Sharpening pipe dies?

M

mm

Aluminum

Joined

Mar 8, 2003

Location

NE Iowa, USA

• Dec 31, 2009

• #1

I have an old full set of Toledo pipe dies. These are the round, ratchet style with four replacable dies. The last project completed, we were tearing the threads of one out of three threaded ends of 1/2 inch pipe. The pipe was American pipe bought from the local plumber.

Having no more short sections to do with "mistakes", I took the pipe back to the plumber and had him cut the last four ends. He had no problems.

I have searched and cannot find replacement dies. Has anyone ever sharpened these individual dies? There are no chips, so both edges would probably just need to be touched.

Any suggestions?

mm

 

RC99

Diamond

Joined

Mar 26, 2005

Location

near Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

• Dec 31, 2009

• #2

We have a Ridgid 121 die head, I sharpen the dies on it by grinding the face of the die on my TC grinder.. I will grab a picture later when I battle my way through the mud to get to the shed..

 

D

David/toledo

Hot Rolled

Joined

Mar 4, 2003

Location

Toledo Oh

• Dec 31, 2009

• #3

You Might try some repacemet parts for Ridgid I know some of there parts will swap.
David/toledo

 

RC99

Diamond

Joined

Mar 26, 2005

Location

near Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

• Jan 1, 2010

• #4

Here is a pic of where I sharpen the dies

 

T

Timw

Stainless

Joined

Nov 8, 2005

Location

N E Florida

• Jan 1, 2010

• #5

Was the plumber using tapping oil/fluid? Were you? Regular oil will chew up the threads.

 

T

Tom1

Stainless

Joined

Jan 28, 2003

Location

Stamford, CT

• Jan 1, 2010

• #6

I think McMaster did/does/was selling Toledo threaders, just not using the name in the catalog.

 

davycrocket

Hot Rolled

Joined

Jul 10, 2005

Location

UK

• Jan 1, 2010

• #7

Sharpening Dies

MM
Your replaceable dies have a 'constant profile' shape , so all they need is to have the
slightest of grind on the front face to renew the sharp cutting edge.
As the die holding position is adjustable, a perfect thread will still be possible.
And as the man says, you need a proper cutting compound and not just any old oil.
The same goes for Gear cutters. You touch up the front of each cutting face. The Cutter
becomes the tiniest bit smaller in diameter, but still produces the perfect gear tooth
profile. The depth of cut will be exactly the same after the cutter just touches the
gear blank circumference.

Have just re-read your post and am puzzled. You mention TWO faces.
Every set of cutters I have come across have 4 dies per thread size.
You only need to grind the front face. Because of the clearance built into the die manufacture, the rear face never
touches the thread being cut.

David C

 

Last edited: Jan 1, 2010

J

Joe DAmico

Cast Iron

Joined

Sep 1, 2009

Location

cleveland ohio usa

• Jan 1, 2010

• #8

I have made jigs to resharpen ridgid pipe dies. All fours dies are done at the same time. If you do them one at a time you need to make sure you take the same amount off each die. If you do not the highest die will be doing most of the cutting. I have sold well over 200 ridgid dies with resharpen chasers and never had a problem. It can be done. You may want to look on ebay for repalcement dies, they are there all the time.
Thank you
Happy new year to all
Joe

 

M

mm

Aluminum

Joined

Mar 8, 2003

Location

NE Iowa, USA

• Jan 1, 2010

• #9

Thanks all for the replies.

QQ Was the plumber using tapping oil/fluid? Were you? Regular oil will chew up the threads.

Yes, the only difference was that he still had the old Ridgid dark, high sulfur oil. I ran out last summer and have the new "improved" Ridgid Extreme Performance. (I use a lot of this oil for drilling and cutting off stainless. I don't feel the new works as well as the old dark, but it does smoke less. The heavy dark is no longer available.)

QQ I think McMaster did/does/was selling Toledo threaders, just not using the name in the catalog.

I will call McMaster if the sharpening does not go well.

QQ I have made jigs to resharpen ridgid pipe dies.

Do I need to do more than just lay them out on the grinder's magnetic chuck, brace them with some thinner bar stock, and kiss the cutting faces with the wheel?

Thanks again,

mm

 

davycrocket

Hot Rolled

Joined

Jul 10, 2005

Location

UK

• Jan 2, 2010

• #10

MM
Ref "just laying them on the grinder magnetic chuck"

I think I would want to raise the tail end of the dies a bit to introduce the equivalent
of 'top rake' as on a lathe tool.
Rgds

 

G

gary350

Hot Rolled

Joined

Aug 11, 2008

Location

Murfreesboro, TN. USA

• Jan 2, 2010

• #11

Pipe dies have thread inserts. Take them apart. Trash the old inserts. Buy new inserts for $20. Install inserts it threads like brand new.

 

R

RDL

Stainless

Joined

Jun 5, 2005

Location

Edmonton,Alberta,

• Jan 2, 2010

• #12

Joe DAmico said:

I have made jigs to resharpen ridgid pipe dies. All fours dies are done at the same time. ...
Happy new year to all
Joe

Click to expand...

davycrocket said:

...I think I would want to raise the tail end of the dies a bit to introduce the equivalent of 'top rake' as on a lathe tool.
Rgds

Click to expand...

I just never gave this much of a thought.

Thanks for the information it will make threading 2" pipe a little easier to keep those cutters sharp. Otherwise I just tend to replace them when the threads get torn out or rough.

Raymond