Grinding wheels for aluminum

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I'm trying to find some good grinding wheels to work on aluminum. Anything I try to use just fills up instantly and wont cut at all. I've tried some sanding discs with moderate luck but it removes so little material it seems like it would take a million years to accomplish anything. I'm looking mainly for something to go on my dremel or a 1/8 air tool die grinder, but something for an angle grinder would be good too.
Reply:I think you would be better served with a jigsaw and a coarser blade in it.
Reply:Whoops, brain fart.  I meant finer blade in the last post, something like a 14 TPI.  How thick of aluminum are you trying to cut?
Reply:Don't do any aluminum grinding but I have seen them locally for sale.They make grinding wheels specifically for aluminum. Any decent welding shop should have them in the popular sizes. Their prrices don't seem any different from the standard ones for steel.
Reply:http://blueridge.dreamscape.com/catd...gory=Abrasives The norton guide recommended sillicon carbide for non ferrousStangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:Thanks for the help. I'll swing by the welding supply store in the next day or two and see what they have.  That link looks like a good place too, thanks.Bolt, Didn't really mean cutting aluminum, I meant grinding for like dressing up welds and what not. If its not to thick I use a sheer or skill saw with a plywood blade for actually cutting pieces out.
Reply:Wow, now that I re-read your post again, it really is obvious that that is what you meant.  My brain may have been a little lacking last night.
Reply:Its ok, we all have one of those nights everyonce in a while
Reply:I have done a few projects where we had to grind a lot of aluminum, and we got these brown grinding discs- I think the brand name is Rexcut- they work really well, dont load up at all.http://www.rex-cut.com/Your welding supply store should either have em or be able to get em.The other thing that works on aluminum are blue, alumina zirconia flap discs for your 4 1/2 " grinder. The brown kind load up, but the blue ones work real well on aluminum. I get mine from Klingspor- I think they are the best, but norton and tiger make em too. Also should have em at your welding store.
Reply:I prefer the Kronenflex A46N Supra for grinding aluminum.  It grinds so quickly that you have to be careful or you'll be filling it back in again.Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:Brainfarth,I'd like to try 'em.  Where canyou get them?  Enco and Grizzly don't seem to have 'em.Hank
Reply:We get them from industrial welding supply of Oregon.  But it looks like IWS is local to Oregon only.   I did a meta search with dogpile.com and found 61 matches for  Kronenflex.  The only stores that I could find online where based in the U.K. http://www.tgsindustrial.co.uk/eComm...ductDetail.asp But I will ask my vendor where else they can be bought.Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:Okay, I have found that they arn't sold though IWS afterall.  Our rep is though Klingspor (1-800-645-5555) www.klingspor.comHe told me that they have alot of people working all over CA so you should be able to find someone to help you.Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:Thanks.  I'll get into it later today.  let you know how I make out.Hank
Reply:No luck so far.  Ordered a couple of Flexovit semi-ridgid 4.5" wheels.  I'll get 'em in a week - will provide report!Hank
Reply:I've found that using a fiber-resin sanding disc on top of a rubber backing plate (Dewalt makes one - I think I bought mine from Home Depot) on a 4.5" grinder works very well. I buy my sanding discs from my local welding supply house. You can get them in grits from 16 - 120 grit.I work mainly in aluminum and have tried lots of things for grinding, sanding, refinishing aluminum.Aluminum is so soft you almost need to think about it as if it were wood.REALLY. If you're not careful with a grinding disc you'll take off a lot more material than you want to.  I learned the hard way.The fiber resin discs work great (you have a lot more control) and can still take off a good bit of material depending on which grit you use. I usually start with 36 grit to clean up my welds, then move to 80-120 grit to start the blending.Flap discs on a 4.5" grinder also works great for blending. I've recently started using a Porter Cable 7336 DA sander/polisher with a self adhesive rubber sanding pad to finish my projects (furniture)...starting with 80 grit automotive sandpaper moving up to 180, 400 and ultimately 600. You wouldn't believe how awesome the aluminum ends up looking. Keep going higher up in grit and you're on your way to polishing it to a high luster...Good luck and make sure you wear a breathing mask when sanding aluminum.Vader
Reply:If your noy doing alot of aluminum grinding you could use wax(candle) or a bar of soap. Just run the grinder then grind the wax or soap then the aluminum. It keeps the aluminum from clogging the grinding wheel, and you can use the regular metal ones. Just use that one for aluminum only. If your going to be doing alot then I'd recommend buying the proper discs. Just my .02 .Brett
Reply:try cabbid cutting bits. i use them on every thing. a little pricey but the get the job done, i use them in my dremel [1/8"collett] and my die grinders [1/4"] collett. they are available in different shapes.jim
Reply:I am assuming you want something for a 4 1/2" grinder.If you have a use for a lot of wheels any of the previous posts will help you, if your in need of something NOW, go to your local hardware store.  The wheels sold for masonry have a softer bond, and while they degrade fast, they will not fill up with aluminum. They are a bit coarse, so go easy.  I sometimes use these wheels on steel, where they tend to be less aggressive, and result in a finer finish. Yes, it's nice to have the "right "tool for every occasion, it's also, great to have yet another way "to skin the cat" The wax trick is also, a fine method, but it might impart, or leave behind wax, that might make an application of any finish coating a problem. One last thought,  after you have christened a wheel on a certain material, it better to keep it separate for that. If you where to use a wire brush (SS) or a grinding wheel on steel, the switch over to aluminum, you might find contamination,  or rust on your project.Just my  opinion, not from a book, just from the road.Howes Welding Inc.www.howesweldinginc.com
Reply:Just wanted to add my 2 cents worth. I tried these SAIT grinding wheels  for aluminum that I bought from the local supply. They cut fast, and only loaded up with a little aluminum, so I guess the work ok. I also tried using zirconia flap discs from Norton, and they gave a nice finish but loaded up a little too much. If you are doing a little grinding but mostly surface conditioning I highly suggest these bristle wheels  from 3M or similar.