(Part 2) Best abrasive wheels & discs according to redditors

Cracks aside, that wheel should have been dressed ages ago. Don't let your next wheel get that bad.

Tool

https://www.amazon.com/POWERTEC-71003-Diamond-Grinding-Dresser/dp/B00B10LM6O/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1493971854&sr=8-2&keywords=diamond+dressing+stone

Instructions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFTaW7O4_Ws

I either use these:

https://www.amazon.com/Woodstock-D3292-Drum-Sanding-16-Piece/dp/B001XQMRH4/ref=br_lf_m_bv4y9v7p5tba8wp_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&s=hi

Or:

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Hawk-Mounted-Wheels-Aluminum/dp/B01MDQW98P/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1539429033&sr=1-11&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=flap+wheel+sander&dpPl=1&dpID=41vmTZGsF0L&ref=plSrch

Of the correct size. I put them on a drill press or they can be used in a drill

Seriously. 50 for $33.

May not be the best wheels, but shit, they're not $20 either.

You could

Join West Philly Tool Library http://westphillytools.org/

Borrow angle grinder.

Buy silicon carbide/aluminum oxide cutoff wheel

Make cuts

Return grinder

Or, go to any autobody shop

I just recently had my first run in with shitty thin wheels. two of them crumbled right in a row, It wasn't user error, they were just shitty shitty disks. I had always thought that it was pretty much always the operator doing something stupid but I was using these 100% correctly and they just shredded while still on the grinder about halfway through my cuts. These are what I was using.

Do it by hand. With this: May want to pick up a higher grit as well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005TGLAJ0/ref=oh_aui_bia_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cut off 10 - 12" section, hold in both hands and use like a shoe shine cloth. (Am I the only old fart here that knows what this is?) Chucking the knife in a vise is handy but not essential.

I have a couple of the Kutzall discs. They work fine. From what I understand, the Lancelot (chain) discs are more aggressive, which can make them a little harder to control. They also leave a rougher cut, which is why I went with the Kutzall. The Arbortech discs leave an even finer cut.

Walter

I saw another youtube video where a guy used this type of donut hole attachment with a power grinder for his centering. It looked to be very effective and quick. Essentially he was mixing turning with power grinding. What are your guys thoughts on using this method?

Not really but this guy has alot of video on working with many stones and how to maintain them:

https://youtu.be/PyGOxzaJGO0

Dunno if you can find it cheaper elsewhere: https://www.amazon.com/Norton-614636855653-8-Inch-Combination-Oilstone/dp/B000XK5ZDY

I use something like this to keep my stones clean and fresh: https://www.amazon.com/BephaMart-Diamond-Grinding-Dresser-Dressing/dp/B01BAGQRAY

Get this blade. It lasts forever! I've removed so much grout, and cut a lot of plaster and even cement. I recently got a different set on amazon and was so disappointed the "carbide" bit wore out within an hour of use.

Zenith Industries ZN180008 Diamond Grit Swing Blade OSaw https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016MPOVTC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_7NoKAbPPFHRFY

Those are just three 8 inch aluminum oxide wheels intended for a bench grinder

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016LQLD4S

I made the MDF wheels using a drill press, a jigsaw, and a belt sander

I would take a metal scribe and just go over the marking intel you felt the where deep enough to show up after sanding out all the pitting. A red wheel (deburring abrasive wheels) would work great for this. There is many types but I would go with a low abrasive type like this

https://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Brite-Strength-Aluminum-4000rpm-Diameter/dp/B00C6EM6AA/ref=mp_s_a_1_30?ie=UTF8&qid=1549192578&sr=1-30&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=scotch-brite%2Bwheel&th=1&psc=1

You don’t need a pack of 40 but i don’t see the single one..

A ROS would work just fine to but can be a little slow. start with a something ruff and just work your way down once you get most of the pitting out. Just remember to watch your markings and keep removing material as needed so you don’t lose them. Hope that helps and feel free to ask anything if you got any questions.

Edit: you might actually wanna go with something a little more aggressive just to speed up the process.. here’s a couple videos thou to show the types and how well they work

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8qk4gf3wt9w

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ORskUkwMYlM

http://www.eaavideo.org/detail/video/799733595001/scotch-brite-wheel-for-deburring-polishing

Glad you started this thread, OP. I've never used those bristle discs, but I've been experimenting with other discs recently after buying a 2' x 3' piece of 1/2" HR plate and having to remove the rust, paint and scale to get it ready to use as a work surface for a Nomad portable table.

I was impressed by the Scotch-Brite Clean & Strip XT—looks like a purple sponge...of death. That thing goes through scale like it's nothing.

I also like the super-course grit (36, 50) AlO sandpaper/flex discs (if you don't mind the scratches they leave). I wanted to put a thin layer of scratches on this new table top, and then semi-polish down the rest of the surface, and these discs were great for that while removing paint, rust and scale. (The idea is that when the scratches start to disappear, I'll know when I've worked through the surface and can try to keep it somewhat level.)

As someone who is mostly self-taught and works alone, I'd love to hear from the pros about their favorite discs and how they used them.

Also, where are the best places to buy grinding discs? My local welding supply stores are relatively expensive (and not very local to begin with) and I've yet to find a single online store where I can get everything I need.

Best deal I found so far was when I saw this five-pack of conditioning disc samplers (with a disc holder in each) for under $90. Pretty sure it was a pricing error.

get a cut off wheel for angle grinder ex. http://www.amazon.com/Cut-off-Wheels-Cutting-Ferrous-Stainless/dp/B0055PMTOU

they have it at home depot

Quick Amazon search.

Is it similar to that one?

The metal on those is recessed. Something like this would probably be a better choice though.

Something like this?
http://www.amazon.com/JoolTool-Scotch-Brite-Unitized-Abrasive-Aluminum/dp/B006YD6D2Q

I am looking to do some finish work on mild steel and damascus, both are coming off of a waterjet, do you think that would work on my grinder or buffing wheel?

If you know about the weight swings and adjust for it I would save the money for something else. I have a pair of 'standard' 45s that weigh 42 and 47 pounds so they are labelled and I throw an extra 5 on the side that gets the 42 if I ever use em.

The poster that suggested a flap wheel in a drill is onto a good idea, I did that when I refinished my cheap plates and the bore is a lot smoother now. I used something like these but I got them locally for cheaper from a surplus store.

Oh and here’s an example of the flapper discs I’m talking about (anywhere from 60-100 grit is probably fine):

https://www.amazon.ca/Pack-Auto-Body-Sanding-Discs/dp/B000WGHZYG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=flapper+disk&qid=1566573693&s=gateway&sprefix=flapper+di&sr=8-1

And here are the sanding pads:

https://www.acklandsgrainger.com/en/product/p/WLT15C458?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjIC80qeZ5AIVWh-tBh1d4w_jEAQYAiABEgIof_D_BwE&cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&ef_id=EAIaIQobChMIjIC80qeZ5AIVWh-tBh1d4w_jEAQYAiABEgIof_D_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!3645!3!303439909580!!!g!544446048688!

You’ll also need this backing piece to attach the sanding pads too. It seems like a lot but trust me, it will save you so much precious time and energy that you need when you are in school:

https://www.amazon.ca/Walter-Surface-Technologies-15D044-Assembly/dp/B003O9ZT5A/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=walter+sanding&qid=1566573978&s=gateway&sr=8-1