Before you switch on the grinder, rotate the disc with your hand to ensure that it spins smoothly. This also means that you spend less money to get the same result if you were to purchase a grinding and finishing disc. Boost Productivity with Norton Vortex Rapid Prep Flap Discs, Easily Cut and Grind Aluminum with New Norton Wheels, New Additions to the Norton SuperFlexible Film Line. Aluminum Oxide: This is the traditional abrasive that was first widely used on flap discs. A disc that has been dropped or otherwise mishandled can be damaged, which can lead to breakage. 6K votes, 403 comments. In the metal fabrication industry, flap discs and flap wheels are utilized for cleaning, shaping, deburring, polishing, and finishing jobs. A flap disc is an abrasive disc made of small sheets of overlapping sandpapers arranged in a circular shape. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. More specifically brand new throwers (or throwers who haven't picked up the discus in 9 months) emailing me after their first few days of practice complaining that the discus is not releasing out of their hand the right way. On the remaining side, there is a backing cloth made of cotton, polyester, or a blend of these two fabrics. It consists of overlapping abrasive flaps glued to a backing plate and is regularly used for welding, machining, heavy-duty equipment work, and industrial maintenance. For flattening wood, I strongly recommend you use a belt sander or a drum sander. Tip #3: Get everyone out of the circles and start doing release drills. Adjust the safety guard on the grinder such that the direction of the sparks will be away from your body. After that, tighten the lock with a spanner wrench; When the two adapting nuts have been tightened, the top nut should rest at the center of the backing plate. 10 min read, June 21, 2023 If you aren't comfortable with the discus in your hand, how can you possibly be ready to throw it far? Flap discs, when used for applications with thinner materials, can reduce the risk of removing too much material while reducing process costs and time. are also one of the most useful tools for metal fabrication. Flaps wear from their outer ends and the sheet carrier cuts back as the abrasive coating is worn away. Use metal backings for concrete or engineered stones, and use fiberglass or plastic backings for most metal or wood jobs. The size of a flap disc is measured by its diameter. 1. When it comes to purchasing flap discs, you have plenty of options. A flap disc consists of many overlapping flaps. As you continue to do the machining, the abrasive grains here will get depleted and the fresh abrasives of the flap behind them will be exposed. Dont use a flap disc if you have not reviewed all of the safety materials and have not been properly trained in the use of the tool and flap disc. These discs can be used at angles of 0-15o. Less vibration and less fatigue for more productive jobs. Choose the right disc for the job: Tech tip: 3M Cubitron II Flap Discs will often produce a finish equivalent to the next-finer grade of a fibre disc (i.e. For common grinding, use abrasives with lower grit numbers. Winner Walter Technologies 15W454 FlexSteel Flap Disc Price Est./ Our Rating: $$$ / 4.8/5 Read Our Quick Review View Price 2. Reddit inc. then told us the sub will be reopened anyways. Wheels that have recesses CANNOT be worn down to their mounting flanges because the edge of the recess will spall away. Weld Blending Grinding Deburring Deflashing Stock Removal Surface Finishing Edge Chamfering Saber Tooth oatedabrasiveflap discs are becoming more popular in the metal fabrication and finishing industries. Compared to flat sheets, that are discarded after only a small area of the abrasive is truly worn-out, this is a much more efficient use of the abrasive material. It is used for a number of functions in metalwork, including surface finishing, blending, and stock removal. While you can also use flap discs for metal removal, they are not as efficient in this role as grinding wheels. If so, be sure to check out the other articles on our website. For example, a DeWalt Type 27 flap disc should be used only at an angle of 0-15 degrees. This is an important step because the selection of abrasive material and grit size will determine the effectiveness of the finishing or grinding you intend to do on the metal. Were a family owned company that offers same-day shipping and discounted pricing for bulk orders. Flap disk recycle hack - how to trim and making it last longer or prolong its life. Tip #4: Get your athletes to bowl the discus back and forth to each . Take the first week of practice to reinforce proper technique with all of your throwers so you aren't taking the next 3 months trying to correct bad habits. Reddit inc. required us to consult the users on how to move the community forward, they overwhelmingly voted to have the sub close. This process continuous and enables you to grind without losing the quality of cutting and also extends the life of the disc. Although mostly associated with metal, the flap disc is perfect for grinding or sanding wood. Cookie Notice Overall, flap discs are quite handy and useful in finishing metal and grinding metal, wood, and other hard materials. When working with metal, it becomes very important to use tools that are safe and effective. Never exceed the rated speed of a flap disc. Steel Core: Support Part. There are a few different methods you can use to remove rust, and one of the most popular methods is using a grit flap disc. No power, no computer, no internetand no blog. Before you know it your athletes are going to have awful sunburns from not putting on sunblock and the big meets will be right around the corner. This might not happen until the second week of practice but THAT IS OK! Aluminum oxide is the cheapest of the three. And if you are trying to grind away unwanted material, the wrong angle may only ruin the project. Learn about the impacts of crystalline silica exposure and the standards in place to keep workers safe. Unlike the simpler flat disks, made from a circular flat sheet of a coated abrasive, a flapwheel is made of multiple overlapping small pieces or 'flaps', bonded to a central hub. In order to get the maximum benefits out of flap discs, its important to choose the right abrasive grit material for your specific job needs. The backing plate material is also an important variable to consider when choosing flap discs for your application. Proudly created by jzDesignz with Wix.com. Don't Choke at the Big Meets! Flap wheels are used for different metalworking applications including fabrication, deburring, cleaning, polishing, and finishing. Get it in your hand and start doing drills outside the circle. A flap disc is perhaps the only sanding device with which you can achieve higher grades of finish with lower grit wheels. This will allow the flap disc to take off the paint while not digging into the surface too much. This improves productivity. A quality flap disc offers longer life and avoids changing discs frequently. However, there are some important differences. September 1, 2017 When working with thinner materials, flap discs are often a good choice. Proper Grinding Angle and Surface It is important to use flap discs at the correct angle and on the correct surface. Flap disc can work on wood as well as on metal. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. This disc type can be used at an angle of 0-15 degrees. There are 2 flap density levels for a flap disc: Like sandpaper pads, flap discs come in a wide variety of abrasive grit sizes, ranging from 36 to 120. Mud flaps protect your car in several ways. Also Read: Flap Disc vs Sanding Disc The machine will determine discard size i.e.
