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Regrind and Recondition Cutting Tools

How to Regrind and Recondition Cutting Tools for Longer Use

Regrind and Recondition Cutting Tools

Summary:

You may not be aware, but cutting tools can be regrind and reconditioned to restore their functionality and sharpness; this helps save costs and minimize waste.

Regrinding requires abrasive wheels to sharpen cutting tools, while reconditioning can involve repairs, resharpening, and applying protective coatings. This process improves tool production, durability, and efficiency, as well as encourages your efforts toward environmental improvement. Regrinding and reconditioning cutting tools involve the following key steps: Inspection, cleaning, grinding, finishing, and applying coatings. Regular maintenance, proper storage, and using the right tools help maintain their lifespan and performance.

 

Cutting tools are vital in the construction and manufacturing industries. Although they can be easily considered discarded with the right care and maintenance, they can be reground and reconditioned to increase their lifespan. This helps in minimising the waste and environmental impact apart from saving the cost.

In this article, we'll cover all the steps involved in regrinding and reconditioning the cutting tools for longer use.

What is Regrinding and Reconditioning Of Cutting Tools?

Regrinding and reconditioning cutting tools is the process of restoring damaged, old, and outdated tools to their original shape, sharpness, and functionality. The technique of regrinding involves utilizing abrasive wheels to remove material from the cutting edges. This helps in restoring its sharpness and removing chips. 

On the other hand, reconditioning refers to a wider range of restoration techniques, including resharpening complex designs, regrinding or fixing damages, and applying protective coatings. These techniques help in reducing wastage, and improve efficiency as well as durability. This increases its cost-effectiveness and sustainability.

Importance Of Regrinding and Reconditioning Of Cutting Tools

Here is the list showing why regrinding and reconditioning cutting tools are important:

  • Economical: these cutting tools are highly economical as increasing the durability of expensive tools will result in reducing frequent replacement, which saves cost.
  • Sustainable: applying these techniques of restoring cutting tools minimizes waste and conserves resources by eliminating the need to discard damaged tools. This led to a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to manufacturing. 
  • Increased efficiency: Restored cutting tools mostly outperform new tools, offering an effective production process and reducing downtime caused due to tool failure.
  • Increased productivity: these approaches help in enhancing productivity as sharp tools cut more effectively which results in quicker production times and increased output.

Steps For Regrinding And Reconditioning Cutting Tools

Here are the steps involved in regrinding and reconditioning cutting tools.

Step 1: Inspection of cutting tools

Inspecting or examining the cutting tools is the first step in this process. Be careful while assessing the tool’s condition, which includes the type of tool, assessing the degree of wear, and looking for damage like cracks. This process helps in selecting the most optimal regrinding and reconditioning method, and it also determines whether the tool is ideal for restoration or not. 

Step 2: Cleaning tools

The next step is to clean the tools thoroughly before regrinding and reconditioning. This process removes any debris, residue, or chips from the surface of the tools. This prevents damage to the grinding wheel and also ensures that the regrinding and reconditioning process is accurate. It also helps in identifying the hidden pattern or damage that may not be visible prior. 

Step 3: Grinding 

The crucial step in restoring cutting tools is grinding. It helps in removing any built-up material from the edges, or repairing the tool’s sharpness or any damage by using grinding wheels. Ensure to use of the correct type of grinding wheels for specific tasks, which enables smooth and accurate results.

Step 4: Finishing

In the process of regrinding and reconditioning, the final step is finishing. It helps in removing burrs or any sharp edges which were generated in the grinding process, which enhances the tool’s finish and performance and eliminates any risk of injury. This process also includes polishing the tool’s surface to increase its accuracy and smoothness and prevent friction during the cutting process.

Step 5: Apply coatings

Applying a protective coating is the last step in the reconditioning method. It acts as a barrier against heat and corrosion and also increases the tools’ durability. It allows the tools to withstand excessive pressure and high temperatures, which results in enhancing the tool's performance. 

Safety Tips For Maintaining Your Cutting Tools

  • Ensure to keep your tools organized and have a proper cabinet or drawer for storing them to maintain their shelf-life.
  • Ensure to maintain the right pressure and speed to prevent quick wear and tear of a tool.
  • Ensure to apply good quality coolants or lubricants to prevent heat build-up, which further helps in reducing the risk of damaging the tool as well as the material.
  • Ensure always to use the correct tools which they are specifically designed for. This way, you’ll achieve maximum output.
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