In short, never over-speed a grinding wheel. The speed of the grinder must be compared to the speed marked on the wheel airsander or package to make sure the machine''s speed is at or below the maximum operating speed of the wheel. Surpassing this rating risks not just wheel breakage but also the safety of shop personnel. About the author: Roger Cloutier is a senior product safety engineer for the Norton Abrasives brand of Saint-Gobain Abrasives in Worcester, Massachusetts.

One potential source of serious injury in grinding comes from an oversight airsander that is easy to make: operating the wheel in an over-speed condition. While a wheel that is run far enough in excess of its rated maximum speed may shatter within airsander minutes of operation, danger airsander may also result from a wheel run just slightly airsander faster than its rated speed. This less severe over-speed condition can cause the wheel to be damaged, and the damage may result in breakage after further use. For example, operating a reinforced, 9-inch diameter, Type 27 wheel rated for a maximum speed of 6,600 rpm on a 7-inch angle grinder with a speed of 7,700 rpm can cause airsander the wheel to crack. This cracking can lead to breakage later. Any of these actions sets airsander up a disastrous scenario that could lead to an accident airsander involving serious injury or death.

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