angle grinder just smoothing sidewalls? (Sorry another grind question.)

[chippy]

I really hate to contribute to the neverending list of grind threads, but it seems I have fallen victim to popping my grind cherry and not quite understanding what I am now experiencing.:wtc: I just got an angle grinder very cheap. I lightly grinded my wheel with great results, I rode for a while and then I went back to give it a harsher grind. Only this time the grind wheel just seemed to smooth out my previous grind. It seems my 15 dollar anglegrinder's wheel got all filled with metal shards and crap and just wore down super fast. Can a shitty grind wheel just make things worse and actually smooth my wheel? The angle I held it at did not make any difference the second time around. thanks

[Mat_P]

the disc is probably just worn out, and yes it can smooth things over a little bit...just get a new disc and re-grind your wheel a little bit harsher this time and it should be all good.

[muddyfox]

Make sure you hold the grinder at steep angle and that the disc doesn't have a rounded edge.

[chippy]

Yeah the edge is pretty rounded, sucks though because I only used it once. It was really cheap, better grindwheel=longer lasting?

[Mat_P]

just get a couple of cheap ones...you dont use them all that often so dont waste money on one that you wont see more than once every 6 months...a cheap one will still do the same job.

[rush]

Yep, I get 3 wheels for about 2 bucks here in Aus.

The angle of the wheel is important, you should also move the grinder quite quickly along the wheel. This gives you good grindage.

[Unissamog]

Aluminum will get stuck in a grinding wheel, and gum it up. Either get new wheels, get a "dressing Wheel" or go and grind som steel with it to clean out and re-shape the disc.

[bouncingbabyboy]

Never ending list? This is one of two I can find. So, I am about to grind my pristine new BT wheels. Any pointers? (even another thread?)

Steep angle, move quickly around the wheel.

I think I am going to practice on my sons 12" bike first.

[trialsrider50]

rush made a good point. don't sit with the grinder in one place. just make quick swipes so it's nice and rough. we like it rough.

[Mat_P]

Never ending list? This is one of two I can find. So, I am about to grind my pristine new BT wheels. Any pointers? (even another thread?)

Steep angle, move quickly around the wheel.

I think I am going to practice on my sons 12" bike first.

before i did my first grind, i got out an old bmx wheel (little did i know my brother was going to use it again...hahaha) and i tried different techniques until i knew how i had to move the grinder in order to get the right grind...

[rush]

Its seriously easy. Seriously.

[Mat_P]

it is easy...when you do it you will be like oh, is that all it is? huh.

[Boumm]

Take the thinner disk you can find so it wont get rouded. Mine cost 2$ and is going good.

Edit : And take a metal specific disk.

[decline]

i have found that using a worn disc gives me a light grind which i persoannly like. i dont really like the feeling of a harsh grind. i just ground the other day and cant wait to have it start smoothing up a little bit. not like flat smooth but enough towhere if i tap the brakes it doesnt freak out.

[stickyworm]

I am a timber framer and use grinders for carving and shaping of joints. Throw out your grind discs. Aluminum will gum up almost all of them. Save your money and buy sanding discs made for grinders at 24-40 grit. A pack costs about $5 canadian from homehardware. You may need to buy an attachment for your grinder, it is a back plate to support the pad. With very little pressure you can apply the perfect grind without removing too much material as to shorten the life of your rim, and without gumming up the pad. I've done this without removing the tire as well, but very carefully. -Cheers-

[rush]

I never remove the tyre when grinding. Ive ground my rim ~50 times and its just fine.

I also use a stone grinding/cutting wheel.

Do it fast, steep and hardcore.

[stickyworm]

do you use a carborundum (black looks like a metal chopsaw blade) or diamond disc? I haven't tried them, but I'll have to give it a try.

[gsg]

The easiest way to get a nice even grind (IMO) is to flip the bike over and support the frame somehow so the wheel is in the air and can rotate freely. Spin the rim good and fast towards the ground and just lightly hold the disc against the rim at a 45 degree angle and move the grinder back and forth to get complete coverage. You have to remove the tire for this method, obviously and use a fresh disc.