Regrinding Bearing Races

Rare, or valuable headset (or bottom bracket) parts that are in lousy condition can be worth spending some time on to regrind. Here is a headset fork crown race from a Cinelli headset that needs help. Using a small metal lathe and a Dremel tool, I have figured out how to bring it back to life. I acquired a small mini-lathe from Harbor Freight with the sole intention of refreshing parts like this that I have traveled around the world to acquire. It’s simple in theory- lock-up the part in the lathe, and, using a Dremel tool with the appropriate grinding bit, or diamond bit, bear-down on the bearing surface as it spins to create a frsh, new, smooth surface.

Good news- it works.  Bad news, it takes more work and time than I would have thought.

I used three different bits on the crown race and lower cup below. One was a round-ish green Dremel grinding bit, one was an orange torpedo-shaped Dremel grinding bit, and one was a round “diamond” cutting bit. After a surprising amount of time and effort with those bits, I finished with some sandpaper to give a slightly more smooth surface.

For these two parts, I spent about 1/2 hour. I easily could have spent another 1/2 hour making them marginally nicer. Each of the 3 bits was $5, and I probably ate through 1/3 – 1/2 of their lives, so after the $400 that I spent on the lathe, I spent $5+ on bits.

Could a guy start an enterprise regrinding parts for vintage racing parts like these? Yeah, but as much as I wish it could be done for $10 – $15 per part, and be profitable, (I’m looking for things to do in future retirement) it isn’t meant to be.

For me it makes sense because I really want the rare Cinelli and Campy headset parts for the bikes in my collection to spin smoothly, but the time and effort that I put into it is a good value to me only, probably.

Is there another way to “skin this cat”? Probably, but this is the best that I can come up with for now.