Flap Wheel 3" x 2" Mounted Aluminum Oxide, Pack of 10
Flap Wheel 3" x 2" Mounted Aluminum Oxide, Pack of 10
Available in stock (49999)
A 2" wide face on a 3" wheel is the most surface a 1/4" shank can carry, and that is the reason to buy this size: it finishes a tank wall, a wide flat panel or a large-diameter tube in fewer passes than any other mounted flap wheel we sell. The long aluminum oxide cloth flaps run cool, wear evenly and keep exposing fresh grain, so the scratch pattern at the end of the wheel matches the start.
Sold as a pack of 10 on a plain 1/4" steel shank, one grit per pack in 40, 60, 80, 120 or 180. It is bought by tank and vessel shops, stainless and aluminum fabricators, trailer and truck body builders, and anyone finishing wide surfaces with a drill or a slow, variable-speed die grinder rather than a bench machine.
- Widest mounted face we offer: 2" of flap covers panels and tank walls fast
- 3" diameter gives real tip speed on a drill without exceeding the wheel rating
- Aluminum oxide cloth flaps self-refresh as they wear for a consistent finish
- Plain 1/4" shank chucks in drills, 1/4" collet die grinders and flex shafts
- Five working grits, 40 to 180, from scale removal to a brushed satin
- Pack of 10, converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping on orders over $200
Which grit should you choose for wide-surface finishing?
This wheel comes in one shank style, the Plain Shank, a straight 1/4" steel shank for drill chucks and 1/4" collets. The choice you are really making is grit, and on a 2" face the grit sets both the finish and how hard the wheel pulls on the tool.
- 40 grit: mill scale, heavy rust, old coatings and weld spatter across plate, channel and tank shells. The wide face clears a broad band each pass, so keep the tool moving.
- 60 grit: blending weld toes on wide tube and plate, first pass on heavy aluminum, knocking down grinder marks before a finer wheel.
- 80 grit: the general fabrication grit. Removes the 40–60 scratch, cleans up flame-cut and sheared edges, and is a common stopping point before primer.
- 120 grit: a uniform brushed finish on mild steel and aluminum, pre-paint refinement, and the first satin pass on stainless.
- 180 grit: the finest grit offered in this size. A clean architectural satin on stainless rail, post and panel, and the pass before compound if the job goes to a bright polish.
If you need 240 or 320 grit on a 3" wheel, the 3" x 1" mounted wheel carries those grits; this 2" face is built for the removal and blending end of the job.
Grit guide for tank, panel and wide tube work
| Grit | Use it for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Scale, rust, coatings, spatter | Follow with 80 before paint |
| 60 | Weld toe blending, heavy aluminum | Travel along the weld, not across |
| 80 | General cleanup, pre-primer | Removes the 40–60 scratch |
| 120 | Brushed steel, first stainless satin | Overlap passes by half the face |
| 180 | Architectural satin, pre-polish | Light pressure, one direction |
What tools does a 3" x 2" mounted flap wheel fit?
- Corded and cordless drills. The natural tool for this size. A drill cannot overspeed a 3" wheel, and the 2" face gives a drill something to do on large surfaces. Use the side handle; a 3" x 2" wheel has more leverage than any other mounted wheel.
- Variable-speed electric die grinders with a 1/4" collet, turned down to the RPM marked on the wheel.
- Flex shaft handpieces with a 1/4" chuck or collet, for reaching into vessels and housings.
- Air die grinders only when the tool speed is at or below the wheel rating. Most small air die grinders spin too fast for a 3" wheel and will tear the flaps.
Chuck the shank fully home and keep the stick-out as short as possible. This wheel is only sold with a plain shank, so if you need to run it on a long extension into a tank, use an extension arbor with a 1/4" chuck or collet at the end. Run within the RPM marked on the wheel or your tool's rating, whichever is lower; a 3" wheel is rated well below the 1" and 2" sizes.
How to get the most out of it
- Match the tool to the rating first. Read the RPM on the wheel before it goes in the chuck. If the tool cannot be held at or below that figure, use a drill.
- Present the full 2" face flat to the work. The point of this size is coverage. Tilting it onto one edge wears half the flaps and leaves a ridge in the finish.
- Light pressure, visible flex. The flap tips should bend and trail across the surface. Pressing a wide wheel harder bogs the drill, heats the part and rips flaps off at the hub.
- Keep the flaps trailing. If the wheel tries to climb the work or kick out of a corner, reverse your direction of travel so the tips drag rather than dig.
- Straight, overlapping passes. On tank walls and panels, run parallel passes that overlap by about half the face width. Make every final-grit pass in the same direction so the satin reads as one grain.
- Follow the tube. On wide tubing, wrap the face over the curve and travel lengthwise; crossing the tube leaves visible witness marks.
