In the world of DIY, there is an enormous amount of accessories, disks of Diamond, cutting... tools handheld, electric... and the same thing happens in the professional field, so it is normal to wonder what an abrasive wheel is and what it is for.
Abrasive wheels are very useful in many tasks, so it is convenient to know which ones exist, how they are used and which one must be chosen in order to work with each material.
What are grinding wheels
Una grinding wheel It is used when grinding different parts.
For example, a cut in the marble that is not well made, a weld that must be reduced so that it is not so noticeable or a metal that has been left full of burrs when sectioning.
It is manufactured using first a flexible binder matrix, which allows it to adapt to the materials to be rectified and thus obtaining better finishes with less effort.
In this matrix, there are hundreds and hundreds of cutting tips, that wear out as they are used, being eliminated through the heat and friction that is generated. With this, it is achieved that, when the grinding wheel turns, new material always comes out to the surface in order to perform its function.
We see these abrasive wheels in different supports, such as in a bench grinder, in a radial or in a drill, varying their diameter and the jobs for which they are intended, since in the case of the smallest ones they are always used in smaller or delicate pieces.
Types of grinding wheels and characteristics
Within our catalogue, we have various types of teeth, which can be classified in many ways, such as by their grain, size and even some manufacturers use the colors of the abrasive wheels to distinguish them.
However, One of the best ways to classify them is by the material they are made of and by their characteristics., since it will be its composition that tells us in which works they are recommended.
compact or convolute
For its manufacture, a non-woven fiber is used, which is also known as an abrasive. non woven. These fibers are placed on a central axis creating layers that are glued together.
It is the fibers that are impregnated with the abrasive material, so the tooth is cushioned and durable, with enormous flexibility that makes it last a long time.
Although we are talking about fiber, we should not think that we are referring to a soft material, because with this type of grinding wheel it is possible to deburr metal, wood or glass, achieving material wear that can be very aggressive.
In fact, one of its applications is to carry out metal finishes, such as smoothing those weld seams that are not very aesthetic and that must be hidden as much as possible.
Flap abrasive brushes
They are quite similar to the previous wheels, since they use the same material, but here the fiber sheets are not rolled together, generating layers, but rather they are mounted one next to the other, giving it that characteristic brush shape.
This makes we are dealing with a very flexible abrasive wheel and that it is the one that best adapts to the shapes of the material with which it is going to work. It has several applications, but they are mainly focused on finishing different surfaces, such as sanding paints or varnishes, removing corrosive materials such as rust or quickly cleaning metals.
They also serve if we want to polish or even when finishing with matte or glossy finishes on metals.
Mixed Flap Abrasive Brushes
Abrasive brushes are made of nylon fibers, but sometimes that material is not aggressive enough and this is where mixed flaps come in, since the fiber is mixed with sheets of cloth or abrasive paper.
They are very hard brushes and with enormous power, with which you have to be careful not to wear the materials excessively, although for this they are sold in different grain and fiber sizes.
They save a lot of time if they know how to handle them, but in return they are very rigid and regularly adapt to the materials with which we are going to work, so they give good results in uniform pieces; They are not the best when they have irregular shapes.
Due to their roughing capacity, they are especially intended for hard metals, such as stainless steel, although they are also very useful when smoothing metal surfaces or preparing them before starting the painting process.
Once we know what an abrasive wheel is, we see the enormous number of uses it has, especially now when they can be bought in various formats, even with a stem that allows them to be placed on a drill, which makes it easier for us to carry out fine or precision work.
If you need any type of grinding wheel or tool, you can find it at the best price in our store, and if you have any questions, we will help you without obligation.
