Flap Wheel 8" x 2" Unmounted Aluminum Oxide, Pack of 5
Flap Wheel 8" x 2" Unmounted Aluminum Oxide, Pack of 5
Available in stock (50000)
Two inches of face on an 8" wheel is a production tool. It lays a wide, even scratch across sheet, panels, wide flat bar and tube in one pass, and the long flaps carry enough abrasive to run a shift without a wheel change. Where the 8" x 1" is steered around a part, this wheel is what the part is fed across on a polishing lathe or a flap wheel finishing machine.
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. Sheet metal and stainless fabricators, architectural metal shops, appliance and enclosure builders, and finishing lines that satin panels before brake forming are the buyers.
- 2" face lays a wide, even satin across sheet, panels and tube in one pass
- 8" diameter: long flaps for cool running and long life between changes
- 5/8", 1" or 1-3/4" arbor hole for polishing lathes, finishing machines and 8" grinders
- Aluminum oxide cloth flaps expose fresh grain as they wear; the scratch stays consistent
- Eight grits from 40 to 400, scale removal through pre-polish
- Pack of 5, converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping on orders over $200
Which arbor hole and grit should you choose for panel and sheet work?
A 2" wide wheel puts real load on the spindle, so the hole has to match the shaft exactly and the flanges must be large enough to support the hub. Measure before you order.
- 5/8" Arbor Hole: 8" bench and pedestal grinders with a 5/8" shaft, provided the guard clears a 2" wide wheel and the RPM is within the wheel rating.
- 1" Arbor Hole: polishing lathes and buffing motors with 1" shafts, the usual home for this wheel in a finishing shop.
- 1-3/4" Arbor Hole: flap wheel finishing machines and industrial spindles built around a 1-3/4" arbor and wide flanges, where 2" wheels are often stacked to build a still wider face.
Grit for flat and wide work:
- 40 and 60 grit: stripping mill scale, rust and laser oxide from sheet and plate, heavy blending on weldments.
- 80 and 100 grit: removing shear and punch marks, blending weld toes on panels and tube, general pre-paint surface.
- 120 and 150 grit: brushed finish on mild steel and aluminum panels, the standard pre-plate and pre-powder-coat surface.
- 320 and 400 grit: fine satin on stainless and brass sheet, kick plates, trim and enclosures, and the pass before buffing. This size skips 180 and 240; go from 150 to 320 with light pressure and the finish blends cleanly.
Grit guide for sheet, panel and tube finishing
| Grit | Use it for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 40–60 | Scale, rust, laser oxide, heavy blending | Keep the sheet moving across the face |
| 80–100 | Shear marks, weld toes, pre-paint | Overlap passes by half the face |
| 120–150 | Brushed panels, pre-plate, pre-powder | Step to 320 next |
| 320–400 | Satin stainless and brass sheet, pre-buff | One direction, light pressure |
What machines does an 8" x 2" unmounted flap wheel fit?
- Polishing lathes and buffing motors with 1" or 5/8" shafts. This is the primary machine for the 8" x 2": a wide flap wheel on one end and an 8" buff on the other covers satin and bright work on the same bench.
- Flap wheel finishing machines with 1-3/4" arbors, including setups that gang two or more 2" wheels on one arbor for wide sheet.
- 8" bench and pedestal grinders with a 5/8" shaft, only if the guard accepts a 2" wide wheel and the grinder RPM is at or below the rating on the wheel.
- Backstand and pedestal finishing spindles with a matching arbor and flanges.
Flange and arbor fit. A 2" wide wheel needs flanges that are equal in diameter and large enough to bear on the whole hub face; small washers let the wheel rock. Seat it square, tighten firmly, and mount it so the flap tips trail the direction of rotation at the point where the work meets the wheel. If you gang wheels, keep all grits identical and clamp the stack as one.
Speed. The larger the wheel, the slower it must turn: an 8" wheel is rated below a 6", and the 10" and 12" wheels lower still. Check the RPM printed on the wheel against the machine plate before mounting, and never exceed it.
How to get the most out of it
- Verify the RPM first. A 2" wide, 8" wheel carries a lot of cloth; running it above its rating is how flaps leave the hub. Machine RPM must be at or below the figure on the wheel.
- Mount with the flaps trailing and the wheel square between full-size flanges. Run it unloaded for a moment and listen for vibration before you bring work to it.
- Feed sheet across the face, not into it. Hold the panel flat, contact the wheel with light pressure so the flaps flex, and draw it steadily across in one direction. Overlap passes by about half the face width.
- Final grit in one direction only. A brushed panel reads as one grain only if every 150, 320 or 400 pass runs the same way. Do not go back over it at an angle.
