Re-applying grit to paper wheels

FlaMtnBkr

FlaMtnBkr

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Oct 20, 2004
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I have searched here and Google and the webpage that makes the paper wheels for instructions on how to re-apply the grit to the grit paper wheel. I think it came with instructions but of course can't find them.

I did what I thought to do and used sandpaper on a piece of metal to get rid of the old grit and true up the wheel. I then applied a little elmers glue and sprinkled the grit on it and left it to dry over night. I applied wax about 20 hours later and used a piece of metal to scrape off the excess and work it in. When I turned the motor off and it stopped I saw that I scraped off half of the grit.

So, either you have to use sandpaper and take it down to where the wheel is the natural color of the paper and there is no black left or you have to let it dry longer. There was a little black left on the wheel but I could see the layers of paper but I think the glue just didn't stick well with residue left from wax and metal particles. I guess it is possible the glue wasn't all the way dry but after 20 hours elmers should be dry.

So has anyone done this and have some suggestions? I want to go do it again so it can be drying. If you have done it let me know what you did. I don't know how often RichardJ stops by and I can't find his phone number because I know he would know what to do.

Thanks!

Ryan
 
I dont use them anymore because i have belt grinders,but you need to roll them with some pressure into the grit like on a newspaper.Mine would work,but never quite as good as original and i would end up buying a new grit wheel.
 
I've done several of them. You don't have to sand till it's natural color.. but all the old grit/glue needs to be gone. Apply enough glue to give the wheel a good coating, but not to the point where it runs. I don't roll it in newspaper... I pour it on while constantly turning the wheel... go slow and put something underneath to catch it so you can reuse it. It takes 3-4 passes to get a good coat on... you'll see the first couple layers sink into the glue a bit. Let it dry overnight, and good to go!!

cbw
 
I just tried to clean up the wheel again to prep for more grit and I have used a half sheet of 60 grit paper and just about turned the whole thing black trying to clean up the wheel and the wheel is still black with wax/ metal particles. I guess I will look for some lower grit paper and try to get more of the black off because I don't see the glue sticking well to it. I can see all the layers of paper so all the grit and bulk wax is gone there is just a layer of 'residue' that I can't get off.

The first time I put a thin layer of glue and put a piece of paper under it and it looked great the next day. It just didn't have a good bond to the wheel and came off.
 
I found some 36grit paper at Lowes that works really well for the bulk removal. The instructions say to use as coarse as you can find, then clean it up with the 60 grit. I used 220 for a final layer... don't know if it mattered or not.

The first couple I did, I didn't use enough glue. For me using a bit more was key. You don't want it to run... but just shy of that. Then when I sprinkle on the grit, I notice that the first go round will sink in a bit. I'll go around 3-4 time slowly... reusing what hits the paper. Then I'll spin it by hand for a couple minutes... just to make sure the glue doesn't run. I also let it sit for a day before using it.

First one I did, I thought it was ridiculous... that it would be easier to just buy another wheel. But after a couple (I did others for practice), it's pretty easy. Getting the really coarse paper was a big difference too.

cbw
 
I don't have a scanner... but here's a pic of the instructions...

P1020334.jpg


cbw
 
Cool, thanks! I don't know what happened to my instructions but I will try to track down some real coarse paper to use.
 
cbwx34 said:
I've done several of them. You don't have to sand till it's natural color.. but all the old grit/glue needs to be gone. Apply enough glue to give the wheel a good coating, but not to the point where it runs. I don't roll it in newspaper... I pour it on while constantly turning the wheel... go slow and put something underneath to catch it so you can reuse it. It takes 3-4 passes to get a good coat on... you'll see the first couple layers sink into the glue a bit. Let it dry overnight, and good to go!!

cbw
Click to expand...

That is how I do it.
 
Well I just tried cleaning it up again and this must be the strongest paper in the world. I took some coarse sandpaper I have and it actually was making sparks from the sandpaper on the wheel. But it didn't seem to do anything to the wheel and it still has the black residue on it. I would have thought it would wear down fairly quickly with how coarse the paper is but 5 minutes later and nothing different.

It is cheap paper and just says coarse and doesn't have an actual number on it but even with the sparks it hasn't worn down much and is still in pretty good shape. I will have to track down some better stuff and hopefully have better results.
 
My local supplier of the paper wheels gave me these verbal instructions instead.

It was much more effective than the online instructions.

put a gob of the grit onto a piece of newspaper--, direct the grit into a long line on the newspaper.

Then, get ELMERS (must be elmers) white glue, and smash and shmear it all over the part where the grit goes.

Then take the wheel, and using your fingers, roll the wheel into the grit on the newspaper over and over until it is fully coated.

Shake off excess, mount it back on the grinder to dry, let dry for a while.

Wax it up, and you're good to go! Lasts for many more knives this way.
 
Last edited:
knivesandguns said:
My local supplier of the paper wheels gave me these verbal instructions instead.

It was much more effective than the online instructions.

put a gob of the grit onto a piece of newspaper--, direct the grit into a long line on the newspaper.

Then, get ELMERS (must be elmers) white glue, and smash and shmear it all over the part where the grit goes.

Then take the wheel, and using your fingers, roll the wheel into the grit on the newspaper over and over until it is fully coated.

Shake off excess, mount it back on the grinder to dry, let dry for a while.

Wax it up, and you're good to go! Lasts for many more knives this way.
Click to expand...

But won't you then have a wheel that needs truing? This is why the instructions say to leave it mounted to your grinder/buffer arbor.
 
Well I have sanded on this thing for a looong time and it is still black. I measured the wheel and I have actually made the thing smaller. I think it is removing material but just spreading the black stuff around and it isn't coming off.

So I just reapplied more grit and hopefully it wont come off this time.

Also for anyone who goes to do this in the future make sure you put a piece of paper under the wheel while the glue is drying because a lot of grit will fall off.
 
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