Dressing a Grinding Wheel

[@catherinehargreaves9959]

Dear Kenny, After watching your video on dressing a grinding wheel, speaking as an ex-engineer, I thought it might be helpful to tell you what we always did to check for micro-cracks in the wheel. The wheel has to be off the machine, place your index finger in the mounting hole and very gently, tap the side of the wheel with a small hammer. If the wheel rings that means it's o.k., no cracks. If it has a leaden or dull sound, that means cracks are present and the wheel should not be used again. Always your very well explained videos. Hopes this helps. Merry Christmas to yourself and your family. (Lignator)! Jack Hargreaves

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

That's some great information Jack. I have examined the wheel under higher magnification and no surface cracks were detected. I will use your method and test the wheel a little further. Thanks for chiming in with this information and for tuning in to the show. I appreciate it.

[@PlymouthLad76]

Where are the guards? 😮

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

They were removed Keith. No other explanation. Thanks for tuning in.

[@shamshadsaifi7333]

What to get dressing tool in round shape

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

I don't think those are available to the best of my knowledge but you could always buy a flat one and custom dress your wheel. If you need a rounded wheel though, you would be better off with a rounded felt wheel and use honing compound for sharpening. I can't see any other use for a rounded grinding wheel. Thanks for tuning in to the show.

[@mathewmolk2089]

Going to leave the missing guards to the OSHA man but that "Fixture" is bouncing all over the lot. It moving a sixteenth brother. Then making that fine of a dress is a sure FIRE way to create unnecessary heat. The coercer the dress the lower the heat generated. We use the sticks all the time here,,,, but then we are only free handing and split pointing drills and grinding HSS form tools. (Sarcasm intended) It takes us less then 45 seconds to dress the surface grinder wheel as apposed to 8 minutes that it took you with that "Fixture" but again we only have to carry a couple of tenthousanths. (See above) Do you self a favor. Go to the Suburban Tool channel and watch how Don Bailey does it before you end up picking Alumdons out of your neck. Better yet get a CBN wheel. - No dressing ever in a wood shop.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Well I guess it just goes to show that there is always more than one way to do things Mathew. I appreciate you tuning in to the show and chiming in with your suggestions and with your methods and opinions.

[@danhoag373]

at what point did you ring it?

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

I never did ring the wheel Dan. After the hit that it took, I used it for the purpose of demonstrating how to use the wheel truing jig and then retired it from use and replaced it. I had lost faith in the wheel and just didn't trust it anymore. Thanks for tuning in and for chiming in with your question.

[@danhoag373]

@@acutabove_woodworkings it would seem to me the centrifugal force spinning to true and the stress of taking a part off the circumference ( the same difference as putting something in a lathe and making the diameter smaller) would be enough to have a shrapnel event! This is in no way a critique just concern Thanks for sharing 73 dan

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

@@danhoag373 I agree with you but honestly, once you've lost faith in a tool it's probably just easier to replace it. The wheels aren't expensive and for the peace of mind, it's worth it. Thanks for the concern and for chiming in with your thoughts. I appreciate it.

[@jstrndm945]

So basically what we do is just worn that wheel off till it true? I can deal with it. But the problem is my wheel wobbleing on the side. What do you guys think?

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Yes, you remove material until the wheel is true. As for the side to side wobble, that's just not right. I would be checking to see if the grinder's arbour is bent. It's very odd that a wheel would be warped but a straight edge will tell you if it is. If there is a warp to the wheel, I would personally, discard it and replace it. Same thing goes for if the arbour is bent. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in.

[@AnwarKhan-po3yq]

Let be do remove wobbling from the both side of wheel face with manually using oil stone/tool sharpner during revolution of wheel.

[@jamilrahman5960]

sir please show the parts of this attachment thanks

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

The wheel dressing jig is an add on attachment to the Wolverine system. You can find it here. www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/sharpening/wheels-and-wheel-dressers/101418-wolverine-wheel-dressing-jig I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in.

[@bobheatwole804]

Someone mentioned you were lucky the wheel didnt shatter, well you may have been better off if it did. That wheel could have a crack in it and might very well pss a ring test and it just waiting for the right moment to fly apart. You are dressing the wheel with no protection for your lungs or anything else for that matter. No wheel gaurd...a major no no iny shop envirorment. I thought you had the gaurds of to reinstall the wheel, I was shocked when I saw you flip the switch to turn them on. Ive been grinding for over 40 years and Ive never seen grinders run without gaurds never mind reuseing a stone wheel that flew off a spindle. Get rid of that wheel and install some gaurds.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

This video was aimed at demonstrating the Wolverine wheel dressing jig and how to operate it and I feel that the video illustrated the process perfectly. As for the wheel and grinder itself, the entire unit was removed from service shortly after this video was posted as is reflected in the comments and responses section here. It has since been replaced with a Rikon 8" low speed grinder (with all guards in place). Thanks for pointing out the safety concerns and for tuning in to the show Robert. It's appreciated.

