We have manufactured carbide drawing tools since 1948 — and share here the knowledge that daily work creates: on drawing die geometry, proper polishing, and the question of when regrinding pays off. No marketing fog — numbers, rules of thumb and practice from our own production in Herborn-Schönbach, Germany.
Why we publish our know-how
Buyers of drawing tools are professionals — and recognise immediately whether a supplier knows the craft. So we explain here what is otherwise only discussed on our shop floor: the geometry zones of a drawing die, grit sequences of diamond polishing, wear patterns and the economics of regrinding. Every article carries an update date; what we cannot substantiate, we do not claim.
The articles
Understanding drawing die geometry — the die zones from entrance radius to back relief, the bearing-length rule of thumb with a worked example, and the delta factor as a design parameter. With an interactive cross-section.
How to polish drawing dies — why surface finish governs friction and die life, how a grit sequence is built, and when oil or water base is the right choice.
Reconditioning or replacement? — recognising wear patterns, the two stages of reconditioning, and a decision aid with clear criteria.
