making your own abrasives with aluminium oxide powder

[Walney Col]

Hi.

Has anyone ever tried using the aluminium oxide powder commonly available on ebay for making their own abrasive tools? I'm envisioning cylindrical sticks perhaps 4 to 6mm diameter on the end of which is a 2mm roundover section which would be dipped in glue then dipped in the aluminium oxide powder and left to harden.

I don't know if it'd work or not but if anyone's ever tried it I'd love to hear what adhesive you used and how well it lasted. Obviously I'm talking about very very light sanding not major wood removal.

 

[Spindle]

Deja vu

home-made-abrasive-sticks-t81666.html

 

[Walney Col]

Deja vu

home-made-abrasive-sticks-t81666.html

Yes, that was my post as well, let's hope someone can actually answer the question this time rather than suggesting alternatives.

FYI epoxy resins soften too easily when they get warm, and CA glue doesn't embed a sufficiently thick layer of the powder to be effective.

 

[Limey Lurker]

Many, many years ago, I worked at a Metal Polishers. They used to re-coat their felt bobs with abrasives using an adhesive, after application of which, they would roll the bob in the abrasive, then place the coated bob in a domestic oven to dry.
Perhaps a visit to an industrial platers or metal finishers would be a source of information or even materials?

 

[bugbear]

IIRC, descriptions of old Sheffield leather surface grinding wheels simply speak of "glue" to attach the loose abrasive, which (in the period) would have been animal.

They must have (somehow?) kept the temperature down when grinding.

BugBear

 

[Walney Col]

Curiouser and curiouser... I've just come across a description of grinding wheels being bonded with shellac.

Vitrified (V)
Resinoid (B)
Silicate (S)
Shellac (E)
Rubber (R)
Metal (M)
Oxychloride (O)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grinding_wheel

 

[bugbear]

Curiouser and curiouser... I've just come across a description of grinding wheels being bonded with shellac.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shellac

melting temperature (about 80-100°C),

BugBear

 

[Walney Col]

melting temperature (about 80-100°C),

I think the trouble with epoxy (araldite) is that it goes on so thick. I'm thinking that something thinner (shellac or polyester resin maybe as used in fibre glassing) might be better at dissipating heat. I also fancy experimenting with thicker CA though I've only tried the thin stuff so far.

 

[nanscombe]

I've no experience with it but a quick google comes up with ...
Red Head Wheel Cement

An efficient adhesive for preparing abrasive coated felt bobs, mops or any other type of abrasive wheel. Sets quickly and will not soften under heat. Stronger than hide glue and easy to apply. Use with aluminium oxide grit, keep in an airtight container. Red Head cement is water based and easy to use.
...
Red Head Wheel Cement 200g Tub
Price: £2.04 (Including VAT at 20%) In stock
...

You can even get it ready mixed with abrasive ...

SCOVAX Wheel Cement
A wheel cement that already contains the abrasive. The product is available in several grades. 60 Grit is a coarse cutting grade down to finer grits. Apply to a polishing wheel or felt and then leave to dry. Scovax contains a waterbased adhesive.
...
Scovax Abrasive 200g
Price: £5.05 (Including VAT at 20%) In stock
[60, 120 or 220 grit]

 

[bugbear]

I've no experience with it but a quick google comes up with ...
Red Head Wheel Cement

An efficient adhesive for preparing abrasive coated felt bobs, mops or any other type of abrasive wheel. Sets quickly and will not soften under heat. Stronger than hide glue and easy to apply. Use with aluminium oxide grit, keep in an airtight container. Red Head cement is water based and easy to use.
...
Red Head Wheel Cement 200g Tub
Price: £2.04 (Including VAT at 20%) In stock
...

Interesting in 2014 that they're (still) comparing it with hide glue.

BugBear

 

[Walney Col]

Great find Nigel, thank you, I've just ordered some