A grinder with a low-removal-rate grinding wheel can face significant challenges working with stainless steel. Again, excessive heat can cause bluing and change the material properties. The goal is to keep stainless steel as cool as possible throughout the process.
To that end, it helps to choose a grinding wheel with the fastest removal rate possible for the application and budget. Wheels with zirconia grains grind faster than aluminum oxide, but in most cases a ceramic grinding wheel works best.
Extremely tough and sharp, ceramic grains wear in a unique fashion. Instead of wearing down smooth, they maintain their sharp edge as they gradually break down. This means they can remove material extremely quickly, often in just a fraction of the time other grinding wheels can. This usually makes ceramic grinding wheels well worth their extra cost. They’re well-suited for stainless applications because they remove large chips quickly, generating less heat and distortion.
No matter what grinding wheel a fabricator chooses, it needs to keep the potential of contamination in mind. Most fabricators know they can’t use the same grinding wheel on both carbon steel and stainless steel. Many physically separate their carbon and stainless steel grinding operations. Even a miniscule spark from carbon steel landing on a stainless workpiece can cause contamination problems. Many industries, like pharmaceutical and the nuclear sectors, require consumables rated as contaminant-free. This means that grinding wheels used on stainless steel must be nearly free (less than 0.1%) of iron, sulfur, and chlorine.
Grinding wheels on their own don’t grind; they need a power tool. Anyone can tout the benefits of an abrasive wheel or a power tool, but the reality is that power tools and their grinding wheels work as a system. Ceramic wheels are designed to work with angle grinders with a certain amount of power and torque. Although some pneumatic grinders have the necessary specifications, most ceramic-wheel grinding occurs with electric power tools.
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