How to square a wire wheel on a grinder?

[Mohawk Dave]

Hi all,

I have a 2hp grinder with a 10" steel wire wheel, 1" wide. Pretty coarse.

The outsides of the wire wheel are about 3/32" to 1/8" longer than the center half. It's radiused-ish.

I thought with using it as much as I have the last 2 months it would have worn even, but it hasn't. (I'm sure it will/would eventually)

How do I square it off now? I was thinking 4.5" angle grinder with grinding wheel, kind of like facing it. Maybe a file?

What do you think?

 

[Jetblast]

Try some thing like this



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003X418BK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[kiatech]

Try some thing like this



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003X418BK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

You gotta be kidding

 

[Jetblast]

Sorry I miss read his post ignore me. I guess that's what happens when you check GJ as soon as you wake up.

 

[lilredex]

Why bother? What will it do, squared up, that it won't do now? Think it would be more useful as is, when cleaning rust out of grooves and other irregular surfaces.... If it is an out of balance problem, rotate it until it is in phase with the other driven components.

 

[2oolhound]

Somehow having the grinder turning 1750 rpm and holding the angle grinder to it doesn't sit right in my mind. I'm thinking have a helper turn the grinder with a variable speed drill hooked up to the opposite side wheel nut at a slower rpm then hit the wire wheel side with the 4.5" grinder. Each bristle would spend more time in contact with the grinding disc this way.

 

[drivesitfar]

Dave: having two power tools going at each other at the same time doesn't sound like it will have a good ending. funny you should ask this because Tourqueman and McBrownie just posted up a few videos on the Block grinder thread about this.

the tool that Jet recommended was actually the tool one of the videos instructors recommended for big grinders. i have a bunch of them and nothing over an 8 inch grinder to use it on yet. i do have a little diamond on the end of a stick, but there are better ones in the video if you can find one of them to buy.

i think we need a picture or lots of pictures of that big grinder you are talking about on your next post if you have or can get some. sounds nice

LilRed: I'm guessing Dave wants to sharpen some tools or make something square and hard to do with a rounded stone. of course some guys can make anything work or even a file if they have the time and talent.

 

[Zrexxer]

I'm guessing Dave wants to sharpen some tools or make something square and hard to do with a rounded stone. of course some guys can make anything work or even a file if they have the time and talent.

Apparently the words WIRE WHEEL are invisible in the OP's post...

 

[drivesitfar]

Z: i'd delete my post, but i'll leave the mistake and maybe others will learn how to clean up a stone wheel. i guess i never thought of cleaning up a wire wheel.

LilRed: my apologies.

Jet: you and i had the same thoughts


Dave: sorry about that. i still think running two power tools at each other might get you a Darwin award if something went wrong. i have heard that the wire roped wheels don't lose wires as quickly. they do take off material a lot quicker though. or i usually just buy a new wire wheel.

still would like to see pictures of that big grinder.

 

[Zeke]

I'm thinking the OP wants to true the wheel because it vibrates. I think hand turning the wire wheel while using a disc in a 4" angle grinder would work fine. But how do you hold the angle grinder precisely to do this? If you have a helper this will become easier. Even still, it would behoove you to set up an auxiliary tool rest to place the guard of the grinder on. Then just lean the disc into the wire wire gradually so that you're nipping off the longer strands.

Nothing annoys me more than a shaking bench grinder but it's something I've lived with most of my life. I'm getting better at getting these things tuned properly. Keith Fenner had a great video about blueprinting a new tool grinder right out of the box.

 

[A_Pmech]

I'd try a silicon carbide abrasive stick.

 

[Jagmandave]

I think the grinding wheel in the 4 1/2 grinder would work just fine, just get the rotations right so they're turning against each other for maximum efficiency.

I also think the wire wheel turning at max RPM will work better that slowing it down......just hold the grinder firmly and bring it in contact lightly.

I'd like to see if it works actually....what do you have to lose by trying?

 

[Zrexxer]

what do you have to lose by trying?

A couple of fingers; some skin; maybe some other things that you don't want to lose.

 

[Zeke]

A couple of fingers; some skin; maybe some other things that you don't want to lose.

