grumpyvette Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?fid/68/tid/154821/pid/1124694/post/last/#LAST if your not aware if this you should be!! most soft metals tend to load up a grinding wheel and as the surface becomes loaded it tends to grab and shock load the wheel, which tends to either jam or throw the part or frequently the grinding wheel explodes from the sudden load/shock and large chunks get thrown at high velocity, getting killed/hurt is not infrequent "GALLING The damaging of one or both metallic surfaces by removal of particles from localized areas due to seizure curing sliding friction or impact welding under pressure of two similar metals http://files.aws.org/technical/facts/FACT-16.PDF http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/pagebin/mechhazd0001.htm http://danrrec.ucdavis.edu/ehs/safety_notes/15_grinder.pdf http://www.magion.com/Applications/Galling/galling.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody 82 ZXT Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Great post. Nice to pass on safety info. Maybe we need to make a safety sticky in the fabrication forum. I know I'm always looking for good hints and tricks for fabrication and safety. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Great post. Nice to pass on safety info. Maybe we need to make a safety sticky in the fabrication forum. I know I'm always looking for good hints and tricks for fabrication and safety. I think this is it. I'll change the title and sticky it. Good stuff guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2126 Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 A little technical correction on why a grinding wheel can come apart when loaded with soft metals, such as aluminum, is......The embedded soft metal expands from the heat generated by grinding and causes the wheel to fracture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280z1975 Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Why the hell was I never taught this one in metal shop in High School? We only ever really worked on iron and build trailers. Still, that would have come in handy knowledge back then and I am glad to know it now. We did however get the never move a gas tank without a safety cap ... there was even a patch in the wall with newer cyinder blocks to go along with that story So what is the best way to cut soft metals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Cutting soft metals? I use my bandsaw for that. I'm not too sure about brass or copper or other metals, but you can cut aluminum with wood saws too, like a table saw or a chopsaw. Just need a carbide blade and you need to go SLOW. I have some "airhorns" on my Mikunis which were made from a plate of aluminum and had the airhorn part routered in with a 3/8" radius carbide router bit that was intended for wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 2126 is CORRECT but GALLING also causes failures "GALLING The damaging of one or both metallic surfaces by removal of particles from localized areas due to seizure curing sliding friction or impact welding under pressure of two similar metals BTW COPPER/and BRONZE are frequently bad about this http://www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/page...chhazd0001.htm http://danrrec.ucdavis.edu/ehs/safet...15_grinder.pdf http://www.magion.com/Applications/Galling/galling.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roostmonkey Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 All of those soft ( non ferrous ) metals should be cut,sanded or whatever, with a cutting wax to resist the load up on sanding discs or blades. I prefer a sanding belt or disc over a hard stone wheel for everything but hardend steel. The only thing I use the wheel for is sharpening tungsten electrodes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mul-ti-pass Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 I do a lot of aluminum grinding. I never use a grinding wheel. The best method I've found is to use a cut off wheel to remove the bulk, and then move to a flap disk of about 40 grit for the rest. When sanding softer aluminum such as a 40 series or lower you have to move around a lot or cool the metal often. Flap disks aren't nearly as dangerous as grinding wheels are. I use a 50 series wire which is much harder, and allows me to grind away without it heating up and getting soft. It also has the added benefit of being a better color match for 60 series aluminum sheet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted November 4, 2008 Author Share Posted November 4, 2008 BTW the question of which auto darkening welding helmet comes up frequently so, Ive got 4 auto darkening hoods now, but I use the cheap a$$ harbor freight hood more and more for two reasons, first it works flawlessly, and second if I screw it up with welding splater Im out something less than $50 so its no big deal to weld overhead or get a bit careless with it, and I can save my $340 hood to impress guys while it hangs on the welder cart, as its not significantly better in any function but snob appeal, and while it looks great,its not much better in function, in my opinion in fact Ill buy a second spare for the shop,next time I drive bye HF http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=46092 http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=94336 might as well get a couple of these also while your there http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94128 http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98704 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Purple240zt Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Grumpy, I have that same helmet. I had a higher end auto darkening unit years ago and the HF works just as well for my general hobby use. Much safer than closing your eyes to tack things together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony D Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 you close your eyes for a tack weld? maybe that's why they get so scratchy by the end of the day.... (Makes mental note: "Try closing eyes before pulling trigger for tack welds...