wire wheel recomendations

[mike k]

I am looking at getting a decent wire wheel for my bench grinder, also looking at smaller versions for my flexible shaft and die grinder. I have only had the cheap ones before as not had much call for them. The twisted not ones look like they could be good but have no experience so am in need of some guidance.

Many thanks

mike

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Die grinder would be too fast. Ones in a bench grinder are horrible things. Bits fall out bits you are cleaning grab etc. Drill and grinder onen are much better

 

[GrahamGKD]

I've bought the beveled twist knot ones for angle grinders from these people. They seem pretty good to me. I have stainless and ordinary steel ones - I must try a brass one sometime. They need to be used with care - they can snatch depending on what you are working on. I also found one of the wires embedded quite deep in my leg when I went to bed one night - I didn't feel it but noticed a little 'splinter' stuck out just proud of the skin. I pulled it with a tweezers and it just kept coming!!! The people I linked to also sell bench grinder ones but I have no experience of those.

 

[richie00boy]

Have you tried polycarbide wheels in your angle grinder? I prefer them to wire wheels now as they don't polish the metal or make flying needles. But it depends what your projects are.

 

[GrahamGKD]

Have you tried polycarbide wheels in your angle grinder? I prefer them to wire wheels now as they don't polish the metal or make flying needles. But it depends what your projects are.

In my fairly limited experience of them the polycarbide wheels are great but they don't seem to last that long compared with a wire brush?

 

[chunkolini]

I use them lots on my Draper bench grinder for cleaning and polishing.
Surprisingly the Silver line ones are great.

 

[mike k]

I am looking to use them to remove powder coating from large areas then finish the job in the blast cabinet. I have been using the cheap screw fix ones last week on my die grinder removing paint from steel panels of my spray booth. The Lil wires tried on a few occasions to imbed themselves in me forehead. I am wanting ones mainly for me bench grinder, preferably a one which won't come apart and try stick in me if their is such a thing? Or is there another sort of abrasive wheel I could use that will remove paint and powder coat without to much damage to the metal?

Mike

 

[chunkolini]

Powder coating is a nightmare to remove. i did a bike frame once. Never again.
Die grinder would be much too fast.

 

[J.B. Welding]

Powder coating is a nightmare to remove. i did a bike frame once. Never again.
Die grinder would be much too fast.

I agree, with a wire wheel it can just smear around, even grit blasting can bounce off it. With some bull bars I was blasting I ended up scraping it, then giving it the oxy propane treatment till it went brittle and then back to blasting. Proper nightmare and totally useless finish unless the steel is galvanised first.
I've found if the wheel is rated to 15000 rpm (4 1/2" grinder size) and says "made in Germany" on it its generally as good as you'll get.

 

[GrahamGKD]

......preferably a one which won't come apart and try stick in me if their is such a thing?.....

I think all rotary wire bushes will shed wires eventually - I guess the thing to do would be to bin them before the wires have a chance to fatigue?

 

[Jim Davey]

Wear a leather apron an full face visor/brow guard. All wire wheels shed eventually. A variable speed grinder set at low rpm seems to reduce the frequency of bristles falling out and they won't be going nearly so fast when they do. Strangely reducing the speed doesn't seem to have any detrimental effect on how fast they clean, you might even find on powder coat there is less burning and smearing of the powdercoat. If it's good, well adhered powdercoat though you're best of burning it or chemically stripping the stuff off.

 

[mike k]

Thanks for all the good input.

For some reason i was wanting to use the wire wheel to rough up the coating before blasting, not too sure why? I had too Google polycarbide wheels, when I seen them I realised I have some small ones I tried them years ago for blending when doing porting work. I found them pricey considering how fast the wear and flap wheels did a far better job. Like scotchbrite wheels, only good for roughing up and wear way too quickly.

been using small wire wheels in the die grinder with 5 bar of pressure, work well and remove paint from galvinised steel at a good rate - just work safe with them and it's personal choice if you want to exceed the rpm's but the cheap ones held up.

Mike