How to Select the Correct Grinding Wheel for Cutting Tools
Choosing the correct grinding wheel is essential for tool life, edge quality, grinding efficiency, and avoiding heat damage. This guide explains which wheels to use for tungsten carbide, HSS, cobalt HSS, tool steel, and other cutting-tool materials, with practical recommendations for end mills, drills, planer knives, moulder knives, router bits, saw blades, and carbide inserts.
As a general rule, use diamond wheels for tungsten carbide, CBN wheels for HSS and hardened steels, and aluminum oxide as a practical conventional option for HSS grinding. The guide also covers roughing vs. finishing grit selection, wheel shapes, bond types, coolant, dressing, and common grinding problems such as burning, loading, and edge chipping.