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[ileney]

So I finally used up a 4" galaxy hard wheel and am left with what looks like a shiny stainless steel, smooth wheel. It seem like it should be good for something. After all, they are heavy stainless steel (I think) wheels. Has anyone found a new use for these or do people just chuck them?

[kenny]

I'm not sure what they can be used for or if they are actually stainless, but I have a small machining operation and would possibly interested in having one just cause I might dream up something to do with it.

[Trails]

Somewhere, someone, had mentioned about using anti-skid tape to redress old wheels to have a 80grit hard sanding wheel. I know from handyman work, the glue they use on these pads is like fly-paper and once its down, its down, and holds up to wear and weather. I haven't tried it myself but its been floating around in my head since I read it.

Even as is.. I could see a 4" steel wheel being a great barrel-roller for some grand belt-sanding contraption.

[montanajohn]

  While you are thinking, Trails, think up a use for all those old saw blades.  They should be good for something??

[vitzitziltecpatl]

For those who have flat laps, old saw blades and worn out steel toppers are good for putting foam pad and resin disc setups on. We have a set of diamond resin discs set up like this. Being able to change grits in seconds is great.

[montanajohn]

Cool!  I will have to think some on how to do this, Thanks

[ileney]

Hm... the anti-skid tape is intriguing. I wonder if that would work. I may have to try it.

[PhilNM]

old wheels? resurface them. Several techniques have ben posted here over the years. you just have to search for them.
Old sawblades? Paint on them to sell at craft shows. Also. make great targets and brightly painted wind chimes.

[ileney]

You can resurface the soft wheels. I don’t think that trchnique works for hard wheels.

[PhilNM]

You can resurface the soft wheels. I don’t think that trchnique works for hard wheels.

  yes, it does. I've done it to several. just need to make sure everything is clean clean clean and follow the directions. You can't hog your rock into it like an original welded wheel, but if you use a softer touch and a little more time, they work and wear well.

[55fossil]

       I have re-surfaced several of the soft Genie 6 inch wheels with leather. I put my favorite finish polish on a wheel and use it to polish my cabochons. I like it better than the leather side pads that are on the Genie and almost as well as my Richardson's Ranch 12 inch leather polishing wheel. The 12 inch is on the shelf out of the way as it takes up a lot of bench space. The Genie wheel pops on in seconds on my spare arbor. Plus I now have separate wheels for Cerium, , tin oxide and other polishes so there is no contamination issues.
    I purchased rough Leather at a Tandy store. I cut the strip just wider than the wheel so there is no harsh edge to scratch the cabochon. I used rubber cement to hold the leather in place. You need to really get it on good and hold it in place while the glue drives. I put the (suede) soft side of the leather to the outside to hold the polish.
   The cabochons in the picture are reflecting the light bulb filament and you can read the writing on the lamp housing. First cabochon is Willow Creek orbs and the second is a piece of very fickle petrified wood. Picture is to show the nice polish you get.

[hummingbirdstones]

That's a great use for the old hard wheels!  I'm going to use this idea.  Those cabs are beautiful!

[ileney]

Yowza. Great idea! I’ll give it a try.

[vitzitziltecpatl]

That's a good looking seam where the leather ends meet. Do you prepare the leather strips in any way before putting them on the wheels? Soaking and drying or pre-stretching - anything like that? Wondering about shrinkage during use.

That really is a great idea. Thanks for posting it.

[PhilNM]

If you sew the leather into a circle slightly larger than the wheel before putting it on, then getting it wet and slipping it on, it will shrink to a very tight fit.

[55fossil]

    I did not do any special treatments to the leather. This was meant to be a simple test and it was. Since it worked well with just a straight seam I left it alone and made three more like it. I have used this leather wheel for over a year now with good results. I use a sprayer on mist to keep the leather damp while polishing. On some stones I let the leather get dry and actually let it heat the stone up to get a dazzling finish on really hard stones. Softer stones seem to polish wet with a rather damp leather pad.

     Make sure and let the glue set up well before using!  Since this is a soft wheel that flexes I think the rubber cement was a great choice as it will flex forever. There could be a better choice.

   Is there a better way.... most likely.   I think the biggest key is getting a leather that will hold the polish and do a good job. I really found the suede side to do a great job. Some times simple is good.....   

[vitzitziltecpatl]

Thanks Phil. I didn't even think of sewing the leather ends together. Must have rocks in my head... .

I see from re-reading this thread that the leather was used on an old Nova wheel - not a hard wheel. The thread started off on hard wheels, but many thanks to 55fossil for posting a photo of the leather "belt" on the soft wheel.

The rubber cement works too. I've used that when assembling resin disk/foam pad/steel backers for a flat lap.

[Neural]

Regarding the Nova wheels.  Since the surface is likely still rough to some extent, maybe the following is a solution?

Set up a way in which you can have the used wheel slowly rotate (not sure what speed would work best).
Get some diamond dust of appropriate grit, mix it into an appropriate adhesive, and with the wheel slowly rotating just paint it on for several layers and then leave it rotating slowly to dry/cure.
Not sure how some resins would work, but I would think there is some form of resin or epoxy that could fill the role.

Just an idea, no clue if it would work.

[ileney]

Hi Neural, there are detailed instructions for this here somewhere, but I was asking about hard wheels. Also, Johnson Brothers will do the Nova wheels for you at reasonable cost, for people who don’t want the bother.