Grinding wheel supplier?

[Greg Q]

Does anybody have a favourite supplier of 8" grinding wheels, preferably Norton or other name brand in Melbourne?

I'm looking for white aluminium oxide and/or silicon carbide green wheels in fine grits. I found some no-name wheels at Carba Tec, but they had 3/4" arbor holes and no grit spec on the (peeling off) label.

Lee Valley has some good wheels but their post charges are off the scale ($88.00 postage)

Thanks

Greg

[Groggy]

G'day Greg!

I get all mine from AllTools, they have a pretty good range and order in quickly what they don't have.

[Greg Q]

Thanks Groggy, and G'day right back. I don't know why I didn't think of them. Sometimes it's too easy to rely on Google and forget about the yellow pages:-

Cheers

greg

[neksmerj]

Hi Greg,

I went searching for Australian Industrial Abrasives, because I seem to remember they were located in the industrial area, not far from the Northland shopping centre.

However, it seems they are now located a cut lunch away at 10-12 Johnston Crt, Dandenong, tel 9794 7311.

Now if you had a helicopter..........

Ken

[bsrlee]

I've bought a Norton Blu-Max wheel from Carrolls - http://cws-store.yahoostore.com.au/
You could also try Gary Pye -
http://gpwoodturning.yahoostore.com.au/

They all have a great range of others for HSS

[rusty steel]

Hi Greg,
I have the same wheels you are after and I bought mine from Blackwoods.
Regards,
Russell

[Greg Q]

I've bought a Norton Blu-Max wheel from Carrolls - http://cws-store.yahoostore.com.au/
You could also try Gary Pye -
http://gpwoodturning.yahoostore.com.au/

They all have a great range of others for HSS

Thanks for those links. I haven't heard of the blue max...how do you like it?

(I am a new guy when it comes to grinders and HSS, having squandered my youth on wood tools and waterstones...I purchased a bunch of cobalt HSS bits, wondering if they might need an SC wheel)

(These bits were all previously formed into a dozen different profiles on a tool and cutter grinder...they look like textbook models. All I need to do is keep them that way.:oo:

[Greg Q]

Hi Greg,
I have the same wheels you are after and I bought mine from Blackwoods.
Regards,
Russell

Thanks Russ. I need to go there for some way oil (if they have it).

Cheers

Greg

[Groggy]

I haven't heard of the blue max...how do you like it?
Greg, I have the blue max and find it not much different to the white wheels. Bit disappointed actually.

[BobL]

I don't think the blu max loses quite so much grit as the straight white wheels so I still use it to form bevels. Whatever the case it's definitely not up to the hype.

One thing I have learned in the last couple of years and that is coolest grinds are best done with the coarsest grit with relatively friable wheels. If you are worried about heating then fine grits are really only good for very very light grinding, or heat insensitive materials. If for very fine grinding a belt sander has some advantages in terms of flatness compared to a grinder.

[Greg Q]

I have a tape here on metal lathe work in which the belt sander plays a staring role. I own a bench grinder though, and it will be used mostly for cutter maintenance. (although I say this with new guy optimism-who knows?)

All of my plane blades and chisels were long ago flattened/sharpened by hand, so they'll never need to see a grinder now-just a quick touch up keeps them going fine.

I was thinking of getting 80 and 120 grit wheels...perhaps they are too close together and I'd be better served with a coarser wheel also/instead?

Greg

(who also has quorn castings seasoning away here under the bench. I'll never get to them-open to reasonable offers)

[Sprog]

Abrasiflex (http://www.abrasiflex.com.au/contact.asp)