How to Keep Bench Grinder Stones from Filling Up, or How to Clean Them?

[medusaoblongata]

I have a 6" bench grinder and the (ceramic?) stones are filling up, and becoming less effective. Is there a way to keep them from filling up like that? Or is there an easy way to clean them off? (I usually use it on wood, bone, bamboo, metal, and plastic)

Thanks..

 

[Luke Sheridan]

use a wheel dressing tool to keep the wheel clean and fresh, and square too.

 

[Bill Armstrong]

Like Luke says use a wheel dresser...its got a bunch of notched wheels that break off the abrasive into dust (wear a dust mask for sure)...to true a wheel there are diamond point tools to trim the abrasive back cuz they do get out of balance and can get dangerous especially if they are running close to max rpm. hope that helps!

 

[DocsMachine]

Okay, first off, stop using it on wood and plastic!

Abrasive wheels are a far different animal from abrasive belts, and should not be used for anything other than it's intended purpose- which for the vast majority of bench grinder wheels, means grinding steel and iron.

Just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should; use the right tool for the job. A $60 Delta desktop 1" belt sander will do that wood and plastic far better than a bench grinder, and won't have the load-up problem.

Now, the only way to "clean off" a loaded wheel, is to grind the surface away. Using a piece of another broken stone can work, but makes a great deal of dust, and it's a poor substitute for the proper way.

You need either a diamond wheel dresser (they're not expensive) or a Norbide stick. Either one will last- with proper use- dozens or even hundreds of 6" wheels, so they're cheap enough to do it right.

Doc.

 

[WhitleyStu]

Ran grinders in a machine shop for 30+ years and diamonds leave the best surface on the wheel. At home I use these on my bench grinder wheels...

 

[Nathan the Machinist]

As already mentioned, stone wheels are generally just for steel. Once loaded, they need "dressed". There are many types of wheel dressers.

Not all stones are equal. If you're hell bent on using a stone wheel bench grinder you can look at places like mscdirect.com to see what grinding wheels they have that are resistant to clogging.

 

[Phillip Patton]

Remember to wear a respirator when you clean wheels, especially if it's silicon carbide....