Greenwood Tool

[norfolkandgood]

Just tried to order from Greenwood Tools only to find a notice to the effect that after 35y they have stopped trading. Remaining stock to go on Ebay.  
Guy

[millman]

Apparently his business was split between industry and model engineers, due to Covid industry closed down so he lost his income and decided to call it a day, he couldn’t live on income from model engineers. Very sad that a good supplier has gone.

[jasonb]

They shut up shop about a year ago. I've not seen much on his ebay listings.

If it was Dormer Drill bits you wanted from them then ARC Euro now stock those plus stub length, Ketan had not taken them on before as he did not want to go into competition with Greenwood.

For inserts try APT who do a lot of the commonly used hobby inserts in packs of two rather than a whole box. www.shop-apt.co.uk/carbide-tips-hobby-use.html

[Neale]

As I remember, Greenwood was the only supplier I found of 5mm circular carbide inserts plus matching holders, which I use for wheel profiling. Anyone know an alternative source?

[millman]

Neale I did find an alternative source, but at this moment in time I cannot remember who it was. I will have a look on the tip box and see if there is a supplier label on them. 5mm diameter doesn’t seem to be an industry standard size, most only stock 6,8 and 10 mm diameter.

[Neale]

Rather what I found! However, it gets into the root radius of a 5" gauge wheel made to what seems to be the accepted standard. I think 6mm was a touch too big, or a bit marginal so more likely to chatter. Fortunately, circular inserts have quite a few cutting edges...

[RGR 60130]

Mar 2, 2022 8:52:18 GMT Neale said:

As I remember, Greenwood was the only supplier I found of 5mm circular carbide inserts plus matching holders, which I use for wheel profiling. Anyone know an alternative source?

I bought my last 5mm inserts from AliExpress. They also appear to have the holders as well.

Reg

[millman]

Just found the delivery note, they were ordered from Cromwell tools and dispatched directly from Sandvik. They are RCMT 05 02 M0 CoroTurn 107 insert, cannot remember how much I paid because anything with a price on it gets shredded before her indoors gets to see it. I seem to think that Chronos also stocked them?

[Neale]

Couldn't find them on Chronos but Cromwell list them. Looks like only Sandvik make 5mm, and depending on grade cost £40-70 per ten. Aliexpress do have them, about half that price but no mention of grade (although I only did a quick skim).

I guess this shows how useful the smaller specialist suppliers are to us, but as a market model engineers are just not enough to sustain a business.

[jon38r80]

Both holders and inserts via Aliexpress. Nice price, the wait sometimes is a bit extended especialy as HK post was been suspended for a time last year

[johnhale]

Any Links? As they sound just what I need though would 6mm diameter inserts make that much difference on wheel turning?

[Neale]

If you go to Aliexpress.com and search for "rcmt 0502" you'll find them.

The GL5 wheel standards call for a root radius of 3/32" which equates to 4.75mm diameter so even a 5mm cutter is slightly too big - but the smallest available. 6mm is probably too much of a compromise. I went for a carbide insert on the grounds that I probably wouldn't be able to grind my own to better accuracy anyway!