Grinder

[picker_boy]

I have started to use hack saw blades for my picks now. I am really impressed with the results so far. Well i use a bench grinder to get the blade down to the basic shape of the entire pick then i go in with a dremmel and finish off my design (which works wonders). Well heres the problem the bench grinders fine grinder is getting eaten down fast. First can you buy replacemnt grinding stones (i know dumb question) and how if any way can this be prevented. Thanks

[mbell]

Yes, grinding wheels can be replaced & they are relatively inexpensive. They do get used up but it usually takes quite a while (depending on usage).

Remember that hacksaw blades and other carbon steels are very hard materials, much harder than mild steel, brass, alumiium etc.

[Hojo]

Well I just recently bought a grinder and I have rewalised that the wheel is grinding down fast, I have been making picks for a while and most grinders come with soft wheels as they are cheaper and give the manufacturer more profit...so when they wear out try to find a good quality wheel and it will last you longer...

[Guitar_J]

There are also stones.. I can't think of the name of them now, which allow you to refinish your wheels..Ohh yeaa.. they're called dressing stones... but I noticed the same thing when I was using the fine wheel on my dad's grinder..

[randmguy]

Yes you can use a wheel dresser to reshape a worn grinding wheel. But BE CAREFUL...Always wear eye protection, full face protection is even better. Reshaping a grinding wheel can be dangerous, especially the cheaper ones. I've still got a neat little scar on my shoulder where a 6in wheel went to fragments while I was dressing it. Anymore I take the wheel off the grinder and put on a drill to dress it. Much lower speed and less chance of the thing exploding on me.

[Guitar_J]

YEeeach! Never thought of that happening.. sounds more like you need a SWAT team shield...

[maldotcom2]

I didnt know you could grind alluminium on grinders, ive always been told that the alluminium clogs up the pores on the wheel. correct me if im wrong.

[CaptHook]

Yep, dont grind aluminum. A better option/tool that I like for grinding anything small is a belt sander. You can sand aluminum without the fear of clogging the paper(depending on paper of course)
Chuck

[Romstar]

Hook is right about the belt sander, or a disc sander or even a disc grinder. However, you can grind soft materials you just need to have a cleaning wheel. NOT a dressing wheel.

Romstar

[suzuri]

I didnt know you could grind alluminium on grinders, ive always been told that the alluminium clogs up the pores on the wheel. correct me if im wrong.

As my other hobby is metals, i can tell you that Aluminum is a very smeary metal. very easy to push around. it will clog files, grinding wheels, and sandpaper.

If you have used aluminum on your grinding wheel and want to clean it off, you can use a wire brush if the loading is light (but beware of flying wires! Safety Glasses are an absolute must! ) or a harder piece of iron/steel or a dressing stone if you have really done a number on it.

as for files, they make this nifty tool that has all these little wires sticking out of it, kind of like a carding brush, that you can use to "brush" your files free of the loaded aluminum. they can ussally be found near the files at a hardware store.

and sandpaper is disposable.