showet
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2015
Posts: 65
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Post by showet on Aug 27, 2015 10:03:30 GMT -5
I hope I am in the correct forum for this question. It is concerning diamond wheels and it looked like maybe saws was the closest topic.
My 2 questions are, I have a multi-wheel unit with resin bonded diamond wheels. Is there any way to dress these wheels to extend their life? And, how do you know when they need to be replaced, do they just stop removing material fast enough?
I am new to this and I don't want to be throwing away good diamond wheels just through ignorance.
Thanks in advance.
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Aug 27, 2015 10:12:12 GMT -5
You can take the wheels off and reverse them from time to time, but they don't really get "dressed" in the traditional sense. Replace them when the diamond resin wears through to the rubberized backing, or when they no longer cut fast enough for your preferences.
The wheels can be re-coated with diamond grit and epoxy, but that's a subject of another thread.
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showet
Cave Dweller
Member since June 2015
Posts: 65
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Post by showet on Aug 27, 2015 10:15:05 GMT -5
Is there a cost benefit to re-coating rather than buying a new one? Is the quality as good?
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Post by jakesrocks on Aug 27, 2015 10:14:59 GMT -5
I've had some luck by taking the wheels off and reversing them. I've heard some talk against doing this, but it worked for me until I could afford new wheels.
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Post by stardiamond on Aug 27, 2015 12:35:43 GMT -5
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QuailRiver
fully equipped rock polisher
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Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,637
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Post by QuailRiver on Aug 27, 2015 13:31:59 GMT -5
Resin wheels can get glazed over just like a metal diamond blade or lap can. Especially if they are used without enough water and/or too much pressure is applied. The resin coating that gets smeared over the diamonds can be removed from Nova wheels in the same way Raytech recommends removing the glazing from their diamond resin Nu-Bond laps. From the Raytech Nu-Bond instruction sheet:
"...the lap may be dressed by rotating it a moderate speed while running a piece of 220 grit silicon carbide cloth (wet/dry type) over the lap a couple of times. Use very light pressure..."
I have successfully used this method on Nu-Bond laps and Nova wheels. I have never tried it on other brands of soft resin wheels so can't speak to whether or not it will work on those. I use LOTS of water flow while dressing, and then LOTS of water afterwards to flush off any loose grit that may have come off the 220 SC cloth. And only dress for a few seconds at a time and then inspect the surface of the wheel with good magnification. Remember if you use too much pressure or dress for too long it will remove diamond particles.
Larry C.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
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Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Sept 9, 2015 16:28:23 GMT -5
I've been recoating my diamond belts for the past 5 years with great results. I spend about $1.30 for 10 carats on each 8 x 3" belt. Here's the basics - forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/27289/refurbishing-diamond-wheelsI do mine without removing them from the drum or arbor. I settled on 30 minute slow cure epoxy from Superstition Hobbies in AZ. It gives me just enough time to mix & spread the epoxy/diamond goop. I mix it up on a piece of glass with a putty knife. clean up with acetone. Lynn
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