When should you throw away cutting discs?

Storage

To avoid damaging abrasive products, careful consideration needs to be given during storage as there is often no special area allocated for storing abrasives. All abrasives, coated and bonded, should be stored in the following conditions:

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• Dry and frost-free
• Kept away from cold and damp
• Not be exposed to high-temperature variations or direct sunlight
• Within a temperature range of 18°C and 26°C
• The ideal relative humidity is 45% - excessively dry or humid storage may incur deformation 

 

Grinding and Cutting Disc Storage Methods

Storage racks, bins, or drawers should be constructed to store each of the various types of discs in an orderly and safe manner.  Make sure to use grinding wheels on a rotational basis to minimise the possibility of damage from lengthy storage.

Here are some suggestions:

• Cutting discs must be placed on a flat, rigid surface without any interleaving. They can also be stored by placing them on a round bar through the bore so they are suspended off the floor 
• Small wheels up to 80mm diameter, together with cones, plugs, mounted points and wheel may be stored in suitable bins, drawers or boxes
• Large diameter wheels are best supported in racks with cushioned two-point cradle support to prevent the wheels from rolling. Using partitions also helps to make viewing and selecting discs easier and more efficient
• For superabrasives, use the original packaging to protect the product during storage. Alternatively, use protective separators between cores, to prevent contact with an abrasive layer
• Vitrified grinding wheels should be stored flat
• Thick rim and hard grade cylinder and straight cup wheels may be stored on their periphery as for plain wheels
• Soft grade, straight cup wheels, and all type 11 taper cup wheels should be stored base-to-base and rim-to-rim, to prevent chipping of edges and cracking of walls
   

Checking for Defects

It&#;s important to inspect a vitrified grinding wheel before mounting it on a grinding machine by performing a ring test to ensure there are no cracks or defects.

1. Wheels should be held through the bore at a 45-degree angle to the ground.
2. Tap the wheel lightly with a non-metallic instrument, such as a handle of a screwdriver. It should produce a clear &#;ring&#; tone.
3. If the wheel is cracked, there will be a muffled, dense sound and not a clear &#;ring&#;. In this instance, the wheel should not be used.

Wheels must be dry and free from the packaging when doing the ring test.

The ring test is not practical for the following:

• Wheels under 80mm diameter
• Wheels with glass fibre reinforcement
• Wheels with threaded inserts
• Mounted points and wheels
• Segments
• Plate mounted wheels

 

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Personal Protection

When grinding or cutting with abrasive wheels, it&#;s important to take the necessary precautions to avoid the following hazards:

• Bodily contact with the operating wheel
• Wheel breakage
• Grinding debris, dust, fumes and mists
• Vibration
• Noise

 

For your protection, make sure you wear the following:

ItemWhySafety gogglesDue to debris being ejected at high speed from machines and some operations can create sparks.Safety glovesAbrasives generate heat when grinding and workpieces can become hot.Dust masksThese should be used in addition to providing suitable dust extraction.Ear defendersSome grinding operations can be noisy, click here to find out more.Protective clothingSome operations can create sparks.Safety shoesSome sparks can hit the floor and materials could be dropped, posing a risk to your feet.

 

Whilst cutting discs and grinding discs are considered essential tools in many industries, it is a fact that they can also be the cause of serious injuries and even fatalities if used incorrectly or without the proper PPE.

All good quality discs will have an expiry date stamped on them somewhere. This is usually found on the central metal ring or on the disc itself. Occasionally it will be on a label attached to the disc.

It is important to note that this is a &#;use by&#; date that should never be exceeded.

The reason that cutting and grinding discs have a shelf life is that the resin that is used to bind the disc material together breaks down over time as it absorbs moisture from the atmosphere. This means that an out of date disc could break up during use, with sharp fragments being ejected at a very high speed.

If you have any doubt about the age of your disc, throw it away and buy a new one. They are relatively inexpensive items that are just not worth the risk.

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