Flap Wheel 6" x 1" Unmounted Aluminum Oxide, Pack of 5

If a shop owns one unmounted flap wheel, it is usually this one. A 6" diameter matches the wheel size on the most common bench grinders, and a 1" face is wide enough for flats, tube, bar and edges without being too wide to control on small parts. Swap it in for one of the grinding stones and the grinder becomes a deburring, blending and satin-finishing station that never needs dressing.

Aluminum oxide cloth flaps, pack of 5, one grit per pack from 40 to 400, with a 5/8", 1" or 1-3/4" arbor hole for bench grinders, polishing lathes and flap wheel finishing machines. Fabrication shops, maintenance departments, knife makers, woodturners and anyone who deburrs parts by hand all day are the buyers.

• 6" diameter drops straight onto a 6" bench grinder in place of a stone
• 1" face handles flats, tube, bar and edges without bridging small parts
• 5/8", 1" or 1-3/4" arbor hole to match bench grinders, lathes and finishing machines
• Aluminum oxide cloth flaps stay consistent to the end; no dressing, no glazing
• Grits from 40 to 400 cover deburring through pre-polish
• Pack of 5, converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping on orders over $200

Which arbor hole and grit should you order for a bench grinder?

Start with the spindle. Measure the shaft where the wheel sits, because the hole must match it exactly; bushings that rattle put the wheel out of balance.

• 5/8" Arbor Hole: the standard shaft on most 6" and 8" bench grinders. If you are replacing a stone on a grinder, this is almost certainly the one.
• 1" Arbor Hole: polishing lathes, buffing motors and pedestal grinders with 1" shafts, or a 1" tapered or straight adapter arbor.
• 1-3/4" Arbor Hole: flap wheel finishing machines and industrial spindles that use a 1-3/4" arbor with large flanges.

Then pick grit for the job the grinder will do most. Most shops keep two: a coarse wheel on one end and a fine wheel on the other.

• 40 and 60 grit: cleaning castings, removing scale and rust from bar and pipe, heavy deburring of plasma and saw cuts, first pass on weld toes.
• 80 and 100 grit: everyday deburring of machined and sheared parts, blending, removing grinder and file marks.
• 120 and 150 grit: brushed finish on mild steel and aluminum, edge softening before paint or powder coat, finish sanding turned wood.
• 320 and 400 grit: fine satin on stainless and brass, pre-polish before a buff and compound, final blending on knife handles and fittings.

There is no 180 or 240 grit in this size; going from 150 to 320 works cleanly on a flap wheel because the flaps blend rather than cut, provided pressure stays light.

Grit guide for bench deburring and finishing

What machines does a 6" x 1" unmounted flap wheel fit?

• 6" bench grinders, with the flap wheel in place of one stone. Use the 5/8" hole on most models. A 6" wheel also runs on an 8" grinder if the guard and rest can be adjusted in; the wheel simply runs at a slightly lower tip speed.
• Polishing lathes and buffing motors with 5/8" or 1" shafts, putting a satin wheel alongside the buff so parts can be pre-finished and polished without changing machines.
• Flap wheel finishing machines and industrial spindles with 1-3/4" arbors.
• Pedestal grinders with a 5/8" or 1" shaft.

Flange and mounting notes. Clamp the wheel between two flanges of equal diameter that seat on the hub, not on the cloth. Keep the original flanges from the stone; a flap wheel needs the same support. Seat the wheel square against the inner flange and tighten the nut firmly. Mount the wheel so the flap tips trail the direction of rotation at the work point. Reset the tool rest close to the face after mounting and adjust the guard so it clears the flaps. Stay within the RPM marked on the wheel or the grinder's rating, whichever is lower. Remember that speed ratings fall as diameter grows: a 6" wheel is the one meant for bench grinder speed, while 8", 10" and 12" wheels need slower spindles.

How to get the most out of it

1. Check rotation before the first part. With the guard on, look at the flaps at the working face: the tips should sweep away from the work like a brush being dragged. If they point into the work, take the wheel off and turn it around.
2. Light pressure, part below center. Rest the part on the tool rest a little below the spindle centerline and bring it up to the wheel until the flaps just flex. The wheel should pull the work down onto the rest, not lift it.
3. Keep the part moving. Dwelling in one spot heats the part and grooves the wheel. Sweep across the 1" face so it wears flat.
4. Edges and burrs at a shallow angle. Roll an edge across the face rather than pushing the corner in; the flaps wrap the edge and break it evenly.
5. Tubes and bars lengthwise. Lay the tube along the face and rotate it slowly so the scratch runs along the length.
6. Two grits, two ends. A coarse wheel on one side and a fine wheel on the other covers most deburring and blending without stopping to change wheels.
7. Clear loading with air, not pressure. Aluminum, brass and painted parts pack the flaps. Blow the wheel out and reduce pressure.
8. Replace the wheel when the flaps get short. A flap wheel stays consistent until the flaps are worn close to the hub; when the face diameter has dropped noticeably and the finish coarsens, fit a fresh one.

Use it for / don't use it for

Use it for

• Deburring sheared, sawn, plasma-cut and machined steel, stainless and aluminum parts
• Blending weld toes and grinder marks on small fabrications brought to the bench
• Cleaning scale and rust from bar, pipe and small castings
• Satin finishing stainless and brass parts before buffing
• Knife makers blending bolsters, guards and handle fittings
• Woodturners finishing spindles, handles and small bowls off the lathe
• Softening sharp edges before paint or powder coat

Don't use it for

• Grinding welds flush or reshaping parts; keep a stone or a belt for stock removal
• Sharpening tools
• Cutting or notching
• Narrow grooves and slots, where the 6" x 1/2" wheel fits better
• Hand-held tools; use our mounted flap wheels with a 1/4" shank
• Any spindle whose shaft does not match the arbor hole, or that runs above the RPM marked on the wheel

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Related products and guides

• All flap wheels, mounted and unmounted
• 6" x 1/2" Unmounted Aluminum Oxide Flap Wheels, pack of 5 (narrow face)
• 8" x 1" Unmounted Aluminum Oxide Flap Wheels, pack of 5 (for 8" grinders and lathes)
• Metal polishing compound bars for the buff after the flap wheel
• Custom sanding belts made to order in about 3 days