I need some advice guys!

[Sweany]

MDF makes great wheels. I have the drive idler and 14" contact wheel on my grinder made of it. More stable than real wood and less nasty than phenolic.

 

[George G]

George G
yesd you can use a carpentry belt sander, they tend to run slower, they typically have obstructive structure around the belt platen, and no slack belt area. If you are using a home shop belt sander remove the plastic dust catchers, they collect grind sparks and burn through (ask me how I know) and make sure you clean off any wood sawdust (Got a friend who can attest to that one), on the other hand for doing a dead flat grind you can't beat the disc if it is big enough just watch the up side of the disc as it wants to grab and throw the blade at you.

-Page

Thanks man. Just the information I needed. Appreciated.

:thumbup:

 

[Keith_H]

if you have a metal lathe find a steel supplier and get steel round stock, Turning aluminum sucks. Let me revise that, doing anything with aluminum other than spinning or casting sucks, it gums up tools, bonds itself to the surface of cutters, tears, it's just nasty unpleasant stuff, I did aluminum fab for 6 months and hate the stuff. Steel turns nicely, finishes cleanly, and if you use apropriate feeds and cutters will make nice strong wheels that will hold their shape and not fly apart. your mileage may vary, but if I have to turn any metal steel is my first choice (caveat, I have a 5 horsepower 15"x 52" leblond lathe)

-Page

ok, but I fuigure the less weight on the outside of the wheel, the smoother the running. Will casting make as good as a product as solid plate?

thanks