The tool for producing a linear finish pattern in stainless steel.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Metabo Angle Grinders
Metabo manufacturers the best angle grinders in the world. They are the only manufacturer to offer a 3 year warranty, tooless wheel change, and auto-balance - vibration free technology.
Experience the Metabo difference.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
History of Sandpaper
History of Sandpaper
Although Isaac Fisher JR. patented the first process for mass manufacturing of sandpaper in the United States in 1834, sandpaper was used as far back as the 13th century in China. Sandpaper paper was made out of crushed shells, seeds, sand, and gum. Originally Sandpaper was known as glass paper, because particles of glass was used. Glass paper (Sandpaper) was being manufactured by John Oakey's company in London by 1833, who had developed new adhesive techniques and processes that could be mass-produced. Since then sandpaper has been made in many different ways. In 1916-sandpaper manufacturer 3M invented an abrasive, which was applied for automotive sanding and refinishing. As a result to the success sandpaper had on refinishing automotive materials, many different abrasive products have been introduced for all types of sanding. Abrasives are now used for wood sanding, metal sanding, glass sanding, automotive sanding and much more. Sandpaper by definition is a “paper, which has abrasives material ingrained into it – part of the “coated abrasive family of abrasive products”.
What is Sandpaper?Sandpaper is a form of paper where an abrasive material has been fixed to its surface; it is part of the "coated abrasives" family of abrasive products. It is used to remove small amounts of material from surfaces, either to make them smoother (painting and wood finishing), to remove a layer of material (e.g. old paint), or sometimes to make the surface rougher (e.g. as a preparation to gluing).
Abrasives Backing;
In addition to paper, backing for sandpaper includes cloth (cotton, polyester, rayon), PET film, and "Fibre". Cloth backing is used for sanding discs and belts, while mylar is used with extremely fine grits. Fibre or vulcanized fibre is a strong backing material consisting of many layers of impregnated paper made from rags. The weight of the backing is usually designated by a letter. For paper, the letters range from A to F, with A being the lightest and F the heaviest. Letter nomenclature is different for cloth, with the weight of the backing being, from lightest to heaviest: J, X, Y , T and M. Flexible backing is used if it is necessary to follow irregular rounded contours of the workpiece, otherwise relatively inflexible backing should be used for regular rounded or plane surfaces. Backing of sandpaper may be either glued to the paper or form a separate support for the moving sandpaper as in a belt sander.
What is sandpaper grit?Sandpaper grit is the courser or smoother a particular sandpaper product might be. For example: the lower the grit, the more course the sandpaper is. The higher the grit, the more smooth the sandpaper is.
Sandpaper Types and Grits.Sandpaper is available in sheets, belts, discs, disks, hook and loop, rolls, or adhesive. Sheets, usually come in 9 x 11 size however, many other sizes may be available. Belts can come in many different sizes, as they can be used for portable belt sanders, or they can be used for industrial sanding machines. Sandpaper disks are usually made to fit different types of orbital sanders. Common sizes for sanding discs (disks) are 3” 5” 6” or even 8”. Discs usually come with adhesive, plain, or hook and loop backs. Adhesive back sandpaper discs are for the orbital sanders which require adhesive sandpaper. Hook and Loop is for the sanders which require the velco back sandpaper. Rolls usually come in adhesive backs and are simply rolled up in a roll so that they can be pulled like toilet paper. Other types of rolls are continuous rolls which are usually for airfile, or longboard sanding. Sandpaper grits vary depending on the particular project the sandpaper is being used for. The lesser the grit the more course the sandpaper may be. Common sandpaper grits are 40 grit, 60 grit, 80 grit, 100 grit, 120 grit, 180 grit, 220 grit, 320 grit, 400 grit, 600 grit, 800 grit, 1000 grit, 1200 grit, 1500 grit, 2000 grit, and much more.
Sandpaper Materials;
Sandpaper Materials used for the abrading particles are
flint - no longer commonly used garnet — commonly used in woodworking emery — commonly used to abrade or polish metal aluminium oxide — perhaps most common in widest variety of grits; can be used on metal (i.e. body shops) or wood silicon carbide — available in very coarse grits all the way through to microgrits, common in wet applications
alumina-zirconia — (an aluminium oxide - zirconium oxide alloy), used for machine grinding applications chromium oxide — used in extremely fine micron grit (micrometre level) papers
ceramic aluminum oxide — used in high pressure applications, Used in both coated abrasives, as well as in bonded abrasives.
