Any concerns with the silicon carbide and corrosion? Early on in my build I was using silicon carbide wet and dry sandpaper on aluminum and an experienced aircraft engineer advised against this due to the risk of corrosion from the carbon in the abrasive. So now I use only aluminum oxide abrasives.My personal favorite, and at a way better price than the 3M wheel. (Note, you'll likely need a bushing to adapt the 1" hole to fit smaller bench grinders).
6" Haas Deburr Wheel, 1" Width x 1" Bore, Silicon Carbide, Density 8, Fine-Grade | Haas Tooling
Shop 6" Haas Deburr Wheel, 1" Width x 1" Bore, Silicon Carbide, Density 8, Fine-Grade - Deburr Wheels at Haas Tooling.www.haascnc.com
Be sure to get a 6 inch bench grinder and not a 8There are several types/hardness grades of scotch brite deburring wheels for bench grinders.. What type/description/model number is best for aircraft aluminum deburring?
Beat me to it. The unitized aluminum oxide wheels work really well...Any concerns with the silicon carbide and corrosion? Early on in my build I was using silicon carbide wet and dry sandpaper on aluminum and an experienced aircraft engineer advised against this due to the risk of corrosion from the carbon in the abrasive. So now I use only aluminum oxide abrasives.
Reference: AC 43.13-1B Table 6-1 "Do not use silicon carbide abrasive" on aluminum alloys.
I totally agree with this. The medium density wheel will quickly eat into thinner aluminum. The light deburring wheel has a lot of room for error while still quickly deburring most edges. I mostly only use the medium density wheel for thick parts with rough edges to quickly remove the roughness and then polish in one pass on the light wheel. If I were to only get one wheel, I'd get the light wheel. But I like having both.If you get both the standard medium density and a light deburring one, you'll use them both. Cleaveland has them.
Any concerns with the silicon carbide and corrosion? Early on in my build I was using silicon carbide wet and dry sandpaper on aluminum and an experienced aircraft engineer advised against this due to the risk of corrosion from the carbon in the abrasive. So now I use only aluminum oxide abrasives.
Reference: AC 43.13-1B Table 6-1 "Do not use silicon carbide abrasive" on aluminum alloys.
Yes and yes, I grabbed the wrong link from their site, thanks for the catch!Beat me to it. The unitized aluminum oxide wheels work really well...
The bench wheel does come with a learning curve for sure!I've seldomly ever used a bench mounted wheel, and in 46 years of structures work , I've deburred some stuff. My personal preference is a small 90 degree die grinder and the 2 & 3 inch red and blue scotch Brite pads. Not only can you get in the corners and work a radius, but to me, it's much faster and more controllable. Once you "launch" a piece from the big bench wheel into the floor at sonic speed you may agree. There are times, when the big wheel is nice, but it's very hard to beat a 90 and the pads. Just my 2 cents.
I've seldomly ever used a bench mounted wheel, and in 46 years of structures work , I've deburred some stuff. My personal preference is a small 90 degree die grinder and the 2 & 3 inch red and blue scotch Brite pads. Not only can you get in the corners and work a radius, but to me, it's much faster and more controllable. Once you "launch" a piece from the big bench wheel into the floor at sonic speed you may agree. There are times, when the big wheel is nice, but it's very hard to beat a 90 and the pads. Just my 2 cents.
I'd love links to these lighter/finer wheels.
The speed of "wear out" depends on alot. you'll learn to preserve them by keeping from edging or digging them, over pressuring, ect. I run my 2" pads on a mandrel cut down to 1" dia . (rubber) and the pads can flex better. They don't come cheap, but they are well worth it. I don't use the thin ones much, kind of prefer the ones that are 3/16" or so thick. Red cuts pretty fast, blue is final pass if needed.Very cool didn't know about these. How fast does it wear out?
The link you show and some other places too require a box of 60 as minimum order.
This place has 15 at a time:
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Scotch-Brite™ 7100000860 Roloc™ EXL Unitized Wheel, XL-UR, 2A Medium, TR, 2 in
Roloc™ EXL unitized wheel is strong and effective for edge deburring and finishing. This wheel performs well in a variety of metal working applicationswww.hanessupply.com
Like Scott, I use all the methods, depending on what’s appropriate for the task at hand. I have made more parts on my Scotchbrite wheels on the bench grinder than I can ever remember! I keep a new wheel on one side, and one that is al worn to a curvy shape on the other - that way I can do straight edges on one, and easily do corners on the other. I also find the old “V-block” pull tool to be very handy for long straight edges…..I have, and frequently use all three methods mentioned. I have a box full of Roloc wheels given to me by a body shop friend, a bench grinder with two different 6” wheels, and a couple 2” unitized wheels for my 90* die grinder. All of them have their purpose. I haven’t built another airplane in almost three years, and probably won’t again, but many of the mods I make on my current RV6, and lots of other non-aviation stuff I make or work on, is facilitated by using one of these tools. Along with my bench sander, I almost never make something for my home, my hangar, or my airplane without using one or all of these tools. Like bacon, nobody ever said “this is to many(much) tools(bacon). Life is short - do it right.
I have one of those I’ve been meaning to use. Do you smooth out the roughness at all before using the v-block tool?I also find the old “V-block” pull tool to be very handy for long straight edges…..
Yes - with a Vixen file on a wooden handle - that takes the bumps off before using the V-Block.I have one of those I’ve been meaning to use. Do you smooth out the roughness at all before using the v-block tool?
I bought the same one. Works great.Let me open myself to some ridicule. Save your bench grinder with all the related guards, part rests, etc.
I bought a cheap bench buffer from Harbor Freight that I use for finishing. For the cheap price, it's paid for itself many times over having never had to take the time swapping wheels on it. More flexible use as the wheels have much more "exposure" than that on a bench grinder. I use it a lot.
While I'm admitted tool wh0re, can't say I'm as proud of all of them. In this case, the el cheapo has proven its worth.
Link to tool
If you'd like to order quantities as low as 1, you can get them at Aircraft Spruce and Zoro.com.Very cool didn't know about these. How fast does it wear out?
The link you show and some other places too require a box of 60 as minimum order.
This place has 15 at a time:
![]()
Scotch-Brite™ 7100000860 Roloc™ EXL Unitized Wheel, XL-UR, 2A Medium, TR, 2 in
Roloc™ EXL unitized wheel is strong and effective for edge deburring and finishing. This wheel performs well in a variety of metal working applicationswww.hanessupply.com