When it comes to flap discs, theres a variety of discs available in todays marketplace. You can use a flap disc with an angle grinder to clean old paint, rust, and other materials without damaging the surface underneath. I started with an angle grinder and a flap disc. What Flap Discs are Best for Aluminum Grinding? Plus, they offer cooler cutting with minimal scratching. The more delicate the job is, the higher you should go with your grit size. Flap wheels are available in different grits, diameters, and sizes. Grit sizes range from 24 to 120. clamping mechanism must have full contact with wheel or segment. While angle grinders are arguably not the best devices for grinding and finishing, they are quite handy, portable, and can fill in adequately when needed. Dont install a flap disc onto a machine NOT in good working condition. You can also select the size of the flap discs which range from two to seven inches in diameter. Week 1 and 2 - Thrower Preseason Strength Training Made Easy! Tip #5: Have your athletes toss the discus up in the air a few feet and catch it. Advantages The advantages of a flapwheel over a traditional disk are twofold: Are you exploring flap discs to use for your next project? If the application allows the wheel to be worn to stub, you must stop before contacting the mounting flanges and should never use the wheels hub to grind. This is because the flap disc uses cloth that can catch on the uneven surface and tear, resulting in having to change out the disc which only costs you more money. Vacuum Brazed or Sintered Attachment. In addition to these three areas, it is important to follow the basic dos and donts for flap discs to ensure they are used properly and safely. The answer depends on the grinding wheel and the application. They can be used for finishing metals by quickly removing burrs and producing a smooth finish on the edges. (508) 795-2317 or Fax. Do not use flat or on the edge. There is a common misconception that guards are not required when using coated abrasive products. The two main types of flap discs are Type 27 and Type 29. We carry a variety of styles and options to fit every application. This is one of my all time favorite release drills because athletes can do it anywhere. Keep them away from water or other fluids. A wheel shall not be worn down to a size which would allow the mounting flange assembly to contact the work piece or work piece holding fixture." Keep in mind that it will be very difficult to get a perfectly flat face on the lumber with an angle grinder. Dont store abrasive flap discs on concrete floors, near open windows, in direct sunlight, or near heat sources such as radiators or steam pipes. All of these can lead to separation of the flaps or backing disc breakage. Remember, conical shaped flap discs are great for stock removal and flat flap discs are best for finishing. They are also lightweight, easy to maneuver, and require less change over time. It will not provide a finish like it does for metal, but it can sand down wood with great efficiency. With the flap disc, the wear of abrasive particles is spread across several flaps; and damage to one flap doesnt affect the performance of the disc. You can select between single and high-density flap discs. What grit for removing mill scale? You may contact the Saint-Gobain Product Safety Department at (508) 795-2317, fax: (508) 795-5120, or contact your Saint-Gobain Abrasives representative with any safety related questions. You must be careful when using the flap disc on thin sheet metals for finishing purposes. For smooth finishing, use higher grit sizes. Many people use the two-inch disc to replace blending discs as they tend to be far more durable. Be Prepared! Dont use loose clothing or accessories that can get stuck onto the moving disc of your angle grinder. Coated abrasive flap wheels are made from alumina abrasive materials, that provide consistent grinding and finishing for different. If you have any questions, our team can guide you to the right tool for your specific job. For example, a 115mm wheel should be used with a 4.5-inch angle grinder. Dont use flap discs without the safety guard. Your disc is more likely to hit trees and sustain wear and tear. Because of these advantages, the popularity of flap discs has soared in the last several years. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The material removal rate could be more than what you expect and could create holes in thin sheets. Get into a big open area and simply pull the discus back nice and flat and release it 10 feet in front of you. Make sure that the guard will not cause hindrance as you keep moving the grinder with the disc spinning at high speed. High-density flap discs are excellent for contouring, blending, matching, and finishing. For woodworking, you should choose the grit sizes of 120, 150, 180, 220. For aggressive grinding, you need to apply much pressure, whereas fine finishing requires low pressure. The main benefit of using a flap disc is its low wear and ability to apply varying degrees of finish with the same disc. Take your disc for a spin: Yes, putting your disc in the dryer can help break it in! How the disc itself performs when being used will depend on the type of abrasive material used and its grit size. Also consider your abrasive grit material, and choose your grit size to achieve the desired results. As mentioned before, there are some grit components that work better than others.