Metalworking fluid for CBN wheels

[Ken S]

I agree with KG. My active grinders are Tormeks. My CBN wheels are D-Way. They are steel, as is the reducing bushing from one inch to twelve millimeter. Dave Schweiter, the dealer, is an active turner who  uses them to sharpen his turning tools with a high speed dry grinder. I believe there is an expectation (in the dry grinding community) that Tormekers would use them dry to eliminate "the hassle" of water. I prefer water to the hassle of grinding dust, even if the dust is just removed steel. Dave had no problem with me using the wheel wet with the Tormek. 

My first test was using an eight inch CBN wheel both dry and with plain water with the T4. The combination is formidable! The balancing drill holes and the reducing bushing quickly had light surface rust. I removed the rust and used protective oil. This would not do. I then tried using Honerite Gold, not the same formula as Honerite. It is diluted one part with twenty five parts of water. That solved my rust problem. (As a preventative measure, I make sure to store my CBN wheels dry and use a light coating of oil on bare steel parts.)

I have no idea how either diamond or CBN performs at high speed. I use both with my Tormeks and like both. I am not questioning the scholarship of the article for industrial applications. I suspect sharpening knives and other tools with the 90 rpm Tormek falls outside the scope of the article

I have not used CBN enough to report on long term effects of wet use.

Ken