[@lesrayner4644]

Oh, perhaps it would have been a good idea. To have a full set of fixings holding the machine down as well ! !

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

The great thing about this world we live in Les, is that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and you are no exception to that rule. Be it far from me to argue with someone if their opinion doesn't match my own. I appreciate you tuning in and chiming in with your opinion though. It's what make the world an interesting place. It would be pretty boring if we were all the same. Thanks.

[@shubhamkumarsingh7371]

Is this truing or dressing

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Two different terms, same process. Truing is the act of flattening a stone whereas dressing is the act of shaping a stone, in this case, to flat. Either term is acceptable but if you would prefer to call it truing, you wouldn't be wrong. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in to the show.

[@mathewmolk2089]

He doesn't know.--- as is apparent in his reply. Left out balancing too. ... Johnny woodworker is way out of his bailiwick and sooner or later will get hurt. Grinding and grinding machine maintenance requires basic machine shop knowledge that is beyond this guy. Just FYI "Dressing" is removing dull grits and exposing new sharp ones.

[@RajuDas-yb3gj]

Nicely explained sir, ,thanks a lot.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Glad that you liked it Raju. Thanks for tuning in to the show.

[@x1area51ii7]

I just bought Amazon dressing stick, I use X-Y vise bolted in next to grinder. Vise the stick and move across as I grinding it like stock materials. Worked well for me.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

As long as that works for you, that's fantastic. I'm glad that you are happy with your purchase. Thank you for tuning in to the show and taking the time to chime in with your experience.

[@das250250]

I always have my grinders portable that lock into vice or horse grips so i can do this outside .. You end up having to clean the whole workshop

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

That's some good advice. Thanks for tuning in and for chiming in with your methods. It's very much appreciated.

[@das250250]

Another thing too, i had a noisy grinder which has a wet wheel attached and a high speed wheel . Interestingly , after balancing the high speed wheel the noises completely disappeared. The machine has become so stable and lacking any vibrations . You may discuss that in future too if it is relevant . I like the dresser attachment and will need to make one now that i ordered a diamond tip

[@das250250]

kennyearrings1 can you tell me the length of that bar holding the diamond top from the screw to diamond tip ? I want to calculate something for you

[@JimLambier]

Great video on showing how to use the dressing attachment. I've had the wolverine system for several years but have always dressed my stone by hand. This seems like you will get more life out of your wheel (assuming it doesn't fly off and crack).

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

The wheel has been inspected thoroughly Jim and there are no structural cracks to be found in the wheel so it should be good for a while. That being said, this jig really does an excellent job of dressing the wheel back to it's original flat, shelf state and I've been impressed with the jig since day one. Thanks for tuning in to the show.

[@knifeartebrasil929]

Jim Lambier This is because you do not need a rectilinear profiling (parallel)

[@paragatidas]

Additional tip - use some coolant (like ordinary water or something) to prolong life of your diamond tip, maybe to ten times ... I heard it

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Thanks for tuning in to the show and chiming in with your suggestion. It's appreciated.

[@barstad-9591]

It’s sure understandable why it scared the crap out of you when it came flying off. I’m glad that you weren’t injured. The dressing really fixed up that wheel in no time. I don’t have a grinder yet, but it’s on my list. Knowing how endearingly goofy you are, when I saw the title for this video, I thought I’d see a grinding wheel with at least some lipstick and maybe a wig! LOL. Thanks for the informative video, Kenny. Take care.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Darn it!!!! I wish I would have thought of that. That would have been hilarious. ha ha ha ha ha ha. Thanks for tuning in Barb.

