Something as common as a grinding wheel can seem harmless yet can pose a threat to the operator if the proper precautions aren’t taken.
To understand the nature of the threat it is important to have a cursory understanding of what grinding wheels are composed of – namely “thousands of small, abrasive cutting grains that have been bonded together by an organic resin compound, reinforced with fiberglass.”
Abbe Miller, editor-in-chief of Welding Productivity Magazine makes the following observation about the dangers of using a damaged grinding wheel.
“Grinding wheels are so common they have a handful of nicknames, including blades, rocks and stones. But therein lies the danger. When a fragment of anything referred to as blade becomes a projectile, the results can be fatal.”
Fairly typical conditions such as moisture, extreme temperatures and rough treatment can damage a grinding wheel. A damaged wheel can easily go undetected by conventional means, which is why it’s so important for grinding wheels to be properly stored. Grinding wheels should never be stored where they could be exposed to water, solvents, extreme cold or humid conditions that could cause condensation on the wheels. If you’d like to learn more about the proper storage of grinding wheels, you can find the information in our previous post “8 Great Grinding Wheel Storage Tips.”