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Using An Aluminum Oxide Dressing Stick

Hi and thanks for getting an aluminium oxide dressing stick from me.

I thought I should write up a quick user guide for it to give you an idea of how to use it to full effect. For a video demonstration feel free to check out my video where I am using them on the YouTube channel “Roys Rocks” (https://youtu.be/diVZXvfNqWs).

Remember to always use water and try not to contact your skin with the tool you are sharpening as they can be abrasive to your skin or even thin/sharp enough to cut.

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THESE SHOULD ONLY BE USED ON SINTERED DIAMOND TOOLS!!! THIS WILL STRIP/WEAR OUT THE DIAMONDS ON SANDPAPER OR ELECTROPLATED BURS.

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I hope this very brief guide helps but if not, there are many videos on my channel using these exact burrs so check it out and ask me any questions you have.

Thanks and have fun carving,

Roy (YouTube: Roys Rock)

Stay Safe

I recommend at minimum safety glasses, lubricating with water and wearing a P2/N95 grade mask even when cutting wet. Vision and breathing are quite useful for us humans so look after your eyes and lungs. Also, for carving I always recommend using a flex shaft attachment on your rotary tool as water and electricity do not mix and you don’t want to give yourself a zap.

When Carving

Depending on the tool you are sharpening the stick is used differently.

  • For saw blades you want to apply an even pressure and slice the stick. Try not to cut the stick in a pulsing manner push/wait/push as this may not sharpen the entire blade so there may still be unsharpened areas.

  • For cabbing wheels apply a gentle pressure and grind across the entire width of the wheel as you would when rough cutting a stone.

  • For a flat lap grind the stick lengthwise to cover most of the face of the plate but remember to move it to hit any sections you can not reach in the case of large flat laps.

  • For sintered burs simply carve the face of the dressing stick making sure to hit the entire cutting edge of the bur. Depending on the shape you will need to angle the bur differently.

Maintenance

When you are done give the remaining stick a quick wash/scrub with a nylon brush and dry or you may find little rust spots appear as remaining metals oxidise (not a huge issue if it happens).

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