How to Choose the Right Surface Grinder

An electrically operated high-speed hand held surface grinder is usually employed in grinding the rough surfaces of metal or wooden objects till they become smooth or look ‘polished’. The desired results are achieved because of the grinding wheel, which is attached to the spindle of the grinder. And so, the surface grinder you need will depend largely on the material that needs grinding. For instance, if any metal surface needs grinding, the grinding wheel should be made of a highly abrasive material, and it should have numerous cutting niches embedded in it. On the other hand, for grinding a wooden surface, what you need is a less abrasive wheel.

Surface Grinder – The Types

There are two basic types of surface grinders, and they are:

  • The Planer-type
  • The Rotary-type

In the Planer type, the grinding wheel remains stationary, while the worktable moves in a back-and-forth motion. This movement is controlled either manually or through some hydraulic drive system. These grinders are selected when overall grinding is required once the machine component has left the foundry.

In the Rotary type, the grinding wheel rotates, as does the circular worktable. These grinders are selected when the precision machine parts require grinding before being fitted into its housing. In both the surface grinder types, the safety hazards are well taken care of, and because of this, accidents rarely happen.

Hand Held Surface Grinders
Hand-held surface grinders are mostly used by carpenters or machine shop assistants. However they come with several risks for the user. First of all, flying debris loosened by the grinder can hit the user with a tremendous force, and this can of course cause physical injury. In rare instances, the user may also be blinded if any flying trash hits the eye. Therefore, people who use these grinders must wear a suitable uniform to protect them from the debris. It is also essential to wear goggles for eye safety.

Things to do After a Surface Grinding Job Is Over
After a surface grinding job is over, the entire workstation should be cleared of debris. If the work was done on a wooden material, the sawdust may be supplied to those who make composite boards, while the shavings from the metal surface can be sent to steel mills for melting.

However, what matters most is the safe clean-up of the work area, as otherwise, someone might get injured from carelessly thrown bits of metal shavings. Also, the surface grinder needs attention after each operation. It should be checked for any flying debris that blocks its air vents or any damage caused to the moving parts.

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