When Cutting and Grinding Wheels Explode

It goes without saying that you don’t expect to load a brand-new cutting or grinding wheel only to have it give out after using it a handful of times. And you definitely don’t expect one to blow up in your face. 

Unfortunately, if you don’t have the right wheel, both of these can happen — and they happen more often than you might think.

Here’s an animated video put together by OSHAcademy showing what happens when a grinding wheel explodes. 

Not good. So why does this happen?

One reason is that abrasives are built to work within a specific range of RPM’s, which are usually outlined on the packaging or on the wheel itself. If your wheel exceeds these RPM’s or is otherwise used improperly, it can tear apart.

Another reason is that some wheels just aren’t built to last. 

Cut-rate wheels are cut-rate for a reason. Namely, they’re usually manufactured with fillers or inferior bonding agents, which makes them flimsier and more prone to breakage. On top of that, they’re often manufactured in places that don’t follow the same rigorous testing and quality assurance standards adhered to by American manufacturers. (Learn more about the dangers of cut-rate abrasives here.)

It’s a big risk in the name of small savings — especially when you consider the costs of replacement and potential injuries that come with dangerous abrasives.  

Avoid the risks and get the job done faster

At United Abrasives / SAIT, we’re not big fans of selling products that put our customers at risk. We’d rather supply industrial grade wheels and accessories that help you get the job done without putting yourself or your workers at risk. That’s why our abrasives are always built with premium grains, meaning they’re safer, last longer and work faster than the other guys.

We event put our cutting wheel to the test against a leading competitor to see how we stand up: 

As you can see in the video above, for our own safety we could only conduct this test by locking the wheel in a secure location. Now, imagine you didn’t have that luxury and the little pieces and shards instead shattered and flew all over your workplace. Not a fun situation, right? 

Don’t leave anything to chance. Put safety and performance first.

Learn more about what makes United Abrasives different.