- Tube and bar lengthwise. Lay the tube along the 2" face and rotate it slowly so the scratch runs down the length.
- Watch for heat on stainless. Long flaps run cool, but dwelling in one spot with pressure still heat-tints. Keep the part moving and let the wheel do the work.
- Clear loading with air. Aluminum sheet and painted panels pack the flaps quickly. Blow the wheel out and back off pressure rather than leaning in.
- Dedicate a spindle per grit on production work. Changing a 2" wheel and re-checking flanges is slow; two lathes or a two-end lathe with coarse and fine wheels is faster.
Use it for / don't use it for
Use it for
- Satin and brushed finishes on stainless, aluminum and brass sheet, kick plates, trim and enclosures
- Removing shear, punch and laser marks from flat parts before forming or coating
- Blending weld toes on panels, frames and wide tube
- Preparing sheet and plate for plating, anodizing, paint and powder coat
- Stripping mill scale and rust from plate and flat bar
- Finishing wide hardwood parts, panels and turned columns
Don't use it for
- Small parts, grooves, slots and inside corners; use the 8" x 1" or a 1/2" wide wheel
- Grinding welds flush or heavy stock removal
- Cutting, notching or sharpening
- Machines whose RPM exceeds the rating marked on the wheel, including most 6" grinders
- Undersized flanges or washers that do not support the full hub
- Hand-held tools; use our mounted 3" x 2" flap wheel with a 1/4" shank
Specifications
| Size | 8" diameter x 2" face width |
|---|---|
| Abrasive grain | Aluminum oxide on cloth flaps |
| Construction | Radially arranged cloth flaps on a central hub, unmounted |
| Arbor hole options | 5/8", 1", 1-3/4" |
| Grits offered | 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 320, 400 |
| Pack quantity | 5 wheels of one grit and one arbor hole |
| Wet or dry | Dry |
| Speed | Within the RPM marked on the wheel; lower than a 6" wheel |
| Also available | 8" x 1" narrow face; 10" x 2" and 12" x 2" wide face; 6" unmounted; 3" x 2" mounted |
| Converted in | Anaheim, California |
Frequently asked questions
Is the 8" x 2" better than two 8" x 1" wheels ganged together?
For a continuous 2" face, the single 8" x 2" is better: there is no seam between wheels, so no line in the finish, and one hub is easier to balance than two. Ganging 1" wheels is useful when you already stock them or want to mix widths, but for sheet and panel work order the 2" face.
Can I run an 8" x 2" flap wheel on a bench grinder?
Only on an 8" grinder with a 5/8" shaft whose guard clears a 2" wide wheel and whose RPM is at or below the rating marked on the wheel. Many 8" grinders are too fast for an 8" flap wheel, and most guards are made for a 1" stone. A polishing lathe or flap wheel machine is the normal home for this size.
How do I get a straight brushed grain on a stainless panel?
Set the panel flat against the 2" face with light pressure and draw it across the wheel in one direction, overlapping each pass by about half the face width. Use 120 or 150 grit for a standard brushed look, 320 or 400 for a fine satin, and never return over the surface at an angle. A fresh wheel for the final pass gives the most even grain.
Which arbor hole is right for a flap wheel finishing machine?
Most dedicated flap wheel and backstand finishing machines use a 1-3/4" arbor with wide flanges, so order the 1-3/4" hole for those. Polishing lathes and buffing motors are usually 1" or 5/8". Measure the arbor where the wheel sits, because the hole must match with no play; a 2" wide wheel magnifies any looseness.
Why does an 8" wheel carry a lower RPM rating than a 6" wheel?
The flap tips on an 8" wheel travel a third farther every revolution than those on a 6", so at the same RPM they run faster and pull harder on the hub. Beyond the rating, flaps tear out. Our 10" and 12" wheels are rated lower again. Always compare the RPM printed on the wheel with your machine before mounting.
How many panels will a wheel finish before it needs replacing?
That depends on grit, material and pressure, so we do not quote a number. What we can say is that the long flaps on an 8" wheel carry more abrasive than a 6", the cut stays consistent because worn tips expose fresh grain, and the wheel is done when the flaps have shortened enough to stop flexing and the finish coarsens. Light pressure extends life considerably compared with leaning in.
How is the pack sold and can I get production pricing?
Each pack contains 5 wheels of one grit and one arbor hole. Orders over $200 ship free, unused wheels in original packaging can be returned within 30 days, and case pricing for sheet metal and finishing lines is available by calling 714-646-3299 or emailing sales@maverickabrasives.com.
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