Also, sandpaper may be "stearated" where a dry lubricant is loaded to the abrasive. Stearated papers are useful in sanding coats of finish and paint as the stearate "soap" prevents clogging and increases the useful life of the sandpaper. Aluminium Oxide with stearate is also known as PS33.
Bonds;
Different adhesives are used to bond the abrasive to the paper. Hide glue is still used, but this paper often cannot withstand the heat generated when machine sanding and is not waterproof. Waterproof or wet/dry sandpapers use a resin bond and a waterproof backing.
Sandpapers can also be open coat, where the particles are separated from each other and the sandpaper is more flexible. This helps prevent clogging of the sandpaper. The wet and dry sandpaper is best used when wet and when using material like acrylic where it leaves a nice smooth feel afterwards.
Shapes;
Sandpaper comes in a number of different shapes and sizes.
Sandpaper sheets — usually 9 by 11 inches, but other sizes may be available
Sanding belts — usually cloth backed, comes in different sizes to fit different belt sanders.
Sanding disks — made to fit different models of disc and random orbit sanders. May be perforated for some models of sanders. Attachment includes Pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) and "hook-and-loop" (similar to velcro).
Sandpaper rolls -
What is aluminum oxide sandpaper?Aluminum oxide sandpaper is most commonly used for wood sanding. It exhibits a high degree of friability and as a result, heat and pressure is applied. The benefit to the user is that it creates sharp edges and lasts longer than other types of sandpaper.
Health and Safety;
Health and Safety should always an important consideration when sanding. Because the sanding process turns the product you are sanding into tiny particles, wearing dust masks might prevent problems associated with sanding. The dust mask will help provide protection from annoying and potentially harmful substances such as, sawdust, metal dust, glass dust, plastic, and much more. By wearing safety goggles, much other health related products might be prevented. AbrasivesOasis recommends that if you are sanding metal and sparks are created, you should wear cotton (not polyester) fabrics. Additionally you should wear safety gloves to protect your hands.
Although Isaac Fisher JR. patented the first process for mass manufacturing of sandpaper in the United States in 1834, sandpaper was used as far back as the 13th century in China. Sandpaper paper was made out of crushed shells, seeds, sand, and gum. Originally Sandpaper was known as glass paper, because particles of glass was used. Glass paper (Sandpaper) was being manufactured by John Oakey's company in London by 1833, who had developed new adhesive techniques and processes that could be mass-produced. Since then sandpaper has been made in many different ways. In 1916-sandpaper manufacturer 3M invented an abrasive, which was applied for automotive sanding and refinishing. As a result to the success sandpaper had on refinishing automotive materials, many different abrasive products have been introduced for all types of sanding. Abrasives are now used for wood sanding, metal sanding, glass sanding, automotive sanding and much more. Sandpaper by definition is a “paper, which has abrasives material ingrained into it – part of the “coated abrasive family of abrasive products”.
What is Sandpaper?Sandpaper is a form of paper where an abrasive material has been fixed to its surface; it is part of the "coated abrasives" family of abrasive products. It is used to remove small amounts of material from surfaces, either to make them smoother (painting and wood finishing), to remove a layer of material (e.g. old paint), or sometimes to make the surface rougher (e.g. as a preparation to gluing).
Abrasives Backing;
In addition to paper, backing for sandpaper includes cloth (cotton, polyester, rayon), PET film, and "Fibre". Cloth backing is used for sanding discs and belts, while mylar is used with extremely fine grits. Fibre or vulcanized fibre is a strong backing material consisting of many layers of impregnated paper made from rags. The weight of the backing is usually designated by a letter. For paper, the letters range from A to F, with A being the lightest and F the heaviest. Letter nomenclature is different for cloth, with the weight of the backing being, from lightest to heaviest: J, X, Y , T and M. Flexible backing is used if it is necessary to follow irregular rounded contours of the workpiece, otherwise relatively inflexible backing should be used for regular rounded or plane surfaces. Backing of sandpaper may be either glued to the paper or form a separate support for the moving sandpaper as in a belt sander.
