Contact wheel

muleskinner222

muleskinner222

Joined
Sep 29, 2009
Messages
161
What makes an 8'' contact wheel worth $260? I'm not saying what they should or should not cost, but what is so special about them? Bearings? The rubber part? I'm still looking at designs for a grinder and I have seen many different parts used- wood wheels, casters etc. Am I over thinking it? I don't want the thing coming apart while in use.

Any info is appreciated.
 
The labor involved making them makes them expensive, as well as materials.

Poorly made will vibrate, not track properly, and come apart, well made like from Beaumont will be well balanced and solid and sturdy and safe.

The more ramshackle or cobbled together the parts the slower I would run it.
 
As sam found out with his stone wheel adventure, improperly balanced and made wheels are dangerous at high speeds, and the larger the wheel the harder they are to make properly balanced and true running.
 
I figured as much, thanks for the reply's. What about the "Duro" number? I'm guessing that is the softness of the rubber? flat or serrated wheel? I'll be placing an order with Beaumont on Monday.

Thanks again.
 
What do you intend to do with it? If you are doing alot of hollow grinding, thensmooth, if just hogging material or profiling, then serrated. Serrated is more agressive, smooth is more......smooth.
 
to further answer your question, the durometer is the measure of the rubbers hardness
most makers use 70 durometer, i have both smooth and serrated 8in wheels rarely use
the seratted and would never buy another for myself, others like them for hogging
if i had to choose smooth all way. bb
 
There are other contact wheel options out there. I believe Harbor Freight and Grizzly both sell them as replacement parts for their grinders. You can also checkout Sunray-inc.com. Tracy Mickley sells the poly ones too.
 
I purchased some small poly wheels from Tracy Mickley and so far they have been very good. I don't know if he has them in larger sizes?
 
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