How to Sharpen a Fly Cutter on a Milling Machine

The fly cutter removes large amounts of wood on a lathe or router.

Fly cutters remove large areas of wood from a project. The blade of the fly cutter unscrews for sharpening or replacement. The blade fits in a round holder, and as the holder rotates, the blade shaves off thin slices of wood. Since the blade is flat, sharpening it on a milling machine is a fairly simple process. Keeping several sharpened blades on hand at all times prevents delays in your project. Simply remove the dull blade and replace it with a freshly sharpened blade.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Milling machine
• Slab mill cutter
• Safety goggles

Instructions

1. Loosen the set screw on the fly cutter with the screwdriver and remove the carbide cutting blade.

2. Unplug the milling machine and turn the machine off.

3. Attach the blade to the table of the milling machine. Depending on the model of the machine, you may use C-clamps or the table may have an adjustable holding plate attached to the milling table.

4. Place the slab mill cutter onto the quill. Tighten the cutter in place with the milling machine chuck.

5. Plug the machine into an electrical outlet and turn the machine on. Put on safety goggles.

6. Rotate the hand quill feed until the cutting blade touches the carbide blade. Move the milling table so that the entire length of the carbide blade passes next to the cutting blade.

7. Turn off the machine and remove the carbide bade.

8. Replace the blade in the fly cutter and tighten the set screw.

Tips & Warnings

• Sharpen several blades at one time so that you are ready for a large project.

• Use caution when removing the blade from the fly cutter. It may be too dull to cut wood, but sharp enough to cut skin.

• Always use safety goggles when working with a milling machine or a lathe.

References

• Sherline: Using a Fly Cutter
• American Machine: How to Use a Milling Machine