What is sandpaper grit?Sandpaper grit is the courser or smoother a particular sandpaper product might be. For example: the lower the grit, the more course the sandpaper is. The higher the grit, the more smooth the sandpaper is.
Sandpaper Types and Grits.Sandpaper is available in sheets, belts, discs, disks, hook and loop, rolls, or adhesive. Sheets, usually come in 9 x 11 size however, many other sizes may be available. Belts can come in many different sizes, as they can be used for portable belt sanders, or they can be used for industrial sanding machines. Sandpaper disks are usually made to fit different types of orbital sanders. Common sizes for sanding discs (disks) are 3” 5” 6” or even 8”. Discs usually come with adhesive, plain, or hook and loop backs. Adhesive back sandpaper discs are for the orbital sanders which require adhesive sandpaper. Hook and Loop is for the sanders which require the velco back sandpaper. Rolls usually come in adhesive backs and are simply rolled up in a roll so that they can be pulled like toilet paper. Other types of rolls are continuous rolls which are usually for airfile, or longboard sanding. Sandpaper grits vary depending on the particular project the sandpaper is being used for. The lesser the grit the more course the sandpaper may be. Common sandpaper grits are 40 grit, 60 grit, 80 grit, 100 grit, 120 grit, 180 grit, 220 grit, 320 grit, 400 grit, 600 grit, 800 grit, 1000 grit, 1200 grit, 1500 grit, 2000 grit, and much more.
Sandpaper Materials;
Sandpaper Materials used for the abrading particles are
flint - no longer commonly used garnet — commonly used in woodworking emery — commonly used to abrade or polish metal aluminium oxide — perhaps most common in widest variety of grits; can be used on metal (i.e. body shops) or wood silicon carbide — available in very coarse grits all the way through to microgrits, common in wet applications
alumina-zirconia — (an aluminium oxide - zirconium oxide alloy), used for machine grinding applications chromium oxide — used in extremely fine micron grit (micrometre level) papers
ceramic aluminum oxide — used in high pressure applications, Used in both coated abrasives, as well as in bonded abrasives.
Also, sandpaper may be "stearated" where a dry lubricant is loaded to the abrasive. Stearated papers are useful in sanding coats of finish and paint as the stearate "soap" prevents clogging and increases the useful life of the sandpaper. Aluminium Oxide with stearate is also known as PS33.
Bonds;
Different adhesives are used to bond the abrasive to the paper. Hide glue is still used, but this paper often cannot withstand the heat generated when machine sanding and is not waterproof. Waterproof or wet/dry sandpapers use a resin bond and a waterproof backing.
Sandpapers can also be open coat, where the particles are separated from each other and the sandpaper is more flexible. This helps prevent clogging of the sandpaper. The wet and dry sandpaper is best used when wet and when using material like acrylic where it leaves a nice smooth feel afterwards.
Shapes;
Sandpaper comes in a number of different shapes and sizes.
Sandpaper sheets — usually 9 by 11 inches, but other sizes may be available
Sanding belts — usually cloth backed, comes in different sizes to fit different belt sanders.
Sanding disks — made to fit different models of disc and random orbit sanders. May be perforated for some models of sanders. Attachment includes Pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) and "hook-and-loop" (similar to velcro).
Sandpaper rolls -
What is aluminum oxide sandpaper?Aluminum oxide sandpaper is most commonly used for wood sanding. It exhibits a high degree of friability and as a result, heat and pressure is applied. The benefit to the user is that it creates sharp edges and lasts longer than other types of sandpaper.
Health and Safety;
Health and Safety should always an important consideration when sanding. Because the sanding process turns the product you are sanding into tiny particles, wearing dust masks might prevent problems associated with sanding. The dust mask will help provide protection from annoying and potentially harmful substances such as, sawdust, metal dust, glass dust, plastic, and much more. By wearing safety goggles, much other health related products might be prevented. AbrasivesOasis recommends that if you are sanding metal and sparks are created, you should wear cotton (not polyester) fabrics. Additionally you should wear safety gloves to protect your hands.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Mechanical Finish Designations
A Guide to Mechanical Finish Designations
#3 Finish Also called Grinding, Roughing or Rough Grinding These finishes are coarse in nature and usually are a preliminary finish applied before manufacturing.An example would be deburring or removing excess weld material. It is coarse in appearance and applied by using 36-100 grit abrasive. When the finish is specified as #3, the material is polished to a uniform 60 - 80 grit.
