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belt sander or angle grinder

updated wed 27 jan 99

 

Andrew Lubow on sat 23 jan 99

I'm looking to purchase either a belt sander or an angle grinder to remove =
glaze
spills and kiln wash from shelving. Do you have an opinion to which would be
more practical? Any recommendations for a moderately priced one?

Andy Lubow
Email: Disneylover=40msn.com

=22Live every day like it was your last. Someday you'll be right=21=21=22
Benny Hill

Vince Pitelka on mon 25 jan 99

>I'm looking to purchase either a belt sander or an angle grinder to remove
glaze
>spills and kiln wash from shelving. Do you have an opinion to which would be
>more practical? Any recommendations for a moderately priced one?

Andy -
Do not bother with a belt sander. It will not work at all for this purpose.
You need something with a lot more bite, and that requires a rigid grinding
stone on an angle grinder. Most tool manufacturers now make the smaller
angle grinders in 4 1/2" or 5" sizes. Either one will do. Good brands
include Makita, DeWalt, and Milwaukee. The Makitas are generally a very
good deal - you should be able to find one for about $75. Whatever brand
you buy, make sure it has a 5/8-11 thread on the spindle. That means 5/8"
diameter, with 11 threads per inch. This is the standard in the industry,
and all the accessories fit this size. If you get a low-budget angle
grinder made by Black and Decker or Skill, you will only be able to use the
accessories that they manufacture.

For knocking off flaky shelf-wash, a cup-brush with twisted bristles works
great, and is available from most welding supply shops. For general purpose
sanding on metal surfaces, the flexible sanding discs with plastic or rubber
back-up pad works great (also available from welding shop). But for
grinding refractory surfaces, make sure you get a fiber-reinforced grinding
disk rated for masonry duty. Anything else will wear out very quickly.
Good luck -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka - vpitelka@DeKalb.net
Home 615/597-5376, work 615/597-6801, fax 615/597-6803
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166

Ray Carlton on mon 25 jan 99

4" angle grinder is the best




At 20:25 23/01/99 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I'm looking to purchase either a belt sander or an angle grinder to remove
glaze
>spills and kiln wash from shelving. Do you have an opinion to which would be
>more practical? Any recommendations for a moderately priced one?
>
>Andy Lubow
>Email: Disneylover@msn.com
>
>"Live every day like it was your last. Someday you'll be right!!"
>Benny Hill
>
cheers Ray Carlton

McMahons Creek Victoria Australia



Tom Wirt on mon 25 jan 99

>grinding
>stone on an angle grinder. Most tool manufacturers now make the >smaller
>angle grinders in 4 1/2" or 5" sizes. Either one will do. Good >brands
>include Makita, DeWalt, and Milwaukee. The Makitas are generally >

Another note on angle grinders. Don't skimp on the wheels. Do not buy the
"value packs". The best wheels I've found are Sears, ceramic/masonry grade.
They wear like pottery and most of all, don't chatter especially when new.

If you ever chip the wheel or drop the grinder and hit the wheel, best to
change wheels. A cracked wheel can shatter with potentially devastating
results. Eye protection and respiration always.

Tom Wirt

Ray Carlton on tue 26 jan 99

by the way i forgot to mention that you should never operate these types of
tools on refractory or any other material without industry standard eye
protection and a good quality cannister type respirator [dust mask]
cheers Ray Carlton

McMahons Creek Victoria Australia



Richard Gralnik on tue 26 jan 99

Andy,

Go for the angle grinder. I think it will be easier to do spot removal
when you can focus the grinding wheel. You can get a very decent
grinder for about $25 from Harbor Freight. I've abused the heck out
of mine for a couple years and it's still spinning.

Richard

At 08:25 PM 1/23/99 EST, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>I'm looking to purchase either a belt sander or an angle grinder to remove
glaze
>spills and kiln wash from shelving. Do you have an opinion to which would be
>more practical? Any recommendations for a moderately priced one?
>
>Andy Lubow
>Email: Disneylover@msn.com
>
>"Live every day like it was your last. Someday you'll be right!!"
>Benny Hill
>