Sharpie Update

[Sundown]

Well yesterday I put a tip on a 3/32" ground with the sharpie under the microscope (50X), the grind marks run to the tip in a swirl. Just for grins I did one with the mini-3" HF Grinder I had used for about the last year or so, the grind marks are finer and go stright to the tip. Does anyone know if it makes any difference if the grind marks swirl or go stright to the tip? It is handy and quick (if you don't need to change tungsten sizes) but I thought they were supposed to put a proper grind (ie, stright to the tip) on the taper, but since it only has a 7-day no hassle return policy I will keep and use it. Now that I think about it, I could have purchased a dynamite bench grinder for regular use and converted my old craftsman 6" for tungsten use only.

[JnJSpdShop]

Hmmm interesting and I was going to purchase the Sharpie

[fun4now]

the grind's are best if run strait to the tip. that being said if they are small enough it realy shouldnt matter. this is probly the case with the sharpie. several people here have the sharpie (including ASKANDY) and have had no problems with the grind quality. i think the direction of the grind would be most important on a low grit wheel , then it is said the curent can tend to wander if the grind is going the rong way. i dought you will have that problem with the sharpie grind.

[Scott V]

George,
do you notice any difference in you arc between the different grinders?
I know you have a Thermal and they are not quite a finicky as better known
units but it would be interesting all the same.

[youfoundtheking]

did you notice any difference in the arc btwn the 2 tungstens? From what I understand, the more perpindicular the grind marks are to the tungsten the more diffuse and less stable the arc will be. i would just try them both and see if you can notice any difference.

[Sundown]

George,
do you notice any difference in you arc between the different grinders?
I know you have a Thermal and they are not quite a finicky as better known
units but it would be interesting all the same.

Scott,

I did not notice any difference using the Thermal Arc and AC, might be why I'm not real worried about the return time being up (7 days), I havn't been doing DC since I got it. When I get some time I will do the same test with the STH and see if I can see any difference.

King,

The slope of the swirl was very fast, I think it went around the taper less than one time. BTW, for those who think I am compaining, I am not, just questioning.....The quality is very good and it works the way it was designed as far as I can tell.

[tigman250]

does seem kind of strange though, you buy a special grinder MADE for tung. you think it would grind it perfect.

[fun4now]

aaaaaaaaaa for $200.00 not shoure i would expect perfect, but the right direction would be within reason .

[Laiky]

i'm confused, what rotates the tugsten in the sharpie? i thought it was the user? how fast does it have to rotate to cause a swirl?

[joebass]

A dedicated bench grinder will do more than most of you will ever need. spend that extra money on something else.

[Sundown]

i'm confused, what rotates the tugsten in the sharpie? i thought it was the user? how fast does it have to rotate to cause a swirl?

You rotate the tungsten in the grinder, the problem (if it even is a problem, is that the diamond wheel is very small) the larger, more expensive grinders the diamond wheels are many times larger. I have tried different rotating speeds, dosn't seem to matter.

[Sundown]

aaaaaaaaaa for $200.00 not shoure i would expect perfect, but the right direction would be within reason .

$290 for the adjustable one with the optional .040 collett, but who's counting

[ChiTownHustler]

A dedicated bench grinder will do more than most of you will ever need. spend that extra money on something else.

You don't think this is worth is for a newbie that might not have the experience to grind tungsten on a bench grinder. Also what wheel do you have to use on a bench grinder??

[fun4now]

endless debate

this is one of theous things you never get a 100% agreement on. some just love bench grinding some hate it. some will think any tip not done in a special tung. grinder will just never do.

a bench grinder will get you a good use able tip and with time and practice it will do it fairly quickly.

a sharpie will get you a good usable tip prity quick and verry acuratly. and i am shoure will take a lil practice to get the hang of.

a piranha 3 will get you a supper tip realy quick and verry accuratly.

pre-ground tung. are also an option , but you might want to have a way to do it your self should you need to as you have to wait for more to arive in the mail. if just starting you could order some pregrounds so you have an ideal what a properly ground Tung. should look like . a referance so to speek.

a dedicated bench grinder = about $75-$100

sharpie = $229.00-$379.00 depending on modle/ accesorys

http://www.arc-zone.com/catalog/web_store.cgi?page=SharpieOrder.html&cart_id=6892375_53099

piranha 3 =$1,249.00

http://www.arc-zone.com/catalog/web_store.cgi?page=piranha3.html&cart_id=6892375_53099

pre-ground tung = $.75-$5.00 depending on size, grind, tung. type, shape, and speed needed.

it realy come down to a personal preferance, for most peoples work type a perfect tip is realy not that important, a good tip yes, but perfect not realy. all we can do isgive you the options and you have to find the one that best fits your need's. good luch and enjoy

[fun4now]

Arc-zone

most of your options can be found here;

http://www.arc-zone.com/catalog/web_store.cgi?page=tungmain.html&cart_id=6892375_53099

there are other places to get all the above and prices will probly verry from place to place. i just had this link handy and having done buisnes with them in the past i feel good about recomending them.

happy hunting