#4 Architectural Finish Also called Brushed, Directional or Satin Finish A #4 Architectural Finish is characterized by fine polishing grit lines that are uniform and directional in appearance. It is produced by polishing the metal with a 120 - 180 grit belt or wheel finish and then softened with an 80 - 120 grit greaseless compound or a medium non woven abrasive belt or pad.
#5 Dairy or Sanitary Finish This finish is commonly used for the medical and food industry – almost exclusively used on stainless steel. This finish is much finer than a #4 Architectural Finish. Great care should be taken in removing the surface defects in the metal – like pits – that could allow bacteria to grow. A #4 Dairy or Sanitary Finish is produced by polishing with a 180 - 240 grit belt or wheel finish softened with 120 - 240 grit greaseless compound or a fine non woven abrasive belt or pad.
#6 Finish or Fine Satin FinishThis finish is produced by polishing with a 220 - 280 grit belt or wheel softened with a 220 - 230 greaseless compound or very fine non woven abrasive belt or pad.
#7 finish is produced by polishing with a 280 - 320 belt or wheel and sisal buffing with a cut and color compound. This is a semi-bright finish that will still have some polishing lines but they should be very dull. Carbon steel and iron are commonly polished to a #7 finish before chrome plating. A #7 finish can be made bright by color buffing with coloring compound and a cotton buff.
#8 Finish or Mirror Finish This finish is produced by polishing with at least a 320 grit belt or wheel finish. The part is sisal buffed and then color buffed to achieve a mirror finish. The quality of this finish is dependent on the quality of the metal being polished. Some alloys of steel and aluminum cannot be brought to a mirror finish.
#3 Finish Also called Grinding, Roughing or Rough Grinding These finishes are coarse in nature and usually are a preliminary finish applied before manufacturing.An example would be deburring or removing excess weld material. It is coarse in appearance and applied by using 36-100 grit abrasive. When the finish is specified as #3, the material is polished to a uniform 60 - 80 grit.
#4 Architectural Finish Also called Brushed, Directional or Satin Finish A #4 Architectural Finish is characterized by fine polishing grit lines that are uniform and directional in appearance. It is produced by polishing the metal with a 120 - 180 grit belt or wheel finish and then softened with an 80 - 120 grit greaseless compound or a medium non woven abrasive belt or pad.
#5 Dairy or Sanitary Finish This finish is commonly used for the medical and food industry – almost exclusively used on stainless steel. This finish is much finer than a #4 Architectural Finish. Great care should be taken in removing the surface defects in the metal – like pits – that could allow bacteria to grow. A #4 Dairy or Sanitary Finish is produced by polishing with a 180 - 240 grit belt or wheel finish softened with 120 - 240 grit greaseless compound or a fine non woven abrasive belt or pad.
#6 Finish or Fine Satin FinishThis finish is produced by polishing with a 220 - 280 grit belt or wheel softened with a 220 - 230 greaseless compound or very fine non woven abrasive belt or pad.
#7 finish is produced by polishing with a 280 - 320 belt or wheel and sisal buffing with a cut and color compound. This is a semi-bright finish that will still have some polishing lines but they should be very dull. Carbon steel and iron are commonly polished to a #7 finish before chrome plating. A #7 finish can be made bright by color buffing with coloring compound and a cotton buff.
#8 Finish or Mirror Finish This finish is produced by polishing with at least a 320 grit belt or wheel finish. The part is sisal buffed and then color buffed to achieve a mirror finish. The quality of this finish is dependent on the quality of the metal being polished. Some alloys of steel and aluminum cannot be brought to a mirror finish.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Grinding Aluminum Welds
Grinding aluminum is very difficult because the metal is soft and tends to load the abrasive and prevent cutting. Traditional flap zirconia flap discs do not work because of loading and glazing. Specialy designed grinding wheel for aluminum fo work but are very costly.
