The Next Big thing.... Porous Ceramic Wicks

[bapgood]

My dressing tool was a cheap one from HF....it's a cast handle with some metal teethed wheels

Edit - here is the link http://www.harborfreight.com/grinding-wheel-dresser-1682.html

 

[BJ43]

oscillating tool with diamond disk to cut blanks from the block.

What oscillating tool Bap?

 

[pendragon]

like one of these?

Amazon.com: Palmgren 82901 Grinding Wheel Dresser, Small: Home Improvement
Amazon.com: Forney 72390 Dresser for Bench Grinding Wheels, 10-1/2-Inch: Home Improvement

 

[bapgood]

oscillating tool with diamond disk to cut blanks from the block.

What oscillating tool Bap?

I'm not sure which one I have....but something like this http://www.harborfreight.com/oscillating-multifunction-power-tool-68861-8493.html

And a blade like this http://www.harborfreight.com/diamond-cutter-blade-67264.html

 

[bapgood]

like one of these?

Amazon.com: Palmgren 82901 Grinding Wheel Dresser, Small: Home Improvement
Amazon.com: Forney 72390 Dresser for Bench Grinding Wheels, 10-1/2-Inch: Home Improvement

Yeah but the one from HF seems to work and is $5.....I added the link to my other post.

 

[Strongz]

I just use a cordless drill and a 3" diamond cutting disk and works good.

 

[pendragon]

do i really need a wet grinder? the one i got from hf i opened the box and the tank that holds the water was all busted off the grinder and the wet wheel wobbles.

 

[bapgood]

do i really need a wet grinder? the one i got from hf i opened the box and the tank that holds the water was all busted off the grinder and the wet wheel wobbles.

No the wet wheel isn't necessary, but for me I can get the wicks much smoother and more round on the wet wheel. That said I ground quite a few on the dry wheel before I started using the wet wheel, and they worked just fine.

 

[ricks]

I would return the grinder. It sounds like it was dropped and broke the tank and bent the wheel. I use a smooth grinder wheel on my dry grinder and my wicks come out perfectly smooth.

do i really need a wet grinder? the one i got from hf i opened the box and the tank that holds the water was all busted off the grinder and the wet wheel wobbles.

 

[asdaq]

Harbor freight has a good exchange policy too. I'm pretty sure they have at least 30 days no questions asked.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

 

[bapgood]

gdeal.....You really need to try an inverted birdhouse wick on your KFL.

Why? Because I want to know how it compares the U wick

 

[mikepetro]

I am going to experiment with a different method of cutting wicks.

I have been in contact with a company that makes diamond coated tooling and asked what would be the best solution for this application. What they recommended was a diamond coated hole saw where the plug would be a perfectly round stick.

For example, this 6mm (1/4 inch) Diamond coated hole saw has an inside diameter of 3.5mm. The wick holes on my GkmF attys are 3.4mm so I am going to give this a shot. I can use the Dremel to sand off the last 1/10th mm. I also ordered some of the 5mm hole saws, I am not sure what their ID is though, I am assuming it will be in the neighborhood of 2.5mm.

click thumbnail for a better view​

Granted, there might be less yield from a block of AO, but who cares! At $7 a block even if I had 50% waste, the $3.50 loss would be nothing compared to the labor of cutting and shaping these things. I would still get 50 - 100 "perfectly round" wicks out of a single block, theoretically with far less effort. I break enough wicks right now during the shaping process that it might even be LESS waste.

Now I just have to figured out the best way to get a water bath underneath my tabletop drill-press.....
(I dont think a hand drill would work unless you had a rock steady hand and aim)

I will keep you posted on the results.

 

[bapgood]

Mike - I think its great that someone is finally trying that! It was mentioned earlier on in the thread but I don't recall anyone ever trying it. I would expect that you will have to work out a process, but even if that process is fairly slow it will still beat cutting and shaping. Good luck!!! and keep us updated

 

[ricks]

If this worked, That would be great. I'm afraid they will break using this drill bit. I hope it works... I would buy this bit to make mine.

 

[pendragon]

that would be great to cut the basic shape right off the bat. then just touch it up.

 

[BJ43]

If this worked, That would be great. I'm afraid they will break using this drill bit. I hope it works... I would buy this bit to make mine.

Maybe if it is drilled completely submerged under water and water could enter thru the hole in the side of the bit. Might reduce friction and not break the plug.

 

[ricks]

It would have to be done on a drillpress too. I can't wait to hear his results.

Maybe if it is drilled completely submerged under water and water could enter thru the hole in the side of the bit. Might reduce friction and not break the plug.

 

[cvedrick]

when making granite counter tops, using mini grinders and diamond blades, the guys use sponges and hand pumped sprayers like to the ones window cleaner comes in. does not take much water, just has to stay clean and lube and cool your bit.

 

[mikepetro]

I have lots of little fish aquarium pumps laying around. I am thinking a small water pump continuously pumping over the drill area. Though the submerged idea sounds interesting too, though it might be harder to see what I am doing.

I am hoping that by using a drill press that the trajectory will be true enough not to break the wicks.

Time will tell, I have about 2 weeks till the bits get here. I ordered 10 of each size.

 

[gdeal]

Here is a rough-cut on the Birdhouse for the Kayfun. With the center hole feature this design needs a bit more precision in cuts and grinding. Still about ~millimeter off in outside dimensions and it needs to be tailored fit to the KFL. For some reason, I feel like a dentist....