[@jaysilverheals4445]

tip. you should not have used the diamond to rough off all the bad part of the wheel-the item you showed from china I swear by them and even use them as a dresser now when surface grinding. I use the handle for other things and clamp the item shown in a small vice. for your final dressing using that system is great but the diamond burns right off flat in record time. its also not tilted its going in straight flat. they should change that on the design. on a pedestal grinder there is the issue of dressing the side. a person CAN make a basic arbor and dress the sides on a lathe using cardboard under and using a vacuum and oil before and after. the side of the wheel does in fact have uses cautiously you will not believe how far out they are also it helps balance the wheel. on your wheels shown you got pretty lucky on them being balanced if you need to balance them it can easily be done using jb weld up near the blotter. using the grinder like that totally open can be done as I have done-however using a pedestal grinder you are in the kill zone if something happens -a face shield and or good glasses is ok but its just a matter of time till the russian roulette runs out.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

You've provided some good information here JC and it just goes to show that there is more than one method to do things in our craft. I thank you for tuning in to the show and for chiming in with your experience and suggestions. It's very much appreciated and I'm sure that others that read the comments section will also find it useful. Thanks.

[@jasonblume2707]

This was great info, thanks for sharing!

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Glad that you liked it Jason. Thanks for tuning in to the show.

[@Metallurg33]

Good video and a nice piece of kit. You didn't mention checking the wheel for cracks. After a crash like that, I would be concerned.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

I couldn't agree more with your statement and that is why this wheel was examined thoroughly under magnification for stress crack and other structural damage before it was ever put back into service. The reason I didn't mention checking for cracks is because this show wasn't about the impact of the wheel, but rather a demonstration of using the wheel dressing jig for the Wolverine system. I too was concerned and that is why the wheel was inspected as thoroughly as it was prior to dressing it for this episode of the show. I'm not a fan a grinding wheels blowing apart at high RPM and having their pieces use me for target practice. LOL. Thanks for tuning in and for chiming in with your concerns and comments. It's appreciated.

[@thedivinehammerswoodworks1895]

Where are your guards? Shame on you, safety first. You know the shop safety Nazi, I mean Safety coordinator will have to write you up for unsafe operation of the bench grinder LOL! :-D

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Got rid of those cheap guards years ago. Just terrible things. Scratched up plexiglass that made it impossible to see your work and were so poorly designed that you couldn't tighten them if you tried. Plus, they were all part of the tool rest in this model so in order to use an after market system like the wolverine system, they had to be removed. Not to worry though, I have my safety glasses and face shield on. That should appease the safety coordinator. hah a a ha ha ha ha ha. Thanks for tuning in this week. Great to hear your comments on the show.

[@DeeegerD]

Sorry not going to go out and buy some expensive honing tool to dress a wheel. These types of vids are best done with common tools everyone has access too.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

I certainly wouldn't expect you to watch this video and purchase the wheel dressing jig unless it was something that interested you Digger. In the description of this particular show, I mention in the very first line that this was in fact, a demonstration of the Wolverine wheel dressing jig. There are very few instructional videos for this jig out there and that is why this show was produced. There is certainly more than one way to dress a grinding wheel and this jig is only one of them. I hope you enjoyed the show anyway. Thanks for tuning in and for taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate it.

[@knifeartebrasil929]

Stupid

[@thomasarussellsr]

Sorry, Kenny, I had to thumbs down this one. I was always taught to never put a wheel on a grinder after the wheel had been dropped or damaged. You can't see micro-cracks that could cause the wheel to explode and/or fly apart sending pieces and or shards lord knows where. It is dangerous. You could have been hurt. Viewers that don't really know what to look for will try the same and could not be as lucky. I love your channel, but can not like something that could result in harm or death. Too much risk on this one. It "flew off" which is probably a harder hit than a drop. Out of square, sure. But never a drop or projectile thrown wheel. Please be safe. And fellow viewers, please don't remount a grinding wheel that has been thrown from the machine or dropped on a hard surface.

[@thomasarussellsr]

Having read the other comments, I'm glad you checked the wheel under magnification, but a verbal acknowledgment of such would have been good in the video as well as a warning about reinstalling "possibly" damaged wheels.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

I think a lot of people are missing the point of this show. It isn't about dressing a wheel after it has taken a fall or a hit, it is only a video about using the Wolverine dressing jig. But I understand your concerns and I agree whole heartedly.

