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Thread: $39 Harbor Freight tungsten sharpener

  1. Default $39 Harbor Freight tungsten sharpener

    So, after seeing this on the shelf, the last time I went in to Harbor Freight for some cutoff wheels, I thought I'd bring in a piece of 3/32" tungsten to see if it would work, without doing anything to the tool. Sure enough, it does.



    http://www.harborfreight.com/bench-g...l#.UxqU6T9dXbx

    The chuck for the end of the cable drive has a plastic sleeve that just slips off with a hex head on the chuck.

    The chuck needs some working by hand initially, the threads are a little burred, but once you've worked the threads a few times, you don't even need to use a wrench to get the tungsten to sit nice in it.

    It goes larger than 3/32" and it looks like with a little bit of cutting in the 4 reliefs on the chuck sleeve inside, you could get it to work on smaller tungsten, too.

    The grinder is only $35 on sale.

    The grinder wheel does work, but I bought a 3" diamond cutting wheel that is for a 1/4" shank (comes with an adapter to a 1/8 dremel tool), centered it on a 1/4 bit on the drill press and drilled it for the 10mm shank of the grinder.



    http://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece...l#.UxqUdD9dXbw

    It says it's 1/8" in the ad, and it does come with an adapter to a 1/8" shank, but the hole is larger. The wheel comes with a few other pieces that can be used, but for $10, you can't go wrong.

    The grinder starts out really slowly, but it has a speed dial that ramps it up quickly if you want it to, with plenty of power to run as a quick sharpener and it's small enough to put on a welding cart.

    If you really wanted to, you could chuck up a finer grinding or sanding bit on the other end, to put a polish on the tip. Haven't tried that yet, but this thing saves a ton of time, space and money!
    Last edited by DaveBonds; 03-08-2014 at 03:57 AM.

  2. #2

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    I use this setup, and I drilled a hole in the safety shroud to push the tungsten in and help sharpen them. Work well. I sharpen up 10 1/16" and 3/32" blue tips and put it away for a long time. Small and stores well. Still using original stone, though out the flex piece.

    But for the price, it is fast and hard to beat.
    Mike R.
    Email: admineverlast@everlastwelders.com
    www.everlastgenerators.com
    www.everlastwelders.com
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  3. Default

    Nice. I like the hole idea. So did you just set the guard up so the hole aligns with the side of the grinder wheel on the bottom/ side to get linear grinding?

    They have another grinder that is about the same size, a little stronger, for about the same price, without the cable drive. I liked the idea that the cable chuck works on the tungsten, without a drill. I have a nice, cordless Makita that can work, too, but I like having everything in one spot. I'm sort of limited on space in my garage, so having the cable is good for that. I do need to get more tungsten to stock up/ sharpen for a quick change.

  4. Default

    I'm very happy with the results from the HF 180 grit wheel that comes with the "Saw sharpening replacement kit" that I saw in this vid and just dedicated their $10 4in grinder to (with coupons, less than $20 for both)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH9h5Tu76As

  5. #5
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    That grinder look like a nice deal I will have to see if our Princess Auto or TSC stores have anything like that, small and ease to find a place to put it, it is a lot cheaper then a tungsten sharpeners from $250.00 and up some over $1000.00.
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  6. Default

    My version of a 300.00 grinder. Just switch collets and adjust angle. Hmmmm...... am I very cheap(frugal), or inventive?
    Click image for larger version. 

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  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by ljdm1956 View Post
    My version of a 300.00 grinder. Just switch collets and adjust angle. Hmmmm...... am I very cheap(frugal), or inventive?
    The latter, and only because I thought of a similar idea. :-) But your execution is less Rube Goldberg than what I had in mind.

    Collets are naturally the right size, so why not use one to hold the tungsten at the grinder?

