Grinder Wheels - Recommendations

[flippin]

Greetings,

I looking for some advise from the GJ Braintrust. I have 3 bench grinders and I am seeking recommendations on the best wheel combinations. Having been a member here for many years I long since realized that my abilities would best be described as "advanced hack". I am so envious of the fab skills that so many of our members routinely demonstrate with ease. The following are the basic fabrication tasks which I currently or plan to incorporate;

(1) small custom part fabrication for boating; rod holders, sonar brackets etc. Materials: stainless and aluminium.

(2) will be purchasing a mig/spool gun welder shortly

(3) basic tool maintenance, sharpening etc.

(4) standard rust removal etc.


Now I have been fortunate enough to assemble the following grinders which will either be mounted on pedestals or possibly the hitch-receiver system.

(1) 8" 1hp Baldor - This thing is a Beast and weighs close to 100lbs

(2) 6" 1/2hp Craftsman Block - anyone ever heard of this one?

(3) 6" 1/3hp Wissota

My research has identified that personal preferences include, wire wheels, knotted wheels, flap wheels, buffing wheels and standard stone wheels. If you had to purchase 6 new wheels for my grinders, what would you suggest? And of equal importance, where would you mount each wheel? Should the wire wheels go on the 8" or the 6" etc.


My sincerest appreciation in advance to all of you that offer this "hack" some much needed guidance.


Thanks so much,

-Paul

 

[cheechi]

I have an 8"/1HP and 2 6"/ 1/2HP grinders. all of mine are blocks. What I chose was 36 & 60 on the 1HP, 100 & 150 on one of the 1/2HP, and flap disc & wire wheel on the other.

Part of this was arbitrary as certain wheel grits weren't available in all sizes, partly because the grinder with the flap disc & wire wheel has only partial guards, I felt it safest to not put stones there. I think I have an 8" wire wheel also but I haven't needed it the 6" has done everything I need. But I'm also not cleaning sea salt off things all day.

what do you do on a bench grinder knotted wheel that makes it worth having one vs a regular wire wheel? Not a criticism just curious, as I don't have one.