SURFACE CONDITIONING:
A REVIEW OF WHEELS AND DISCS (Part Two)

ADDITIONAL COOLING WHEN GRINDING STAINLESS STEEL
The CS Unitec (Norwalk, CT) Plantex® Cool Top® flap discs are composed of a high-tech compound that has been specifically developed for grinding stainless steel. The discs' abrasive fabric is 100 percent pure zirconium and an additional top-size coating provides increased cooling to improve grinding performance and service life. The unique abrasive structure reduces heat and increases grinding production on stainless steel and super alloys.

These discs feature a backing plate made of natural hemp with a polypropylene binder. Safer working conditions result from the elimination of fiberglass, mineral fibers and epoxy resin in the backing plate. This hemp-fiber, high-tech compound also provides high insulating, vibration damping and noise-reducing properties. The disc automatically reduces in size during grinding, allowing 100-percent utilization of the abrasive fabric. These environmentally friendly discs minimize pollution from production to waste disposal.

Plantex Cool Top discs are available in diameters of 4 in, 4½ in, 5 in and 7 in and in grits of 40 and 60. These discs are ideal for speeds of 5000 rpm to 8000 rpm and can run at a maximum of 13,300 rpm (4½ in diameter). www.csunitec.com, info@csunitec.com

GRIND HIGH-SPEED STEELS AND CAST ALLOY STEELS
CGW Pink Grain Grinding Wheels from KBC Tools (Sterling Heights, MI) are designed for grinding medium and hard-to-grind high-speed steels and cast alloy steels. They have a sharper grain for fast, cool cutting action, are more friable than white aluminum oxide grain and excel at rapid stock removal. www.kbctools.com

ABRASIVE GRINDING WHEELS HELP PREVENT HAVS AND WHITE FINGER
A line of abrasive grinding wheels for removing heavy welds from stainless-, mild- and carbon steel with minimal vibration to promote operator wellness is available from Rex-Cut Products, Inc. (Fall River, MA). Rex-Cut® Sigma-Green Grinding Wheels feature a blend of zirconia and ceramic abrasives with a proprietary elastomer bond that promotes low vibration and smooth operation for applications requiring heavy stock removal. Designed to help prevent carpal tunnel, hand-arm vibration syndrome, white finger and fatigue, they are suitable for stainless, mild and carbon steel.

Offered in 36 grit 46 grit and 60 grit styles, Rex-Cut Sigma-Green Grinding Wheels cut 50 percent faster, run 20 percent cooler, last longer, and produce a better finish than aluminum-oxide grinding wheels, claims the firm. Available in 4 in, 4½ in, 5 in and 7 in sizes, with or without hubs, for right angle grinders, a 5/8-11 throw-away adapter that screws onto a standard 5/8 in arbor is optional. bobc@rexcut.com, www.rexcut.com

INNOVATIVE FLAP DISCS ALLOW SUPERIOR GRINDING CONTROL
CGW-Camel Grinding Wheels (Niles, IL)
has introduced its new Z-THRU? flap disc line. Z-THRU flap discs have laser cut flaps precisely layered to create a transparent grinding zone, enabling users to view the work piece while grinding. This ability provides users with complete grinding control allowing for fewer errors and improved production times.

Z-THRU flap discs are made from zirconia alumina grain, a high-grade cooling agent, and a heat-treated poly/cotton backing material for long lasting, smooth grinding action. Z-THRU flap discs are ideal for blending, finishing and rust removal and can be used on carbon and stainless steels. The new flap discs are available in 4½ in and 5 in diameters, 40 grit, 60 grit, and 80 grit sizes and 7/8 in or 5/8-11 arbor holes. ?Z-THRU flap discs allow for precise grinding. By seeing what you are grinding, users don?t have to interrupt their work to get to their exact stopping point.? says Joe O?Mera, president of CGW-Camel Grinding Wheels. www.cgwheels.com

MATCH GRAIN-IN FINISH ON STAINLESS STEEL
A line of interleaf flap discs that are calibrated to match the grained-in finish on stainless steel architectural railings in one smooth operation is available from Rex-Cut Products, Inc. Rex-Cut® FUSION? Flap Discs were developed for blending welds and finishing stainless steel railings in one-step by combining a premium coated abrasive layer of material with a non-woven surface conditioning layer into one disc. Calibrated with abrasive grains to produce a specific grained-in finish, these interleaf flap discs come in coarse, medium and very-fine grits.

