Choose the Right Grinding Wheel Lansing MI

Choose the Right Grinding Wheel

Q. I've been told that the gray wheels that came withmy grinder will burn my woodworking tools and that white wheels arebetter. True?

A. The stock wheels that come with most grinders are designed for the metalworking trade. They're way too hardfor grinding the hardened steel used for chisels and plane irons. It soundsstrange, but the harder the steel, the softer the bond in the wheelshould be. Here's why: Hard steel quickly dulls the abrasive particlesin a wheel. With a soft bond, the dull abrasive sloughs off quickly,leaving fresh, sharp abrasive to do the work. A hard bond, on the otherhand, holds tight to the abrasive particles, even after they're dull.The dull or “glazed” wheel rubs as much as it cuts, creating friction and heat that will toast your tools. The best all-around grindingwheel for woodworking tools is an 80-grit aluminum oxide wheel with arelatively soft bond designated by the letter H, J or K on the wheellabel (Photo 1). An H bond is the softest and will provide the coolestgrinding. Turners tend to prefer a J grade wheel; its harder bondresists grooving by gouges and parting tools. Smart buyers read labels.Look for a series of numbers and letters that usually comes after thewheel size. It's best to be color-blind when you are buying anew wheel (Photo 2). Instead, trust the label to give you the preciseinformation you need.

Source:
Lee Valley and Veritas, (800) 871-8158, www.leevalley.com, Grinderwheels: 6-in. x 3/4-in. 80 grit, #08M18.02, $20, 6-in. x 1-in. 80 grit,#08M18.01, $23, 8-in. x 1-in. 80 grit, #08M19.01, $30

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