Lehigh Valley Abrasives offers a flap disc specifically designed for aluminum which grinds with-out loading and offers long service life. The new discs contain a calcium stearate coating that liquefies under heat to keep the disc cooler and to prevent loading on soft materials. The disc is available in 40 and 60 grit and is priced at $1.79 each.
Grinding aluminum is very difficult because the metal is soft and tends to load the abrasive and prevent cutting. Traditional flap zirconia flap discs do not work because of loading and glazing. Specialy designed grinding wheel for aluminum fo work but are very costly.
Lehigh Valley Abrasives offers a flap disc specifically designed for aluminum which grinds with-out loading and offers long service life. The new discs contain a calcium stearate coating that liquefies under heat to keep the disc cooler and to prevent loading on soft materials. The disc is available in 40 and 60 grit and is priced at $1.79 each.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Two Excellent Articles on Stainless Steel Finishing
The below articles are published by Euro Inox and are an excellent source for information on stainless steel finishing.
http://www.euro-inox.org/
http://www.euro-inox.org/
VSM Debut’s NEW SK855X Ceramic Grain Abrasive!
VSM Abrasives Corporation has again proved that we are an innovator in the abrasives industry with the launch of the NEW SK855X flagship coated abrasive product. It features an enhanced ceramic grain that is manufactured at VSM World Headquarters. VSM is one of a few international manufacturers with the know-how and ability to produce ceramic abrasive grain.
The new state-of-the-art production facility allows for optimum process control resulting in the highest quality grain available. The CRIMSON red SK855X product boasts a high cut rate with cool cut feature. Its aggressive grain orientation along with its cool cut grinding aid coating provides 30% or more productivity compared to the existing ceramic product.
This product is designed to work with heat sensitive materials such as stainless steel, titanium alloys and superalloys. The new SK855X provides increased service life due to its enhanced self-sharpening ceramic grain. Engineered to provide an aggressive cut and produce higher rates of stock removal than conventional grains.
A unique coating process was developed by VSM’s staff that provides the ceramic grain with a firm support structure for easy grain regeneration. “We have been able to substantially enhance the crystalline structure of the grain through extensive R&D work. The structure integrity of a ceramic grain is critical to optimize the regeneration which directly relates to cooler, high rates of stock removal.” stated Mr. Mark Boudreau, Director of Engineering. The SK855X was designed specifically for grinding metals and excels in me dium to high pressure backstand and power assist applications.
It is available in a comprehensive grit range from 24 to 120 and will satisfy many grinding
applications in belt and disc form. .
Ask the Expert - Ceramic Grain and Why It’s The BEST!
by Mark Boudreau, Director of Engineering VSM USA.
Coated abrasive products have evolved dramatically from the 1600’s when Chinese sailors would use broken sea shells to sand the decks of their ships. Nineteenth Century coated abrasive manufacturers would take advantage of natural materials such as, flint, garnet, and emery. Today, mined minerals are rarely used giving way to man-made grains such as Silicon carbide, Aluminum oxide, Zirconia alumina, and Ceramic alumina.
The most recent development of man-made grain is Ceramic alumina. Unlike the other man-made minerals that are fused together in furnaces, ceramic grain is a chemically produced grain and undergoes a sintering process to achieve its hardness. All grains are intended to fracture or self sharpen to give an optimum cutting performance. Single crystal grains such as Silicon carbide and Aluminum oxide (See Figures A & B) rely mainly on fracturing through pressure, which results in a shorter service life. There are, however, two types of multi -crystal grains which include Zirconia alumina and Ceramic alumina.
First, Zirconia alumina (See Figure C) is a multi-crystal grain structure that incor
porates thin plates of Zirconia and Aluminum oxide formed by a fusion process.
It relies on heat and grain pressure to expand the zirconia within the crystalline
structure causing a mechanical breakdown of the aluminum oxide resulting in a
self sharpening effect. It is imperative to create these conditions or the service life
of this grain will deteriorate before its full potential is used. Figure C, Zirconia alumina Figure D, Ceramic grain
Second is the most advanced grain, Ceramic alumina; its structure contains billions of crystals. This advanced structure allows a rapid self sharpening effect in virtually all applications due to its regeneration characteristics. Each crystal acts as a cutting edge that will rapidly break away during the grinding process which results in high stock removal and cool cutting surface. One of the ceramic grain’s greatest advantages is grinding under light pressure on hard materials such as, titanium or heat sensitive metals like stainless steel. Not all ceramic grains are created equal. It is imperative that the crystal growth is created in a controlled environment to achieve a uniform structure. The result allows for optimum regeneration and hardness. VSM’s state-of-the-art ceramic manufacturing plant has the ability to produce this unique and high quality grain managed by the leading coated abrasives quality control team. The next time you are interested in upgrading your current coated abrasive application, consider a ceramic product to do the job!
