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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
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    1,174

    Default Wire wheel on angle grinder

    Being close to Easter, late this afternoon I decided to start the resurrection of a small 28 year old workbench that I think can still serve a purpose in my shed. This bench has a rusty 1.5" angle iron frame, a badly installed standard 5" vice, and an uneven 150 x 40mm thick Jarrah board top that is studded with drill holes and saw cuts. Despite this, the frame is still solid and the underneath of the jarrah boards look reasonably serviceable.

    Anyway after taking it apart I decided to use a stiff wire wheel brush on an angle grinder to take the excess rust off the frame. Dressed in my standard shed apparel of t-shirt and footy shorts, but using the all important safety glasses and ear muffs I felt moderately safe. While working with the grinder I felt a number of small stings on my upper legs and arms which I thought were just flakes of rust hitting my skin. About half an hour ago in the shower I discovered about half a dozen, 1 - 10 mm long bits of wire hanging out of my skin. These wires are clearly from from the wire wheel.

    Normally I use this wire wheel on timber where I don't have this problem. Long pants/sleeves and maybe a leather apron next time?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
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    47
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    Default

    er...I think if you read the recommended rpm speed rating on the wire brush, you will find that they are not really meant to spin as fast as angle grinders spin..... How did you get one that mounts on an angle grinder?
    I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.
    Albert Einstein

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Warwick, QLD
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    45
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    1,175

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by martrix
    er...I think if you read the recommended rpm speed rating on the wire brush, you will find that they are not really meant to spin as fast as angle grinders spin..... How did you get one that mounts on an angle grinder?
    Martrix, to get one that mounts on the angle grinder, go to the nearest hardware store or auto parts shop and buy a wire wheel or wire cup brush that are made with a hole or threaded nut to suit a angle grinder.
    Seriously you can buy them easily.
    Have a nice day - Cheers

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2000
    Location
    Drop Bear Capital of Gippsland (Lang Lang) Vic Australia
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    74
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    2,238

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Wood Butcher
    Martrix, to get one that mounts on the angle grinder, go to the nearest hardware store or auto parts shop and buy a wire wheel or wire cup brush that are made with a hole or threaded nut to suit a angle grinder.
    Seriously you can buy them easily.
    I have one of each, had them for ages, metal fabricating shops use a lot of them too.
    Stupidity kills. Absolute stupidity kills absolutely.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Warwick, QLD
    Age
    45
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    1,175

    Default

    I bought one of the cup versions when I was stripping the paint off my BS to restore it. They are fantastic, but be careful if they catch:eek: And yeah I ended up like a needle cushion too!
    Have a nice day - Cheers

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Toowoomba Qld.
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    65
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    Default

    Even the wire wheels intended for use on a fixed bench grinder will shed their wires in use. They wear out, and that's what happens. Can be a painful and risky procedure, and saftey protection including gloves is a must. I actually stopped buying the wire wheels for use in the student's workshop, too risky for eyes, and instead use a 3M abrasive product. Its a similar size wheel, but made of an open rubbery compound imbedded with abrasive particles. Rips off paint and rust but not as good for getting into corners etc...and wear$ away too.

    Cheers,
    Andy Mac
    Change is inevitable, growth is optional.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    1,174

    Default

    Yes it is the wire wheel type with the threaded hole that fits directly onto the angle grinder. The thing is, using this on wood was fine, I think it was losing wire because I was using it on angle iron with all those hard edges etc. Maybe I was just forcing too hard.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    The Oaks, NSW
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    72
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    Been there, done that, in shorts and t-shirt as well.

    Chris
    If you can't laugh at yourself, you could be missing out on the joke of the century - E.Everidge

    the Banksiaman

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Towradgi
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    2

    Default

    Bob, any time I play with my angle grinder, I wear Steel cap boots, Long trousers (King Gee Heavy drill), Long sleeve shirt, Glooves, Safety glasses, Ear Muffs, Full face Shield and my forum cap! Too many time being a pin cushion
    Pat
    Work is a necessary evil to be avoided. Mark Twain

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Gympie, QLD
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    Went through two of these grinder wire wheels a day when I was a labourer at a steel works. I had to de-pincushion my shirt every smoko and before going home. SWMBO got MOST upset if she found a 'steel splinter' in the wash. In the end we had to go back to hand wire brushes 'cos the welders (18 feet away behind metal shield walls) complained about getting 'wired'.
    Trevor.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
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    Big brother who is the metalwork division of the family would give this advice.

    wire wheel, angle grinder, two hands, farriers apron, full face shield.

    This is from a man that uses a 9" angle grinder to cut metal in shorts.:eek:

    I've been spiked thru heavy drill trousers.

    imagine waht that would do to your eye:eek:

    cheers
    Any thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
    Most powertools have sharp teeth.
    People are made of meat.
    Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Quote Originally Posted by soundman
    ........imagine waht that would do to your eye:eek:

    cheers
    I'd like to measure the frequency response of the output shreak when it happens!

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Bairnsdale
    Age
    51
    Posts
    3

    Default new here

    I only joined this forum to thank you all for giving me many hours of reading and advice over the last few weeks.I am in Bairnsdale Victoria Australia. And I am what you would call a budding home hobby engineer. Again thankyou all.
    Matt

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Kalamunda, WA
    Age
    53
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    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    I'd like to measure the frequency response of the output shreak when it happens!
    On alot of occasions it is not noticed, one of those things that hurt once you realise what you have done. Not speaking from personal experience but 10 years in Mining dealing with Environment and Safety saw a fair few eye injuries.

    I too have been a pin cushion, copped a fair few in the thighs over the years when pushing hard to clean of deep rust on sharp edged objects, don't think I would like to get one in the sack

    Reminds me of the time I spent the day squatting down welding old plough feet onto lengths of rod that we were going to concrete in the ground to hold 100 m long tents up when I was working with the Ag Department. Only had short King Gee shorts, blundstones and a drill shirt on - was like bad sunburn right up to me treasures Walked funny for days

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
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    Quote Originally Posted by Burnsy View Post
    .......Reminds me of the time I spent the day squatting down welding old plough feet onto lengths of rod that we were going to concrete in the ground to hold 100 m long tents up when I was working with the Ag Department. Only had short King Gee shorts, blundstones and a drill shirt on - was like bad sunburn right up to me treasures Walked funny for days
    Now that's gotta win the botty winking story of the week!

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