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Author Topic: Frequency of Bit Sharpening  (Read 4167 times)

TheDude

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Frequency of Bit Sharpening
« on: December 09, 2004, 03:06:48 AM »
I was just going to pose this question to fellow Operators, how many balls would you say can you drill before you would sharpen your bits?

I have to admitt that my 31/32 bit and 1 3/8 are in need of sharpening, and i notice it when i am drilling balls, it takes alot of pressure to get through the ball but when i drill a thumb for weight hole the press goes through the ball like a hot knife through butter.

I have just recently met an individual who can sharpen my bits, but i am worried about down time with the bits being out of the shop. i can't go more than a few hours without them right now. the pace of the shop is extremely busy but i am noticing now more often the cut is not as sharp.

I figured these bits have never been sharpen in there life. and these blades are likely in the range of 3 years old. the two previous owners didn't do 1/4 of the business we do. I would estimate these bits have drilled 250 balls in 4 months. and they probably have done 500 in there total use.

I am likely going to just get the 31/32 and 1 3/8 re-sharpened.

at my previous operation i had brand new bits and i had the complete 43 piece set, and it came with an extra 31 /32 bit.

Just looking for a response from some of the med-higher volume proshops maybe.
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Timothy @Juniors Pro-Shop
Montreal, Quebec.
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Pinbuster

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Re: Frequency of Bit Sharpening
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2004, 11:47:03 AM »
We sharpened all our bits once a year during a vacation week in the middle of summer. The shop I worked at probably drilled in excess of 1000 balls per year.

As stated the common use bits would start to get dull particularly the 31/32. We also had an extra 31/32 that we rotated in while the other was being sharpened.
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JohnP

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Re: Frequency of Bit Sharpening
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2004, 01:50:35 PM »
Dude -- First, my shop is low volume rather than high, so my sharpening frequency is of no interest to you.  But I can suggest a couple of options.  One is to buy an extra bit in the most used sizes to fill in while the other bit is being sharpened.  I would suggest using a sharpening service that is familiar with the type carbide tipped bits we use - perhaps your local service fits that bill, but if not Jayhawk offers a sharpening service.  I don't know how much they charge or how fast they turn bits around, you'd have to call them for that.  My woodworking experience is behind the second suggestion.  A regular sharpening stone won't sharpen carbide, but a diamond stone will.  I purchased a two sided diamond coated stone for between $25 to 30, delivered, at the following site:

http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=116-639

Most woodworking sites will have similar stones.  When my bits begin to dull, I pull the stone out, dampen its surfaces with water and draw the appropriate flat bit surfaces across it a dozen times or so on each side of the stone, coarse first then fine.  DO NOT hone the vertical sides of the bit - that will reduce the diameter and they are not cutting surfaces anyway.  Two minutes spent this way will get the bit back to nearly factory sharp.  If you have any doubts about how to use the stone, find a bowling woodworker and get him to show you.  Give him a good discount on his next ball purchase.  It would still be a good idea to occasionally have a professional sharpening job done, but this procedure will greatly extend the time between them.  --  JohnP
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TheDude

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Re: Frequency of Bit Sharpening
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2004, 10:57:57 PM »
Thanks Pinbuster and JohnP. I'll check out that diamond stone in the mean time.

we took over a location that sold for smaller volumes, in the range of 15-20k yearly total, and we are in the 32k range in 4 months.
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Timothy @Juniors Pro-Shop
Montreal, Quebec.
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Timothy @Juniors Pro-Shops
LaSalle, Quebec-Located inside Pont Mercier Lanes.
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Mike Austin

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Re: Frequency of Bit Sharpening
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2004, 08:42:17 PM »
My main distributor carrys bits in stock, most probably do.  Carbide tipped, worth the money.

I sharpen my bits about every 3-4 months at the least.  I also have enough bits, that I have about 3 sets.  The grip and slug bits, I have more.  You gotta take care of your equipment.  Counting plug work and such, we probably drill around 2000 balls a year.

