ABRASIVE TOOLS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Metal grinding is one of the most common types of material processing. It allows you to remove excess material, level the surface, remove rust or paint, and also obtain a smooth and even surface. Various abrasive tools are used for grinding metal, which differ in the material from which they are made, grain size and hardness.

Abrasive material

The most common abrasive materials are electrocorundum and silicon carbide. Electrocorundum is a harder material than silicon carbide and provides a smoother surface. Silicon carbide, on the other hand, is cheaper and can be used to grind harder materials.

Abrasive grain size

The grain size of the abrasive determines the size of the grains that make it up. The smaller the grain size, the finer the surface that will be obtained after grinding. For coarse grinding, an abrasive with a large grain size is used, for fine grinding - with a fine grain size.

Abrasive hardness

The hardness of the abrasive determines its ability to resist abrasion. The higher the hardness, the longer the abrasive will retain its properties.

Types of abrasive tools

Abrasive tools for grinding metal are produced in the form of wheels, tapes, sandpaper, bars and pastes.

• Circles are the most common type of abrasive tools for grinding metal . They are used on grinding machines, as well as by hand. Circles can be round, rectangular, square and other shapes.
• Strips  are abrasive tools used for grinding metal on grinding machines. Tapes can be self-adhesive or wound on a sleeve.
• Sanding paper  is an abrasive material that is glued to paper or another base. Sandpaper is used for manual grinding of metal.
• Bars  are abrasive tools used for manual grinding of metal. Bars can be flat, conical or other shapes.
• Pastes  are abrasive materials that are applied to the metal surface for grinding. The paste is used for fine grinding and polishing of metal.

Which abrasive tool is better for grinding metal?

The choice of an abrasive tool for metal grinding depends on such factors as:

• The type of metal that will be ground.
• The level of surface roughness that should be obtained.
• Type of grinding.

For grinding soft metals, such as steel and copper, you can use electrocorundum abrasive with any grain size. For grinding hard metals, such as cast iron and bronze, it is better to use a silicon carbide abrasive with a large grain.

For rough grinding, for example, to remove rust or paint, you can use an abrasive with a large grain. For fine grinding, for example, to obtain a smooth surface, you can use an abrasive with a fine grain.

For grinding flat surfaces, you can use circles or bars. Tapes or bars can be used for grinding curved surfaces.

When choosing an abrasive tool for grinding metal, it is important to consider all factors to get the best result.