[@thomasarussellsr]

kennyearrings1 no, I get the point of showcasing the Wolverine dressing jig. My concerns are the lead in of what damaged the wheel without the precautionary statements. There are a lot of kids that use KZbin as their sole means of learning these types of things as they have no one in their lives to teach them. Thanks for your reply. And by the way, I don't take clicking the thumbs down lightly. I have probably only clicked it maybe 5-6 times in the year I've been watching KZbin videos. I typically only use it when I see something that could be dangerous to children and idiots. When I just don't like the content, I don't click either thumb. I love your channel and content and will continue to watch. I just felt obliged to react the way I did. BTW, I have the "T" dressing tool and hate it as well. It always leaves grooves in the surface of the wheel. (And yes, I move it back and forth). I will definitely look into the wolverine attachment. I have a similar jig set-up. What is the size of wolverine's square tube on the attachments? (With a vernier style caliper?) I want to make sure it will fit my mount before purchasing it. I hate to do returns. Thanks for your reply b and assistance if you will.

[@thomasarussellsr]

P.S. I hope when I do videos someone calls me on safety issues as I'd hate to be responsible for anyone following my methods and getting hurt. Thanks again.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

I'm not sure of the exact size of the bar. I can try and get the dimensions for you the next time I am in the shop.

[@paulsmessyworkshop]

Ken, good informative video and glad you covered this topic. I would bet when that wheel came off it was a good test of your heart condition, probably better than a stress test. Out of cuiousity, did you go ahead and dress the other wheel as long as you had the stuff out? Thanks for covering this topic.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

I did not dress the other wheel Paul. It's my rough grind wheel and it is mostly used for grinding steel before welding and other rough jobs. Although after looking at it again, I just might dress it because I've had it for about 15 years and it has never been dressed. That will give me something to do this weekend. Thanks for tuning in.

[@frankingram3382]

Great tips Ken, thanks for sharing. By the way, I just happened to notice when the camera was focusing on the target wheel that the other wheel looked like it was wore down in the middle. If you are still in the shop go ahead and do it now. Don't worry, there's no charge for me helping you to run your own business. Love you brother. God Bless my friend.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

ha ha ha ha ha ha. Thanks for the advice Frank. I can always count on you to have my back when things go sideways. As for the second wheel, I don't worry too much about that one as I only use it for grinding burrs off metal before welding and grinding rough edges from steel. The other wheel is my sharpening wheel so that one I worry about. Although now that I think about it, it might be nice to have a flat rough grind wheel for a change. Send the bill Frank and I will send the cheque. Thanks for tuning in.

[@dalewilliamson1125]

Nice tips on the grinding wheel Ken.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Thanks Dale. I hope they are helpful to you. Thanks for tuning in to the show again this week. Always great to hear your comments on the show.

[@lesrayner4644]

Excellent advice Catherine ! Frankly if nobody has ever taught you to “ring “ a grinding wheel before you use it you shouldn’t be anywhere near a grinding machine of any sort ! Let alone giving advice on U TUBE. Come to the UK and get some real engineering education

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Thanks for tuning in and leaving your comment on the channel. Not sure exactly what you were hoping to achieve by leaving a comment like this, but I hope you succeeded.

[@tomasarguinzoni9022]

Thank you for tips 👍🏼

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

You are very welcome Tomas. Glad you enjoyed the show. Thank you for tuning in.

[@CharlesHess]

аAnother you tuber who POUNDS home every point he makes.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

It's the way I teach Charles and the way I am. If you're not a fan of the show or the style of the show, there are plenty of other channels to watch. Thanks for tuning in. I hope you find what you're looking for.

[@pfoster2338]

And there you have it...a real grind! 🤣

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Thanks for tuning in.

[@briangriffiths937]

Wow! Guess it was your lucky day Ken, on two counts. One, the missile didn't hit you causing serious injury, and secondly, the wheel didn't shatter upon impact.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Exactly Brian. I have inspected the wheel thoroughly and there are no cracks anywhere to be found, even under magnification. I guess the mats on the floor helped to cushion the wheel somewhat and whatever it hit when it stopped must have been softer. If it actually hit the wall, I'm sure it would have shattered. I'm only assuming that it hit something because I didn't actually see it. It all happened way too fast. Thanks for tuning in

[@PlymouthLad76]

As informative as this video may seem its dangerous. Don't listen to him.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

This video is about dressing a grinding wheel Keith and nothing more. Doing it by this method is not dangerous in any way, shape or form. What is dangerous however is the fact that after the wheel took a tumble and a hit, there is no way of knowing whether or not there are internal cracks that could cause the wheel to separate during use. For that reason, this grinding wheel has been taken out of service in my shop and is no longer used. In fact, I have replace the entire grinder with a new one which you will be happy to know that the guards are still intact as well. But as for the process of dressing the wheel, using the wolverine jig and the methods that I demonstrated here on the show, it's about as safe as it gets. Thanks for tuning in and for chiming in with your opinion.