Wheel dresser, also known as a gridding dresser, is a tool used in dressing grinding wheel surface. Grinding dresser is used in returning a wheel to the original circular shape. A bench grinder is a cutting edge tool, and some of them feature single points, whereas other features multiple points.
They cut using diamond cutters that often need to maintain their sharpness. In this article, we shall go through how to dress a grinding wheel on a bench grinder.
Dressing a grinding wheel
It is advisable to assess your grinding wheel for any cracks available before you start dressing it. You should perform a visual inspection as well as performing a ring test to evaluate for any fault present in your wheel grinder before dressing it.
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Once you are certain that the wheel grinder is in good condition, you should assess the tool rest. You should leave 1/6 inch in between the wheel and the tool rest. As your grinding wheel wears down, adjusting the rest and moving it closer is highly recommended.
This is essential since leaving a considerable space between the wheel and the tool rest you will be increasing the chances of your tool getting damaged or causing severe injury. This will prevent your dresser from being caught by the wheel and sucked under it, which might lead to physical injury on your hand or fingers. You should ensure that you are when it is not wobbly by adjusting it and making sure it is stable.
Most grinding wheels feature spark-guard, which helps in keeping the spark from coming into contact with your face or workpiece by following the wheel spin. You should adjust the spark guard and ensure that it is closer to the wheel by 1/6 inch.
For grinding wheels without spark-guard, you should always take caution when operating it. There are some dressers that cause sparks to fly around; therefore, having safety glasses and full facial protection will be highly advisable.
Aluminum oxide or Silicon carbide specks of dust are highly hazardous to the lungs; therefore, staying away from it is crucial. Acute Silicosis is considered to be a severe infection, and for you to prevent it from occurring, you should consider investing in high-quality masks.
You should always wear the masks for maximum protection when working on the grinding wheel. Furthermore, you should consider covering types of machinery available in your shop or garage to prevent them from abrasive specks of dust all over them. You should keep in mind that maintaining a tidy working environment is vital for preventing any chances of injury from occurring.
One of the vital things you should consider when dressing a grinding wheel is avoiding long sleeve clothes. This will help you prevent accidents from occurring. This applies to long hair as well; you should consider pulling it towards the back to prevent them from getting caught by the grinding wheel.
Furthermore, gloves are as well considered to be dangerous when dressing an abrasive wheel as they easily get trapped by the machine. However, they are deemed safe for use on a longer handle. You should consider taking extra precautions such as turning on your bench grinder while standing beside it and not at its front.
Once you have all the vital precautions in place and have all the necessary protective gear, you will then be ready to commence. Dressing a grinding wheel on a bench grinder feature a similar process with diamond dresser, star dressers, and dressing sticks. Dressing and truing are carried by holding the dresser against the surface of the rotating grinding wheel and moving it across the face of the wheel back and forth.
You should then switch on the grinder to attain maximum RPM. Commence by positioning your dresser from the center to one end of the grinding wheel. Depending on the dresser you are using, you might start by placing the dresser’s leg behind the rest. Then you should apply pressure on the surface of the grinding wheel and then run the machine back and forth.
The entire process of dressing a grinding wheel is not complicated, and it will take you approximately five minutes to complete the whole process. You should consider truing and dress your grinding wheels enough to create new sharp abrasive diamond grains or establish concentricity to your workpiece.
The entire process will be over once you have a flat surface to operate on the wheel and give it a brand new look. The most vital aspect when dressing a grinding wheel is adjusting the tool rest to 1/6 inch keeping it a distance from the wheel once you are through with dressing it.
What to consider when dressing a grinding wheel
The most important thing to consider when dressing a grinding wheel is your safety. Here are some of the critical aspect you should consider:
- Fastening pedestal as well as the bench grinders safely on a solid surface,
- You should make sure that all the guards are secure and in place before operating the grinder
- Before dressing a grinding wheel on a bench grinder, you should adjust the rest to 1/6 inch for maximum safety.
- You should as well maintain a wheel exposure of 1/6 inch with movable guard or tongue guard
- Assess for blotters on each side of the wheel.
- Before turning the grinder on, you should tighten the nuts.
- Consider spinning the grinder manually before plugging the grinder; this helps you assess how free the grinder is spinning.
- Ensure that the cables are in good condition and not damaged.
- Always keep the cables away from the working area.
- You should always put on protective equipment to protect your eyes, ears, and the entire face.
- Before wearing gloves, you should get asses if it is safe to use it with the bench grinder.
- You should always stand beside the grinding wheel until it attains its operating speed.
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Final Thoughts
When dressing a grinding wheel on a bench grinder, you should always put safety as your first priority. By adhering to this article, you will be able to carry out the entire process safely without much problem.