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evan Purple240zt Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 you close your eyes for a tack weld? maybe that's why they get so scratchy by the end of the day.... (Makes mental note: "Try closing eyes before pulling trigger for tack welds...) Haha, I remember when I built my downpipe. I had serious "sunburn" from tacking everything a billion times. I am also white as a ghost LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted July 24, 2009 Author Share Posted July 24, 2009 (edited) http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm http://brassmein.com/articles/weldingrods.htm http://www.cpwr.com/hazpdfs/kfwelding.pdf http://www.safety-council.org/info/OSH/welding.htm http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1669 well worth reading thru, yes you'll need to actually read thru the info!, but failing to do so could KILL YOU, so take the effort Edited July 24, 2009 by grumpyvette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockerstar Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Oh, and on the auto darkening hood discussion, I also have a cheap china-brand one, and it works well for hobby use. I really do prefer it over my friend's "middle of the road" model because his has preset darkness levels, where I have an actual adjustment knob. The $350+ autoglas helmets are really designed for someone who is going to be wearing it for more than 6 hours per day on a regular basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BURLEIGH Posted November 3, 2009 Share Posted November 3, 2009 http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm http://brassmein.com/articles/weldingrods.htm http://www.cpwr.com/hazpdfs/kfwelding.pdf http://www.safety-council.org/info/OSH/welding.htm http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=1669 well worth reading thru, yes you'll need to actually read thru the info!, but failing to do so could KILL YOU, so take the effort THANK YOU for this post... It very well could've saved my life as I do the same thing with the brake cleaner on occasion!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted November 6, 2009 Author Share Posted November 6, 2009 (edited) always glad to help! BTW anyone who has any useful safety tips, PLEASE POST THEM, as we ALL need to think about those factors while working. and YES IM AMAZED at the skills some of the members have shown and stand AWED at a few of the project some have built, you gentlemen on this site should feel proud as its people like you,that are willing to swap drive trains and modify cars significantly from their original configurations, that advance the hobby's skills far more than the guys that simply replace store bought components on cars that those parts were built to fit on. Edited November 6, 2009 by grumpyvette Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted December 8, 2009 Author Share Posted December 8, 2009 http://www.gixxer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=242261 read thru this, as its a good reminder about thinking thru the potential results of working around power tools, running engines etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BURLEIGH Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I've seen that kind of thing personally... Had a guy on a job I was inspecting decide that he needed to clean the auger of a large highway boring machine while it was running! It caught his glove and ripped his arm right out of it's socket!!! I just try to keep in mind that metal is harder than flesh:shock:! My dad used to teach Building trades at the high school when I was growing up. The first day of class he would bring a package of hotdogs and take all the teenagers to each machine and show them just what thier finger would look like if they got it too close... He always said that at the end of the day, you could still count to ten on your fingers then it was a good day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted February 17, 2010 Author Share Posted February 17, 2010 in my experience many items at HF are basically cheap crap but there are exceptions or stuff that's cheap enough that you can use it and throw it away if it fails without feeling bad about the cost, the first three items are in the cheap enough category, the jack stands can be found on sale cheaper but are a very good value as they are the correct height to work under your car and strong enough to be safe, with a 12 ton rating and a 3 ton car, four of them provide an except-able safety margin, Ive used four in my shop for over 15 years or more and never had the least problem, the 12 ton jack stands are a good value in my opinion http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItem.do?itemid=91214 these work surprisingly well for most welding and if they get screwed up your only out $50 http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItem.do?itemid=96451 this can save you some serious time trouble shooting even if its not dead on accurate http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/itemdisplay/displayItem.do?itemid=94357 working under a car without some safety glasses is rather stupid at this price http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34924 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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