VSM Abrasives Corporation has again proved that we are an innovator in the abrasives industry with the launch of the NEW SK855X flagship coated abrasive product. It features an enhanced ceramic grain that is manufactured at VSM World Headquarters. VSM is one of a few international manufacturers with the know-how and ability to produce ceramic abrasive grain.
The new state-of-the-art production facility allows for optimum process control resulting in the highest quality grain available. The CRIMSON red SK855X product boasts a high cut rate with cool cut feature. Its aggressive grain orientation along with its cool cut grinding aid coating provides 30% or more productivity compared to the existing ceramic product.
This product is designed to work with heat sensitive materials such as stainless steel, titanium alloys and superalloys. The new SK855X provides increased service life due to its enhanced self-sharpening ceramic grain. Engineered to provide an aggressive cut and produce higher rates of stock removal than conventional grains.
A unique coating process was developed by VSM’s staff that provides the ceramic grain with a firm support structure for easy grain regeneration. “We have been able to substantially enhance the crystalline structure of the grain through extensive R&D work. The structure integrity of a ceramic grain is critical to optimize the regeneration which directly relates to cooler, high rates of stock removal.” stated Mr. Mark Boudreau, Director of Engineering. The SK855X was designed specifically for grinding metals and excels in me dium to high pressure backstand and power assist applications.
It is available in a comprehensive grit range from 24 to 120 and will satisfy many grinding
applications in belt and disc form. .
Ask the Expert - Ceramic Grain and Why It’s The BEST!
by Mark Boudreau, Director of Engineering VSM USA.
Coated abrasive products have evolved dramatically from the 1600’s when Chinese sailors would use broken sea shells to sand the decks of their ships. Nineteenth Century coated abrasive manufacturers would take advantage of natural materials such as, flint, garnet, and emery. Today, mined minerals are rarely used giving way to man-made grains such as Silicon carbide, Aluminum oxide, Zirconia alumina, and Ceramic alumina.
The most recent development of man-made grain is Ceramic alumina. Unlike the other man-made minerals that are fused together in furnaces, ceramic grain is a chemically produced grain and undergoes a sintering process to achieve its hardness. All grains are intended to fracture or self sharpen to give an optimum cutting performance. Single crystal grains such as Silicon carbide and Aluminum oxide (See Figures A & B) rely mainly on fracturing through pressure, which results in a shorter service life. There are, however, two types of multi -crystal grains which include Zirconia alumina and Ceramic alumina.
First, Zirconia alumina (See Figure C) is a multi-crystal grain structure that incor
porates thin plates of Zirconia and Aluminum oxide formed by a fusion process.
It relies on heat and grain pressure to expand the zirconia within the crystalline
structure causing a mechanical breakdown of the aluminum oxide resulting in a
self sharpening effect. It is imperative to create these conditions or the service life
of this grain will deteriorate before its full potential is used. Figure C, Zirconia alumina Figure D, Ceramic grain
Second is the most advanced grain, Ceramic alumina; its structure contains billions of crystals. This advanced structure allows a rapid self sharpening effect in virtually all applications due to its regeneration characteristics. Each crystal acts as a cutting edge that will rapidly break away during the grinding process which results in high stock removal and cool cutting surface. One of the ceramic grain’s greatest advantages is grinding under light pressure on hard materials such as, titanium or heat sensitive metals like stainless steel. Not all ceramic grains are created equal. It is imperative that the crystal growth is created in a controlled environment to achieve a uniform structure. The result allows for optimum regeneration and hardness. VSM’s state-of-the-art ceramic manufacturing plant has the ability to produce this unique and high quality grain managed by the leading coated abrasives quality control team. The next time you are interested in upgrading your current coated abrasive application, consider a ceramic product to do the job!
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