Mounting wire wheel to bench grinder

[Chally392]

Hi all,
Longer time lurker, first time posting. I recently bought a Jet IBG-8 bench grinder for stripping fittings on a car restoration project down to bare metal. I’ve never used a bench grinder before and I’m trying to mount an 8” wire wheel to the grinder but it looks like the wire wheel is much thinner and need a socket. Is there a standard adaptor that I should have purchased to make it work? The wheel itself says 5/8” arbor with 1/2” bushing.

 

[seber]

Wire wheels need to spaced out away from the inner flange. Bushings are a nice way to do it but mine just has washers doing the job. They need to have the correct ID and they should be good quality. Nonetheless, even the best wire wheels don't balance well. You can do some searching on how to correct for that but a perfectly smooth grinder is only important if you have a wheel on the other side used for finesse like sharpening. By the way, wire wheels is not a place to save money. Get the best and avoid that porcupine feeling.

 

[1982fxr]

Yes if it's a cheap wheel wear safety glasses, face shield, apron and long sleeves.

You should wear most of that even with a good wheel. Being stabbed repeatedly at 3,600 rpm is not that fun
.

 

[1982fxr]

Also I know it's not the best way but I usually end up using washers as well.

 

[56Mark]

I have pulled wires out of leg that went in about 1/2" and I didn't even know it until I was taking my clothes off. That was from a wire wheel on a side grinder. A bench grinder may not sling them as bad, but still not worth the risk of taking one in the eye. WEAR a face shield with these things! And I am not usually the safety Nazi type.

 

[Legion Prime]

I have pulled wires out of leg that went in about 1/2" and I didn't even know it until I was taking my clothes off. That was from a wire wheel on a side grinder. A bench grinder may not sling them as bad, but still not worth the risk of taking one in the eye. WEAR a face shield with these things! And I am not usually the safety Nazi type.

I am the absolute opposite of a safety nazi and I'll second that. I've had to have one of them removed from my eye and I was wearing glasses, not safety glasses obviously. I will no longer turn on anything with wire if I or anyone else in the room is not wearing something to protect their eyes minimum, face shield preferred. If you want to go with an apron and gloves I will only encourage you.

 

[GeoBruin]

I recently ordered some Raptor grinding wheel washers and I'm very happy with them. They have machined surfaces so they don't introduce wobble and they're thicker than 5/8 washers do you don't need as many.

 

[seber]

I should have added that wire brush wheels should be mounted in a position that allows you to stand to the side while using it. There should never be a reason to stand directly in front of a wire wheel.

 

[Chally392]

Thanks all, I didn't even think about the safety considerations but it makes sense with little pieces of metal traveling at 3,400 RPM. I am mainly using it to strip fasteners to bare metal in order to galvanize them via zinc electroplating.

 

[Chally392]

I recently ordered some Raptor grinding wheel washers and I'm very happy with them. They have machined surfaces so they don't introduce wobble and they're thicker than 5/8 washers do you don't need as many.

Would you be able to check the widths of the spacers? I found them online but they don't list their widths. It looks like I have about 5/8" between the arbor nut and the side of the wire wheel.

 

[noid]

You guys should stop using metal wire wheels in favor of the 3M deburring wheels:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005V3XDXW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[senlow]

I recently ordered some Raptor grinding wheel washers and I'm very happy with them. They have machined surfaces so they don't introduce wobble and they're thicker than 5/8 washers do you don't need as many.

Wow, I had no idea that such a product was available commercially. I've always machined my own.

You guys should stop using metal wire wheels in favor of the 3M deburring wheels:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005V3XDXW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I agree. I use the 3M Bristle Brushes way more than wire wheels. Be sure not to install one backwards. I watched a coworker shed all the bristles on a $40 wheel in seconds. Just about the only time that I use a wire wheel is when I want to create a burnished finish on a part.

 

[RADcustom]

What speed is the grinder? A 10" grinder spinning 1750 rpm will likely trow fewer wires than a smaller one spinning 3600 rpm.

 

[xman_charl]

quick mount for grinders, strong pins...

bought 2 of these grinders, for $80.... when enco was shutting down

Charl

 

[1982fxr]

I should have added that wire brush wheels should be mounted in a position that allows you to stand to the side while using it. There should never be a reason to stand directly in front of a wire wheel.

That actually sounds dangerous to me. My main grinder for wire wheeling right now is a 1/2hp Baldor. Standing off to the side with bigger parts would not allow me to control them.

It would grab them. And bigger yet parts are just too heavy.

 

[kelpaso1]

You guys should stop using metal wire wheels in favor of the 3M deburring wheels:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005V3XDXW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Wow, I had no idea that such a product was available commercially. I've always machined my own.


I agree. I use the 3M Bristle Brushes way more than wire wheels. Be sure not to install one backwards. I watched a coworker shed all the bristles on a $40 wheel in seconds. Just about the only time that I use a wire wheel is when I want to create a burnished finish on a part.

Thanks GJ, just cost me $50

 

[Lassen Forge]

Must... not... look... at... Amazon....

