This got left out for the refuse collectors.

[Alan Reynolds]

Saw this left by some bins and thought in my usual squirrely way, that needs a new home.
Well, took it home, fixed the disconnected spade connector on the switch and off it went, literally.
SO much vibration that it made a bee line for the floor.
The wheels are so badly balanced. Has anyone had success with filling and re drilling the lead centres?These cheap grinders are carp.
It’s a Wickes one and it got on mine very quickly. Just seems a shame to give up on it and it doesn’t warrant the cost of two new wheels.
I wouldn’t mind converting it to take wire wheels but I haven’t managed to find any adaptors to do so.

 

[willie.macleod]

Try these ones:

Titan Wire Wheel 150mm

Order online at Screwfix.com. For fast removal of paint, rust, scale and other contamination. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 5 minutes.

www.screwfix.com

 

[Bsmith]

Screw it to the bench or a heavy piece of wood and 'true' the wheels with a grinding wheel dresser, if there is so much vibration you could do one at a time

 

[Johnnybravo]

Before you spend too much time on it, check if the shaft is straight

 

[Dieselman 63]

Screw it to the bench or a heavy piece of wood and 'true' the wheels with a grinding wheel dresser, if there is so much vibration you could do one at a time

From someone who has known someone that got their hand mauled by an exploding stone, I would say if you don’t know how the stones have been stored or used, don’t use them. Any visible play I would be binning them. My body is worth more than a grinding wheel.

 

[Pete.]

You can (and should) ring test the stones to check their integrity.

No1 cause of those small grinders vibrating is the inadequate clamp plates being deformed. People do the nuts up more than the plates can stand and the centres pull in bending the plates. I have made thicker, heavier plates for mine that have 1.25" hubs so that my grinder can use surface grinder wheels but you can do the same for regular grinder wheels too. Make the plate hole a good fit on the shaft.

Wire wheels usually come with the adapter rings, I've got a pile of them, or you can knock them up out of plastic on the lathe.

 

[james butler]

i found a pbx special left at the side of the road and took that home
there was absolutely nothing wrong with it!
gave it to my brother and hes well chuffed with it
the reason it was at the side of the road?
new owner of the house didnt want the shed full of tools at the bottom of the garden and decided to leave them box at a time at the side of the road

 

[fixedfixer]

From someone who has known someone that got their hand mauled by an exploding stone, I would say if you don’t know how the stones have been stored or used, don’t use them. Any visible play I would be binning them. My body is worth more than a grinding wheel.

Good call. It’s easy to get rose tinted specs where free is concerned and miss big safety issues.

 

[Ton-up]

No1 cause of those small grinders vibrating is the inadequate clamp plates being deformed. People do the nuts up more than the plates can stand and the centres pull in bending the plates. I have made thicker, heavier plates for mine that have 1.25" hubs so that my grinder can use surface grinder wheels but you can do the same for regular grinder wheels too. Make the plate hole a good fit on the shaft.

As you say Pete they have crap sideplates, but just as bad is the plate location on the spindle. Many of the cheap grinders dont have a turned down shaft with a reasonable shoulder to locate the plate, but a silly little circlip!

 

[Agroshield]

Has anyone had success with filling and re drilling the lead centres?

Are you positive they are lead? If you go this route, think through the process before you start. To me, it seems it will be considerably more difficult to make a new hole that is concentric with the current perimeter than to dress the wheel to make the perimeter match the middle hole.

Maybe make a close fitting plywood circle for the perimeter and then put a sooty pin at its centre. Put the stone in it and pour your lead.

No1 cause of those small grinders vibrating is the inadequate clamp plates being deformed.

He should also check that the flanges are relieved in the centre (so only touch on a ring around their outer edge) and make sure paper washers are installed.

Somewhere in the recent past someone asked on here about the paper washers for the wheels. It would be instructive for the OP to review that thread as it had a lot of useful advice.

This type very bad:

This type correct:

 

[cheb]

What's the correct name for the paper pads on grinding wheels?

I need some as the wheels I have are bare. I've nothing handy that looks like those on another wheel so I need to buy something. If I need to buy something I might as well buy the proper thing.

www.mig-welding.co.uk

 

[Alan Reynolds]

i found a pbx special left at the side of the road and took that home
there was absolutely nothing wrong with it!
gave it to my brother and hes well chuffed with it
the reason it was at the side of the road?
new owner of the house didnt want the shed full of tools at the bottom of the garden and decided to leave them box at a time at the side of the road

Criminal isn’t it! makes you like crims.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

What's the correct name for the paper pads on grinding wheels?

I need some as the wheels I have are bare. I've nothing handy that looks like those on another wheel so I need to buy something. If I need to buy something I might as well buy the proper thing.

www.mig-welding.co.uk

I understand a cornflake packet glued on lightly, works.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

Are you positive they are lead? If you go this route, think through the process before you start. To me, it seems it will be considerably more difficult to make a new hole that is concentric with the current perimeter than to dress the wheel to make the perimeter match the middle hole.

Maybe make a close fitting plywood circle for the perimeter and then put a sooty pin at its centre. Put the stone in it and pour your lead.



He should also check that the flanges are relieved in the centre (so only touch on a ring around their outer edge) and make sure paper washers are installed.

Somewhere in the recent past someone asked on here about the paper washers for the wheels. It would be instructive for the OP to review that thread as it had a lot of useful advice.

This type very bad:

View attachment 366616

This type correct:
View attachment 366617

Yes it is lead. I have several old wheels in a box and their centres are lead also.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

You can (and should) ring test the stones to check their integrity.

No1 cause of those small grinders vibrating is the inadequate clamp plates being deformed. People do the nuts up more than the plates can stand and the centres pull in bending the plates. I have made thicker, heavier plates for mine that have 1.25" hubs so that my grinder can use surface grinder wheels but you can do the same for regular grinder wheels too. Make the plate hole a good fit on the shaft.

Wire wheels usually come with the adapter rings, I've got a pile of them, or you can knock them up out of plastic on the lathe.

Being able to do the nuts up too tight would be a fine thing. With a left and right hand thread at each end, they only want to undo!

 

[Pete.]

They don't actually need to be that tight. Firmly nipped up is quite sufficient. You don't crank them up like a nut and bolt fastener.