How to get the most out of your grinding wheel

June 7, 2022
By Norton for the Blue Print Editorial Team

New technology will continue to evolve but applying the appropriate safety precautions and proper usage won’t change when grinding abrasives.

What does safety look like?
Proper grinding angle
Grinding at a shallow or flat angle (<15° angle) could cause:

• Uneven wear
• Loading
• Wheel bouncing and chatter
• Spalling and chipping
• One way to troubleshoot this is by grinding at the recommended angle (~30 °)​

Proper bevel

• A proper bevel happens when the grinding wheels are used at about a 30 degree angle.
• Proper bevel means you are using the wheels efficiently and optimizing wheel life.
• An indication of flat grinding is the exposed fiber glass at the bottom.
• An indication of high angle grinding is excessive chipping.​​

Proper guards

• Any cutting operation must be carried out using a machine with a closed housing.
• Ensure the guard size matches the appropriate wheel size.
• Any machine using a disc with a diameter >4 inches must have a handle.

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Additional steps and awareness to get the most out of a wheel

• Follow all symbols and warnings located on the wheel.
• Review the SDS (Safety Data Sheets) for the wheel and the material being cut before using the wheel.
• Comply with ANSI B7.1, OSHA, and all safety materials provided with the wheel and machine.

Resources

• Angle grinder safety: Using a guard
• Angle grinder safety: Proper wheels, tool, and speed
• Find what you need!

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