Nah. if the angle grinder has a guard and you rest that on the tool rest everything is facing/rotating away from you. Not saying that if you're foolish that a disc can't be grabbed and/or broken, but if you're prepared nothing too harmful should come this. I'd be sure to clamp a piece of angle on the tool rest to back up the grinder.

Of course securing thing with any kind of fixtures would be ideal. Think of a tool post grinder on a lathe. In fact, mounting the wire wheel in a lathe and using a TP grinder would be slicker than pig snot.

 

[drivesitfar]

Zeke: could work i suppose especially if Dave owns a lathe.

Dave: if you are just trying to keep your grinder from vibrating I've heard that double wire wheels might do the trick if you can't buy a new one and it still vibrates.

 

[dnschmidt]

What actually works pretty well is a portable belt sander. The angle grinder idea doesn't because the grinder is turning in the same direction as the wire wheel. If you can get a direct shot at the wire wheel with a belt sander this works as I've actually done it. Also, you have the belt sander between you and the wire wheel which improves the safety factor.

Safer is that if you have some wires sticking out above the rest just take diagonals and clip them level. This way you don't have really fast rotating parts to deal with.

 

[zkling]

His issue isn't balance, but the face of the wire wheel becomes radiused ) vs ]. It happens from using the edge of the wheel and not the face, hard to prevent for odd sized objects.

Cut two rings of MDF or the like the diameter of the shortest wire. Sandwich the wire wheel between them. Take it to the belt grinder and carefully grind the wires sticking out between the plated of mdf.

Wash the wheel afterwards in your favorite solvent, even water to get the abrasive dust out.

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

I really like that idea Zkling, that's the safest way I have heard so far. It could be done with flat disks of 1/4" plate without all the dust.

 

[dadsEH]

Just buy a new friggin wheel! .........end of OCD issue.

 

[abk241]

Just buy a new friggin wheel! .........end of OCD issue.

It's about time somebody said this!

 

[Zeke]

It's about time somebody said this!

Yeah. And he said it a week ago.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Just buy a new friggin wheel! .........end of OCD issue.

It's about time somebody said this!

It is a new wheel. These things are never square out of the box.

 

[Kracin]

It is a new wheel. These things are never square out of the box.

seems like thats the case since the wire is trimmed from the factory, but the grouping of the wires may not be exact, causing imbalance.


i vote trying some of the previous techniques like taking a belt sander or grinding to a slow spinning wheel to try and get the edge as even as possible. then take the wheel and try to get it centered so theres no low spot. move it to each 90 degree position and note if the wheel wants to move back or not, mark the place and adjust it up or down depending on where its settling until you can place the wheel at any position without it moving.


not sure other than putting some miles on it.

 

[Aura]

Nut it on some ready rod. Chuck it in a drill. Run it against some concrete. (Lot's of that around).

 

[dadsEH]

Why does it have to be perfectly square anyhow? What are you cleaning with it?

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Why does it have to be perfectly square anyhow? What are you cleaning with it?

For example, I was wire wheeling the guide rods on a wood vise, 1" x 18"...but the thing is when you are wire wheeling only the outside edges of the wire wheel make contact. Thus, only using maybe 50% of the face.

I'll get pics up...

 

[espyking83]

you gotta be kidding

lmao

 

[404]

When the wheel spins fast the wires will stand up straight. That is the best time to sand/grind it. Not seeing any problems with using a big enough angle grinder in a position so the wire move towards the wheel. Obviously eye and face safety is important. We are not talking about jamming the grinding wheel in there, just skimming the tree tops of the wires.

 

[Jagmandave]

Exactly.....I think it would work just fine. In fact, I think I'm going to go try it with an old wheel I have, just to see.

 

[dadsEH]

Let us know how it went for you....

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Here's some pics.

I'll do an angle grinder upside down on the tool rest. Maybe tomorrow...stuck in the office today.

THe pic makes it look like very little difference, but trust me, it is enough where the center doesn't even make contact. ANd yea, you can lay into it, but then you start burnin' the edge.


I threw in a pic of when I first got it as well.