Supplied in 4½ in and 5 in diameter sizes, with or without quick mount adapters, Rex-Cut FUSION Flap Discs constantly reveal fresh abrasives as they work, rapidly remove material, run smoothly and are capable of lasting six times longer than traditional surface conditioning discs, claims the firm. bobc@rexcut.com, www.rexcut.com

SYNTHETIC NON-WOVEN ABRASIVES PRODUCE CONSISTENT FINISH
Rex-Cut Products, Inc. introduced an expanded line of synthetic fiber abrasive products that provide smooth, controlled operation on stainless steel, aluminum and exotic alloys. Rex-Cut Megabrite? Non-Woven Abrasives include unitized Type 1, convolute, and Type 27 wheels, mounted points and their new finishing flap discs. Manufactured by compressing a non-woven synthetic fiber material with a proprietary resin and abrasive grains, these products feature a nominally open structure, which provides cushioning for cooler and smoother operation, resulting in a consistent finish.

Unlike rigid bonded wheels, which are not forgiving, Rex-Cut Megabrite Non-Woven Abrasive Products are easier to control, claims the firm. The wheels are offered in soft to hard densities (2 to 9) and coarse to very fine grit. Flap discs blend and finish a weld in one operation, and the mounted points come in a variety of A, B, and W industry standard shapes and sizes. bobc@rexcut.com, www.rexcut.com

TRIMMABLE DISC INCREASES FLEXIBILITY AND USEABLE LIFE
Weiler Corporation's (Cresco, PA) Trimmable Tiger® Disc's unique abrasive flap disc design enables the operator to trim away the performance-engineered backing of the disc up to 3/8 in from the original diameter, exposing more flap abrasive and dramatically extending the life of the disc, resulting in lower grinding and finishing costs. The trimmable backing also allows for high flexibility, enabling the operator to access hard-to-reach areas such as right angles and irregular shapes, or grind on-edge without changing tools, increasing productivity. In addition, the non-marking backing will not damage the work-piece, resulting in less re-work and scrap.

Previously available in just zirconium grain, the trimmable backed disc is now offered in ceramic grain, which is ideal for cool, fast-cutting action on hard-to-grind metals such as stainless steel. Like all of Weiler?s Tiger Discs, the trimmable disc aggressively removes stock while providing an excellent finish. There is no need to switch from a Type 27 wheel to a resin fiber disc. Users can grind and finish in one easy step. This results in fewer changeovers. www.weilerabrasives.com

REMOVE HEAVY WELDS, FINISH STAINLESS STEEL
An abrasive grinding kit that combines a fast-cutting grinding wheel and a blending and finishing wheel to remove heavy welds on stainless steel is available from Rex-Cut Products, Inc. The Rex-Cut® Grind and Blend Kit pairs a fast cutting, chatter-free Sigma Green zirconia-ceramic grinding wheel with a resilient cotton fiber Type 27 blending and finishing wheel for removing heavy welds on stainless steel. Capable of producing a 32 RMS or better finish, this abrasive kit is ideal for surface preparation and final finishing, claims the firm.

Cutting up to 50 percent faster than an aluminum oxide grinding wheel, the Sigma Green wheel in the Rex-Cut® Grind and Blend Kit features a 36-grit zirconia-ceramic grain and a proprietary bond for aggressive grinding. The cotton fiber Type 27 blending wheel uses a 54 grit aluminum oxide abrasive and both wheels are 4½ in diameter and are available with and without hubs. bobc@rexcut.com, www.rexcut.com