    Cheers,
    Richard
    210EXT (2013 USA)

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by DaveBonds View Post
    Nice. I like the hole idea. So did you just set the guard up so the hole aligns with the side of the grinder wheel on the bottom/ side to get linear grinding?
    Hey Dave,

    Exactly what I did. Works very well. I sharpen both ends of all the tungsten and put it a way for a long time. Might look into the diamond wheel on the end of the 6" grinder, then I could save a little space and use both wheels on the regular grinder.
    Mike R.
    Email: admineverlast@everlastwelders.com
    www.everlastgenerators.com
    www.everlastwelders.com
    877-755-9353 x203
    M-F 12 - 7PM PST
    FYI: PP50, PP80, IMIG-200, IMIG-250P, 210EXT and 255EXT.

  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by ljdm1956 View Post
    My version of a 300.00 grinder. Just switch collets and adjust angle. Hmmmm...... am I very cheap(frugal), or inventive?
    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	11917
    Looks a little scary for me as most of my grinders have a slight vibration to them. And it will kick toward you to make sure it's tight.
    Mike R.
    Email: admineverlast@everlastwelders.com
    www.everlastgenerators.com
    www.everlastwelders.com
    877-755-9353 x203
    M-F 12 - 7PM PST
    FYI: PP50, PP80, IMIG-200, IMIG-250P, 210EXT and 255EXT.

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by RichardH View Post
    Collets are naturally the right size, so why not use one to hold the tungsten at the grinder?
    You mean without the C clamp? That would probably allow people using a bench grinder to get a little more consistent point.
    Mike R.
    Email: admineverlast@everlastwelders.com
    www.everlastgenerators.com
    www.everlastwelders.com
    877-755-9353 x203
    M-F 12 - 7PM PST
    FYI: PP50, PP80, IMIG-200, IMIG-250P, 210EXT and 255EXT.

  11. Default

    So far, no kickback. Consistent point angle, the c clamp holds it pretty well. Quick and easy to change the angle for different sizes. My grinder has A LOT of vibration to it, and no problem. It's an old, small, rickety almost useless grinder, so if I wanted to devote it just to tungstens it wouldn't bother me, but if I did need it for something else, its really easy to use it, and put the collet back on again
    Also - as far as kicking back (which it doesnt) the picture doesnt show it well - the collet is really pointing downward
    Last edited by ljdm1956; 03-21-2014 at 02:16 PM.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by everlastsupport View Post
    You mean without the C clamp? That would probably allow people using a bench grinder to get a little more consistent point.
    Yeah, it's an idea I'm still noodling, to create a grinder attachment that uses collets to hold the tungsten.

    Handheld, you could use the collet to hold a steady front hand while you turn the tungsten; this avoids wearing one spot on the wheel. But the collets don't lock without a tailcap applying pressure, so that's about all you could do handheld.
    210EXT (2013 USA)

  13. #13

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    Quote Originally Posted by RichardH View Post
    Handheld, you could use the collet to hold a steady front hand while you turn the tungsten; this avoids wearing one spot on the wheel. But the collets don't lock without a tailcap applying pressure, so that's about all you could do handheld.
    Will take a little longer before your fingers get hot.
    Mike R.
    Email: admineverlast@everlastwelders.com
    www.everlastgenerators.com
    www.everlastwelders.com
    877-755-9353 x203
    M-F 12 - 7PM PST
    FYI: PP50, PP80, IMIG-200, IMIG-250P, 210EXT and 255EXT.

  14. #14

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    I just chuck mine in an electric drill.

  15. #15

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    Quote Originally Posted by joshuab View Post
    I just chuck mine in an electric drill.
    That's what I do with the little HF grinder. Chuck them up, insert in the hole in the guard, spin slow and lean to side of grinder to touch the side if the wheel.
    Mike R.
    Email: admineverlast@everlastwelders.com
    www.everlastgenerators.com
    www.everlastwelders.com
    877-755-9353 x203
    M-F 12 - 7PM PST
    FYI: PP50, PP80, IMIG-200, IMIG-250P, 210EXT and 255EXT.

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