- Run dry, clear often. Aluminum, paint and scale load the cloth. Blow the wheel out with air and ease off rather than leaning in.
- Step grits in order. 40 to 80 to 120 to 180. Skipping from 40 to 180 leaves deep scratches under a satin surface that show up after the part is cleaned.
Use it for / don't use it for
Use it for
- Finishing tank, vessel and hopper interiors and exteriors where the wheel can be presented flat
- Satin finishing wide stainless and aluminum panels, posts and large-diameter tube
- Blending weld toes and grinder marks on trailer decks, truck bodies and frames
- Stripping mill scale, rust and old paint from plate, angle and channel
- Deburring and edge-breaking thick plate and large fabricated parts
- Coarse-to-medium sanding of large turned wood, columns and curved furniture parts
Don't use it for
- Small air die grinders that exceed the RPM marked on the wheel
- Grinding welds flush or heavy stock removal; use a flap disc or a coarse belt
- Grooves, inside corners, keyways and narrow slots; use a 1/2" wide mounted wheel
- Tubing and bores under about 3-1/2", where a 2" face cannot flex properly
- Fine finishing above 180 grit; use the 3" x 1" wheel in 240 or 320
- Bench grinders and polishing lathes; use our unmounted 6" to 12" flap wheels with arbor holes
Specifications
| Size | 3" diameter x 2" face width |
|---|---|
| Abrasive grain | Aluminum oxide on cloth flaps |
| Construction | Radially arranged cloth flaps on a hub, mounted on a steel shank |
| Shank | Plain 1/4" steel shank |
| Grits offered | 40, 60, 80, 120, 180 |
| Pack quantity | 10 wheels of one grit |
| Wet or dry | Dry |
| Speed | Within the RPM marked on the wheel or the tool's rating, whichever is lower |
| Also available | 3" x 1" and 3" x 1/2" mounted; 1" to 2-1/2" mounted; 6" to 12" unmounted with arbor holes |
| Converted in | Anaheim, California |
Frequently asked questions
When is the 3" x 2" a better choice than the 3" x 1" mounted flap wheel?
Choose the 3" x 2" when the surface is wide and flat or gently curved: tank walls, panels, decks and large tube. The 2" face covers twice the width per pass. Choose the 3" x 1" when you need finer grits (it goes to 320), a threaded shank for extension arbors, or a lighter wheel for a smaller drill.
Is a plain 1/4" shank the only option on this wheel?
Yes. The 3" x 2" mounted flap wheel is sold only with a plain 1/4" steel shank, which fits drill chucks, 1/4" collet die grinders and flex shaft handpieces. If you need a 1/4-20 threaded stud for an extension arbor, the 3" x 1" mounted wheel offers that shank style.
Can I run a 3" x 2" flap wheel on an air die grinder?
Only if the die grinder runs at or below the RPM marked on the wheel. Most compact air die grinders spin far faster than a 3" wheel is rated for, and the flaps will tear at the hub. A drill or a variable-speed electric die grinder turned down to the rating is the right tool for this size.
What grit sequence gives a brushed finish on a stainless tank wall?
Start at 80 grit if the surface has weld marks or scratches to remove, then 120, then finish at 180 grit with light pressure and every pass in the same direction. Keep the full 2" face on the wall and overlap by half. If the specification calls for a bright interior, follow the 180 grit pass with compound on a buffing wheel.
Why does a 3" wheel carry a lower speed rating than a 1" or 2" wheel?
The flap tips on a 3" wheel travel three times as far each revolution as the tips on a 1" wheel, so at the same RPM they are moving much faster and carrying much more load. Above the rating the cloth tears and the wheel can shed flaps. Always run at or below the RPM printed on the wheel.
How do I stop the wheel loading up on aluminum or painted steel?
Reduce pressure so the flaps brush rather than scrub, keep the wheel moving, and blow it out with compressed air whenever the cut slows. Loading is packed material between the grains, and pressing harder only packs it tighter. Coarser grits, 40 and 60, load less than 120 and 180 on soft or gummy material.
How is the 10-pack sold, and can I get case pricing?
Each pack contains 10 wheels of a single grit, all on plain 1/4" shanks. Orders over $200 ship free, unused wheels in original packaging can be returned within 30 days, and case pricing for fabrication and tank shops is available by calling 714-646-3299 or emailing sales@maverickabrasives.com.
Related products and guides
- All flap wheels, mounted and unmounted
- 3" x 1" Mounted Aluminum Oxide Flap Wheels, pack of 10 (240 and 320 grit, threaded shank option)
- 3" x 1/2" Mounted Aluminum Oxide Flap Wheels, pack of 10 (narrow face for grooves)
- 8" x 2" Unmounted Flap Wheels for bench grinders and polishing lathes
- Custom sanding belts made to order in about 3 days
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