SURFACE CONDITIONING:
A REVIEW OF WHEELS AND DISCS

GRIND/CUT STEEL, IRON AND FERROUS METALS
Weiler Corporation's (Cresco, PA) line of Vortec Pro Bonded Abrasives has a new look. Distinctive red and blue blotters have been added to make sure Vortec Pro stands out in the crowd. Vortec Pro bonded abrasive products are specifically designed for general purpose grinding and cutting applications on steel, iron, and other ferrous metals. All products are resin-bond formulated for aggressive stock removal and fast cutting and are reinforced with fiberglass webbing for stability.

Vortec Pro Type 27 grinding products range from 4 in to 7 in diameter and are available both in ¼ in thickness for grinding and 1/8 in thickness for light grinding or cutting. These wheels are offered in aluminum oxide grain with an option of a 5/8 in x 11 hub and are used on right-angle grinders. Type 27 cutting wheels are offered in .045 in, .060 in and 3/32 in thicknesses. Type 1 cutting wheels are available from 2 in to 7 in diameter in various grit sizes, thicknesses and aluminum oxide abrasive grain. All of these wheels have a metal ring around the hub for additional strength and stability. Type 1 wheels are used on right-angle grinders, electric or air die grinders, tool room grinders and circular saws. www.weilerabrasives.com

EASY REMOVAL OF SEALANTS, PAINT AND RUST
CGW-Camel Grinding Wheels (Niles, IL) has a full-line of surface conditioning abrasives designed to quickly prepare work pieces for finishing. CGW's surface conditioning abrasives are made from non-woven materials impregnated with abrasives for easy removal of materials such as sealants, paints and rust. Consisting of more than 100 products, the surface conditioning line contains EZ strip wheels, hook and loop discs, hand pads, interleaf wheels, surface conditioning flap discs and interleaf flap discs.

"Surface conditioning products are a necessity in the metal fabrication process and creating a uniform work surface allows users to complete projects quickly and professionally," says Joe O'Mera, president of CGW-Camel Grinding Wheels. CGW EZ strip wheels can be used to remove a variety of materials including rust, paint and mill scale. EZ strip wheels are available in 2 in to 8 in diameters and in an assortment of attachment styles including roll-on, ¼ in spindle and ½ in arbor hole. The hook and loop discs are designed for quick changes but have strong attachment capacities.

CGW hand pads are available in premium and economy grades to cover a wide range of applications. The interleaf wheels and flap discs contain alternating flaps of non-woven and coated abrasive materials for uniform surface preparation and finishes. www.cgwheels.com

LIGHT GRINDING, BLENDING AND FINISHING OF FERROUS AND NON-FERROUS METALS
A new line of flexible, non-woven surface conditioning quick change discs for light grinding, blending, and finishing ferrous and non-ferrous metals is being introduced by Rex-Cut Products, Inc. (Fall River, MA). Megabrite? Surface Conditioning Quick Change Discs are designed for general purpose light grinding, blending, cleaning, and finishing applications using a portable right-angle grinder. Featuring non-woven construction in coarse, medium, and very-fine aluminum oxide grits, these flexible 2 in and 3 in discs are suitable for use on stainless steel, aluminum, and sheet metal.

Ideal for manufacturing, quality control, and maintenance applications, Megabrite Surface Conditioning Quick Change Discs come with standard type "R" connectors ("S" optional). Available from stock, they are recommended for removing scale, weld splatter, pits, scratches, rust, corrosion, and light deburring to leave a smooth, clean finish. www.rexcut.com

GRIND AND FINISH ALUMINUM WITH EASE
Weiler Corporation's AL-tra CUT discs are specially designed for superior grinding performance on aluminum. AL-tra CUT discs resist loading when grinding aluminum, ensuring constant contact with the work surface and dramatically increasing performance. These discs also ensure higher cut rates, prolonged disc life and a superior finish when grinding aluminum compared to conventional sanding/grinding discs in the market. For use on right-angle grinders, AL-tra CUT discs are available in 4.5 in and 7 in sizes with grit sizes ranging from 36 to 120. Users of high-speed right-angle die grinders can also benefit from the innovative design of the AL-tra CUT products by using Weiler's 2 in and 3 in blending discs. www.weilerabrasives.com

