Plateau Honing 101 –
The roles played by Flex-Hones® and Ultra Finish Hones

By Jim Tapp,
Goodson Tech Services Manager & ASE Certified Master Machinist

We get a lot of questions here in the Tech Department about Flex-Hones and Ultra Finish Hones. What's the difference? Can I use Ultra Finish Hones to deglaze a cylinder? Are they interchangeable?

Good questions all around. And that's what we're going to talk about this month. But before we do I need to go through a little history.

Back in the old days (maybe 20 years or more) cylinder honing was done almost exclusively with rigid hones and honing stones which led to some problems such as rough cylinder surfaces. It used to be that the rings scrubbed or shaved off the peaks and rough material >>read complete story>>

Quick Tips from the Techxperts™

The nose knows when it's time for Microbiostat

Dave Monyhan , Goodson Tech Services Department

Has this happened to you? You walk into the shop on a hot summer day and your nose is assaulted by an odor that makes you want to turn around and walk out again.

Where is it coming from you ask. Most likely its from your coolant tanks. All of the debris that the coolants are washing off of your workpieces are fermenting in the coolant tanks, leading to the smell that you're now experiencing. The fermenting has promoted the growth of fungus and microorganisms in the tanks.

Those impurities aren't in the coolants. They're in the water you use to dilute the coolants. That's right. The water. No matter how good the purification system is in your town, some impurities still get through and in the heat of summer, growth occurs – and sometimes overnight.

We suggest that you keep your coolant tanks clean rather than trying to cover up the smell. It's important to clean all of the machines' tanks at the same time to lower the risk of cross-contamination. The best way to clean the bugs that are growing in the reservoirs is a diluted solution of bleach and water. Be sure to clean everything, including the coolant hoses.

Once you get everything cleaned and you're ready to set up the machines again, make sure that you mix the coolants according to the manufacturer's recommendations then (and this is important), add some Microbiostat to the tank. Microbiostat is an additive that will prevent bacteria and fungus from reforming. Of course, you still need to check the pH of your tanks so you'll know when you need to add more biocide.

For more information on shop smells and biocides, visit "What's that smell?" in our Technical Library.

Techxperts™ Top Picks

Flywheel Grinding Stones

Chris Jensen, Goodson Tech Services Department

When I was asked for my Top Pick, the first thing that came to mind was the FGW-37 Flywheel Grinding Stone because Tim Hyatt (Hyatt Racing) and I worked for almost two years to get it just right. This stone is ideal for grinding flywheels, clutches, floaters and hats on NHRA Top Fuel and Top Alcohol engines. These surfaces require a highly friable stone that will cut fast without creating a lot of heat.

But how can I limit my top pick to just one flywheel grinding stone when all of Goodson's stones have a place in the shop depending on what material you're grinding and what your personal preferences are when grinding? All of our flywheel stones incorporate 50% more usable abrasive set in a stronger bond so they last long and perform better than most other stones.