Heat damage to blades when grinding...

[Mike Holbrook]

Dave at D-Way told me that he felt soft metal could be cleaned off a CBN wheel simply by grinding a harder steel. Dave seemed to think just about anything could be ground on CBN wheels. Ken at WoodTurner's Wonders (WTW) said he felt softer steels could be a problem and grinding a harder steel might help but not be a totally reliable solution. I think Ken felt washing the wheel with soap and water might be an even better solution.

The reason I bought a 350 CBN was I felt from my discussion with Ken that it would smooth out the deeper grooves made by a 80 or 180 CBN. Ken offers a 220 CBN but that may be a little too close to a 180. I think Ken uses his 350 CBN for finishing lathe tools. I believe Dave told me he could not tell a difference in how his lathe tools worked coming off a 80 or 180 CBN, used right off the wheel. I believe both felt that grit changes on CBN wheels are not as significant as grit changes in many other stones.