GRIND, BLEND AND POLISH STAINLESS, MILD STEEL AND ALUMINUM
A new line of universal Type 27 unitized abrasive wheels for grinding, blending, and polishing stainless, mild steel, and aluminum is being introduced by Rex-Cut Products, Inc. Rex-Cut Megabrite? T27 Unitized Wheels are all-purpose abrasive wheels that come in coarse, medium, and fine grits for light grinding, blending, and polishing applications on stainless-, mild steel, and aluminum. They are suitable for edge breaking, light deburring, weld surface preparation, scale-, rust-, flash- and blemish removal, and preparation for painting. Available in 4½ in and 5 in diameter sizes with and without hubs, Rex-Cut Megabrite T27 Unitized Wheels are smooth-running, quiet, and provide excellent operator control with good wheel life, claims the firm. www.rexcut.com

CLEAN, EDGE BLEND, DEBURR AND MISMATCH REMOVAL ON MACHINED PARTS
Weiler Corporation offers its line of Tiger® and Vortec? flap wheels for more aggressive cutting action and increased productivity in a variety of industrial production environments. Weiler's premium line of Tiger flap wheels is designed for superior performance and is ideal for medium- to high-production environments. The Tiger flap wheels provide a high cut rate and a long life. Weiler's Vortec line is cost-effectively priced with a high cut rate and is ideal for low- to medium-production environments.

All of Weiler's flap wheels feature a solid-hub construction, which enables them to be rated at a higher rpm, providing superior performance and smooth, chatter-free finishing. Weiler's Tiger and Vortec flap wheels are ideal for a variety of applications from cleaning, edge blending, deburring and mismatch removal on machined parts, and smoothing metal, plastic and wood, to the final finishes on metal surfaces and finish prior to painting and plating. The flap wheels also yield great results when used for the blending and finishing on dies, molds, tools, tubing and channels. www.weilerabrasives.com

MESH ABRASIVE WHEEL RUNS COOL TO CLEAN UP WELDS
A highly flexible abrasive wheel that runs cool and is well suited for cleaning up welds and discoloration, light grinding and paint and rust removal is available from Rex-Cut Products, Inc. Rex-Cut Sigma Screen? depressed center Type 27 wheels are ideally suited for cleaning up weld splatter, light grinding, and paint and rust removal. Featuring a blend of zirconia-ceramic abrasive grains bonded to a flexible mesh, these wheels run cool and provide chatter-free performance.

Effective for maintenance and production use, Rex-Cut Sigma Screen depressed center Type 27 wheels do not clog and are available in coarse, medium, fine and very fine grits. Measuring 4½ in x 7/8 in, multiple wheels can be stacked onto a grinder for use on metals, composites, and wood. www.rexcut.com

FINISH STAINLESS STEEL IN ONE STEP
A Type 27 blending wheel for the light grinding and blending of small welds on stainless steel cabinets, chassis, furniture, frames, tanks, and vessels is available from Rex-Cut Products, Inc. The Rex-Cut® Type 27 Cotton Fiber Blending Wheel is impregnated with aluminum oxide abrasive grains that are pressed and bonded together to reveal fresh abrasives as they work. Providing smooth, controlled grinding action, this wheel is ideally suited for the light grinding and blending of small welds on stainless steel and can produce a 32-40 RMS surface finish in one-step.

Available in eight sizes from 3 in to 9 in diameters and in varying thicknesses, with five grain sizes and two bonds: MTX tough resin bond for grinding and GFX latex bond for blending and finishing, the Rex-Cut® Type 27 Cotton Fiber Blending Wheel for stainless steel (A36GFX) has an A36 grain size and GFX latex bond. Optional 5/8 in x 11 throw-away adapters are offered. www.rexcut.com