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disc grinder, adhesive removal

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Posts: 4
Active Member Apprentice Bladesmith
Topic starter
 

Hello,

I'm currently struggling with removing adhesive residue from my 9" disc grinder.  I've used both sandpaper stuck on with spray on adhesive from 3M and pressure activated sanding discs.  Removing the glue seems labor intensive and I'm down to rubbing with mineral spirits and scraping with plastic and BRASS scrapers.  There must be a better way...  I have not tried heating with a heat gun first or soaking the used disc with Goof Off or some label removal solvent.  It seams the longer I leave a disc on or the harder I grind, the harder it is to remove the old disc.  I use Rod Nielson's hub and steel plates, so the brass scraper doesn't scar the plate.

 
Posted : 23/02/2024 3:15 pm
Karl B Andersen
Posts: 89
Journeyman Bladesmith Forum Moderator
 

For years now I have used PB Blaster "Citrus Based Degreaser". Don't let the name fool you - it's for many uses.

Years ago the same product was called "SLR" - Sticker and Label Remover" and the disappeared and I was lost. I called the company and they told me that due to some EPA guidelines they had to rename it - but the product was the same.

It works fantastically. After use also clean off with simple water/damp cloth before reapplying adhesive.

A little goes a long way. Spray on and let soak for a few minutes and reapply as necessary.

Search and you'll see it many places. I got my last one on Amazon : https://www.amazon.com/Blaster-16-CBD-Powerful-Citrus-Degreaser/dp/B0002KKIQ4/ref=sr_1_1_pp?crid=LNLO30F7YCQG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Q2_XaJ0wByQEFTkK0IzYIFJiBc8foVJZeKh2RF-ne_ipM-fp_PVn8S3hRnj6RkCQU4KGQbpHj_Bykko3Ke8n-RUM4jrVpCamiV4qdh7gdqK_u7VerxIHvoJRxMgewOJqxMtx7bgyQZEGOuO65mlN-YOukk0-opuihqQ-Sl2uZErSQa3ppGf9eXDoxjPTtMBP29PT2EF_6Emik85Z5qFyeGYz1cNSXfn6oUgghPS6ILwWioq8wHWR2cc3K-qp1aZINrLndxVjBMsAaZ-nUWOOSYT915hyTgxEV3zrbAmYo6o.cEndU55DIZ0lYPU2RYOqemblYJfv_4IS-4WOfenl1fo&dib_tag=se&keywords=blaster+citrus+based+degreaser&qid=1708781798&sprefix=blaster+c%2Caps%2C109&sr=8-1

Also - try different adhesive. It seems pricey at first, but 3M Feathering Disc adhesive is good for MANY!! uses. And I do mean many. It's used in the auto paint industry and I get mine at NAPA.

 
Posted : 24/02/2024 9:42 am
Posts: 5
Active Member Apprentice Bladesmith
 

Stick a 120 grit disc on first, then whatever grit paper on top of that. The 120 grit "backer" stays on the disc permanently, more or less. The 120 grit backer reduces the contact area for the glue to stick to. Top disc peels off easily. 

I prefer 3m super77, but the feathering adhesive works just fine.

 
Posted : 24/02/2024 11:47 am
Michael Samdahl
Posts: 19
Eminent Member Apprentice Bladesmith
 

Karl B Andersen,

Thank you so much for the information. So far Rod Samdahl has spent about 2 hours each time taking off the "gunk" that builds up on the discs that he purchased after each use. It seems to be making the use of the tool almost "not worth it". What we have learned so far, (unless we are doing this wrong), is that this tool is almost exclusively used for finishing work for a couple reasons. 1) If you use the grinder too much with low grit, you heat up the glue backing making it harder to come off. 2) The only ceramic material we can find comes from red label and the glue backing on the discs is worse to get off than 3m spray. 

We are happy to try your method next. The price of the sprays and degreaser will be obviously outweighed by the time spent removing an incorrect procedure or process. The stores closest to us are Ace/Home depo, So I will check there first to save the delivery time of amazon. Do you have an object you use to scrap the disc before the warm water cloth in order to get off the excess gunk? We purchased a set of plastic spackle scrapers to clean the wheel then tried mineral spirits on a cloth, but it just gets gunked up so quickly. 

In the process of learning we are happy to try any and all suggestions, but we want to make sure that we understand thoroughly the suggestion so that we don't improperly apply it and experience failure in our own misunderstanding. 

Thank you.

 

Rod Samdahl; here is another post on this information as well.

https://www.americanbladesmith.org/community/tools-equipment-and-jigs/if-you-use-a-disc-grinder-this-is-a-great-tool/#post-621

Respectfully
Michael

 
Posted : 26/02/2024 1:45 pm
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