The only issue I see is they're more abrasive than wire wheels - I do a LOT of derusting, however these seem like they might also deform the surface of what I'm using...

Besides... what could be more fun than removing wire brush bristles imbedded in my clothes, hair, and skin?

 

[noid]

Must... not... look... at... Amazon....

The only issue I see is they're more abrasive than wire wheels - I do a LOT of derusting, however these seem like they might also deform the surface of what I'm using...

Besides... what could be more fun than removing wire brush bristles imbedded in my clothes, hair, and skin?

They come in a range of grits; you can get them all the way from like 50 grit all the way to 1 micron for mirror polishing.

Color dictates grit.

 

[Chally392]

Well tried some washers and I have some pretty bad wobble. Tried them inside and outside of the plates as well as the same number on each side. Is it because the other grinding wheel is still on and a different weight and diameter? Do I need to match the other side with a wire wheel to keep it even?
I just used basic 5/8”x7/8” washers from the hardware store so maybe their outer diameter is not large enough?

 

[Chally392]

You guys should stop using metal wire wheels in favor of the 3M deburring wheels:

Are they good for tight nooks and crannies? I’m mostly using the wire wheel to strip fasteners to bare metal so that I can galvanize them using zinc electroplating followed by blue passivate. Part of the problem was that I couldn’t totally clean the threads using a drill and wire wheel.

 

[noid]

Are they good for tight nooks and crannies? I’m mostly using the wire wheel to strip fasteners to bare metal so that I can galvanize them using zinc electroplating followed by blue passivate. Part of the problem was that I couldn’t totally clean the threads using a drill and wire wheel.

Better than a wire wheel because you can push the workpeice pretty far into the bristles without hurting yourself.

You can also control the aggressiveness by what grit you use.

 

[1982fxr]

Well tried some washers and I have some pretty bad wobble. Tried them inside and outside of the plates as well as the same number on each side. Is it because the other grinding wheel is still on and a different weight and diameter? Do I need to match the other side with a wire wheel to keep it even?
I just used basic 5/8”x7/8” washers from the hardware store so maybe their outer diameter is not large enough?

If you take the wire wheel off completely does it still wobble? If yes the stone needs trying.

Is the center hole of the washers relatively tight to the shaft?

 

[Chally392]

If you take the wire wheel off completely does it still wobble? If yes the stone needs trying.

Is the center hole of the washers relatively tight to the shaft?

Jet lists the arbor as 5/8” but the 5/8” washers have a bit of play, so I’m thinking it’s more like 9/16” or 1/2” on the arbor. There’s no wobble with the old wheel back on and no play with wheel back off so it’s not the other wheel, the wire wheel is off balance. The wire wheel itself says 5/8” arbor with 1/2” bushing.

 

[GeoBruin]

There will still be play with a 5/8 washer. Washers aren't meant to be a press fit on a 5/8 bolt.

 

[seber]

That actually sounds dangerous to me. My main grinder for wire wheeling right now is a 1/2hp Baldor. Standing off to the side with bigger parts would not allow me to control them.

It would grab them. And bigger yet parts are just too heavy.

Parts that big should be dealt with using an angle grinder. I agree with the dangerous part.

 

[lilredex]

A lot of viewers have $hit on this set up, but it is very controllable, and works really well especially with that rest.

 

[seber]

I love the rest, but I have to admit, that would scare me to death.

 

[GeoBruin]

I love the rest, but I have to admit, that would scare me to death.

I'm with you. I recently moved up from a 6" grinder to an 8" grinder I found used on Craigslist. I could not for the life of me figure out why it was so scary to use until I realized I didn't have a rest on the wire wheel side of my old one. I promptly took the rest off and now it's just like using the old one.

 

[toddmorr]

i don't get it...is there something about the rest that is bothering you guys? what am i missing

 

[1982fxr]

There will still be play with a 5/8 washer. Washers aren't meant to be a press fit on a 5/8 bolt.

Deleted

 

[Chally392]

So the proper way to get it balanced would be to use the bushings?

 

[seber]

Bushings may help but I doubt that is the cause of vibration. It is very hard to find a wire brush that is balanced. I'd be willing to bet that is where the vibration is coming from.

As to the outboard brush, the rest is not a problem. I use one on my brush as well. The scary part is the shaft extension. A little wobble and that wheel could be flying across the room while spinning at 3600 rpm and ricocheting off the walls. Talk about a deadly missile.

 

[lilredex]

Bushings may help but I doubt that is the cause of vibration. It is very hard to find a wire brush that is balanced. I'd be willing to bet that is where the vibration is coming from.

As to the outboard brush, the rest is not a problem. I use one on my brush as well. The scary part is the shaft extension. A little wobble and that wheel could be flying across the room while spinning at 3600 rpm and ricocheting off the walls. Talk about a deadly missile.

There is no wobble. That wire wheel is firmly attached with a 1/2" coarse threaded coupling nut. All the wheels were dialed in, about a quarter turn at a time. It runs as smooth as silk...... if you take your time. It has been in use like that for over thirty years without incident. Use the eye protection you see fit.