I use a local tool retailer, they charge me $3.00 a piece to sharpen them.

I gotta get another 1 1/2 bit, that one is gonna cost me!

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Mike Austin
Mike Austin's Precision Pro Shop
Houston, TX
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JohnP

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Re: Frequency of Bit Sharpening
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2004, 09:34:54 AM »
Mike -- I'm curious, what do you use the 1 1/2" bit for?  --  JohnP
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Mike Austin

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Re: Frequency of Bit Sharpening
« Reply #6 on: December 14, 2004, 10:42:09 PM »
Turbo's Switch Grip System uses a 1 1/2 bit to install the outer sleeve.
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Mike Austin's Precision Pro Shop
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stormed1

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Re: Frequency of Bit Sharpening
« Reply #7 on: December 14, 2004, 11:05:57 PM »
When I had my shop I used to sharpen my bits twice a year. Like you I found my 1 3/8 and 31/32 bits to dull sooner than the others due to the amount of use they got. Having an AMF sidewinder I just purchased a 2nd bit of each at not too bad of a price but for some like a gil-mac I know they are quite expensive
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stanski

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Re: Frequency of Bit Sharpening
« Reply #8 on: December 25, 2004, 01:29:30 AM »
quote:
Im not a proshop owner, but why not line up with your appropriate drill bit .. replace it wit a less frequentyl used smaller one, almost like drilling a pilot hole, then replace the 1" 1/4 or 31/32" and since you have less to cut it will cut easier.


Takes too much time, hard to line them up exactly the same way, Even if it moves a millimeter, it might throw the whole thing off.
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Tom

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Re: Frequency of Bit Sharpening
« Reply #9 on: December 25, 2004, 10:45:52 PM »
Guys, just curious, I would think that your 1-1/4" drill bit would get more use than your 1-3/8" bit? Many bowlers that have picked up one of my bowling ball have commented that I must have a thumb like a dick because the thumb hole is so large. I use a 1" thumb hole drilled into a 1-1/4" thumb slug. That gives me a 1/4 " of material to make final adjustments and tweak the fit.

Your response to the original question, on most used drill bits, made me wonder if 1-3/8 is more of a standard for thumb slugs or is there just a lot of big thumb bowlers running around?

Thanks, Tom
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Brickguy221

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Re: Frequency of Bit Sharpening
« Reply #10 on: December 25, 2004, 11:46:04 PM »
quote:
Takes too much time, hard to line them up exactly the same way, Even if it moves a millimeter, it might throw the whole thing off.
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I don't understand you saying this because for example when a pro shop installs a thumb slug in a ball, they first drill the hole for slug, then install slug, then change bits and drill hole in slug, so they are doing what you say is too hard to do.
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stanski

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Re: Frequency of Bit Sharpening
« Reply #11 on: December 26, 2004, 01:15:36 AM »
quote:
quote:
Takes too much time, hard to line them up exactly the same way, Even if it moves a millimeter, it might throw the whole thing off.
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I don't understand you saying this because for example when a pro shop installs a thumb slug in a ball, they first drill the hole for slug, then install slug, then change bits and drill hole in slug, so they are doing what you say is too hard to do.
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STORM & BRUNSWICK are a perfect match for my style.


I don't either, its what my driller told me though, I asked him the exact same question. Maybe theres enough area to miss with on a slug (doubtful) or maybe hes just bs'ing?
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TheDude

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Re: Frequency of Bit Sharpening
« Reply #12 on: December 26, 2004, 11:27:24 AM »
*inhales deeply* Crinkles up facex x(

Sneezes! (loudly) ....oh sorry i'm allergic to that stuff.
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Timothy @Juniors Pro-Shop
Montreal, Quebec.
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LaSalle, Quebec-Located inside Pont Mercier Lanes.
Keep them honest!

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