by Doug Coulter » Sun Jan 09, 2011 10:13 pm
They work great for me. I spin the work in the lathe, 60 rpm or so, the wheel at a few thou rpm, use an eyedropper with water for coolant (it really helps, and keeps silica out of your lungs in the bargain) and even sometimes use the auto infeed (slow). I just put my hand out and catch the cut off piece, or better, check a rod in the tail-stock that goes up inside it for that. Works pretty much 100% and the wheels last a long time doing that kind of thing. Since they have diamonds on the sides too, you can then chuck the cut off piece in again and make the end perfectly flat off the side of the wheel. I use the little dremel diamond bits in odd shapes they also have sometimes to chamfer the hole, so it's easier to insert an O ringed plug in the end. That whole process is now "in the bag" here.
Posting as just me, not as the forum owner. Everything I say is "in my opinion" and YMMV -- which should go for everyone without saying.