Belt Surface Grinder Wheel Questions

[Knifeman9000]

I am pulling together the pieces for a belt surface grinder and wondered about drive wheel specs/sources. Ed's old South African source seems to be defunct, so I wondered if there are any alternative 100+ durometer wheel sources plus thoughts on using a solid aluminum drive/contact wheel.

Thanks so much,

John

[Ed Caffrey]

Hi John!

The only source I know of for a 100 durometer wheel is to have one made by Sunray Corp, ask to speak with Shane.

What you have to remember with SunRay is that they are not a grinder contact wheel manufacturer. They work mostly on military contracts, so you have to ensure that you give them ALL of the specs for the wheel you want. Do not assume anything, because if you do, you will not get it. They are super folks to work with.

I know of several individuals who have setup their surface grinders with solid aluminum or steel contact wheels for running a belt. Those type of wheel must be absolutely true or it causes all kinds of problems. Aside from that, about the only thing I have noticed with solid aluminum or steel contact wheels on a surface grinder is that it lessens the depth of each pass you can take, and unless EVERYTHING (chuck, wheel, etc.) isn't precision trued, you can get a lot of chatter.

[cappaletti]

Tracy Mickley at USAknifemakers sells them...

[Knifeman9000]

Thanks Ed - I had an RFQ into Shane for a bare aluminum wheel - I will revise to a 100 Durometer one.

I specified 6061, OD, width, shaft/keyway dimensions, no setscrew - is that sufficiently-specified to avoid a surprise or do I need more?

Originally Posted by cappaletti

Tracy Mickley at USAknifemakers sells them...

Can you point me to a link? I have looked all over the site but didn't find an applicable part...

j

[Karl B. Andersen]

He has a bunch of 70 durometer which might work:

http://www.usaknifemaker.com/grinder...s-c-99_60.html

[Knifeman9000]

Thanks Karl - I was adhering to advice Ed had given earlier about the need for very hard (100+) wheels for the belt surface grinder application. Additionally, they need to be drive wheels, as well, which I haven't found on usakifemaker.

[Karl B. Andersen]

Gotcha.
Stephen Bader has 90 Duro rubber, and can probably fix you up with one of their drive wheels if you ask 'em nice!

http://www.stephenbader.com/

[Thingmaker]

Originally Posted by Ed Caffrey

The only source I know of for a 100 durometer wheel...

Sorry for being so clueless, but is that 100 Shore D? Shore A is the softer one?

[Ed Caffrey]

I don't know the answer of the "shore". What I can tell you is that I tried a 90 durometer wheel, and ever with LIGHT down pressure when making a pass on the grinder, your work piece will wind up convexed. 90 durometer just isn't hard enough. You can still make a 100 urethane wheel cup slightly, but to do that requires enough down pressure to stop/bog most 6x12 machines.

That's a good thing since it seems that with urethane, 100 is the hardest durometer you'll be able to get.

I actually tried a solid aluminum wheel once.....and I just didn't care for it. Between the chatter and the finish it was maddening.