it heat it till a bright red on the cutting area and quench it in engine oil, this will probably
leave it slightly tempered so as you do not need to temper it separately.If it is still soft try quenching in water and then polish it and then heat
gently until the oxide colors are a light brown before quenching in water.
Paul
StrikerChris - 14/1/10 at 10:36 PM
keep it for work they'll buy you a new one,and then tell the boss a contractor must have nicked your nice new one,then you have 2 nice new
ones!unless your not countin the days to becoming redundant!
NigeEss - 15/1/10 at 12:11 AM
quote:
Originally posted by paulf
If you want to try sharpening it then grind and file it to about 5deg clearance angle in the direction of cut, just make sure that the area behind the
cutting edge is clear in all directions .To harden it heat it till a bright red on the cutting area and quench it in engine oil, this will probably
leave it slightly tempered so as you do not need to temper it separately.If it is still soft try quenching in water and then polish it and then heat
gently until the oxide colors are a light brown before quenching in water.
Paul
All good in theory.....I learned tempering colorus at uni but it means f all when you're
colour blind 
I can't even sort Smarties into colour groups 
[Edited on 15/1/10 by NigeEss]
Mr Whippy - 15/1/10 at 08:35 AM
quote:
Originally posted by StrikerChris
keep it for work they'll buy you a new one,and then tell the boss a contractor must have nicked your nice new one,then you have 2 nice new
ones!unless your not countin the days to becoming redundant!
Just what explanation he’s going to have to give at work as to why he needs a tank cutter I don’t know…he’s a GP 
BenB - 15/1/10 at 08:40 AM
Looks like it's shagged then I might try sharpening it just to be obstinate!
I'm not sure I could swing a new tank cutter on the work budget. Although to be fair it would speed up my minor surgery lumps and bumps list if I
just chopped a great big chunk out rather than mucking around with scalpels. Might even look into Duck tape instead of sutures . Not sure how well a
tank cutter works on skin though....
sebastiaan - 15/1/10 at 09:32 AM
quote:
Originally posted by BenB
Not sure how well a tank cutter works on skin though....
Pretty darn good for removing large bits at a time.... (been there, got the T-shirt. NOT FUN) ;-)
BenB - 15/1/10 at 12:57 PM
I did feel a bit quesy after writing it
boggle - 15/1/10 at 01:22 PM
they work great on bone....