DIY: Grinding Wheel

Grinding wheels are used to sharpen knives, drill bits and other items.

Grinding wheels are typically made from a synthetic or natural abrasive material pressed together in the shape of a wheel. These tools are used commonly to sharpen drill bits, knives and other metallic objects with ease. While the general public may not use grinding wheels very often, commercial industries use grinding wheels on a regular basis to maintain various metal tool sharpness. You can make a crude grinding wheel by yourself with a few common items. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

• Circular stone
• Power drill
• Wheel mounting brackets
• Saw horses
• Iron bar or lever
• Screws
• Bolts
• Protective glasses

Instructions

1. Drill a hole into your circular stone using a stone drill bit and your power drill. The size of this hole will depend on the diameter of your iron lever bar. Once drilled, position the iron lever base through the hole in your stone. Affix the included nut or washer on the iron base opposite the lever's handle. Commercial lever kits can be purchased at many house ware stores.

2. Install your wheel mounting brackets to your two saw horses, one to each saw horse, by drilling small screw holes into each horse's frame. The size of these holes will depend on the size of the screws you will be using to hold your mounting brackets. Secure each bracket with the appropriate screws and tighten with your drill.

3. Place the grinding wheel stone into the mounting brackets by following the brackets' manufacturer instructions. Allow for adequate clearance for your wheel's lever to rotate freely within the mounting brackets. You may need to adjust the distance between saw horses to allow for this clearance.

4. Secure the lever base on either side of the stone via the slots located on your mounting brackets. This will ensure that the wheel stays locked in the brackets during use.

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on the future use of your grinding wheel, stones of differing materials can be purchased. For example, you may need a certain type of stone to sharpen knives and another to sharpen drill bits.

• Always wear protective glasses when working with a power drill and especially when drilling into a coarse material like stone or wood.

References

• Made How: Grinding Wheel
• Georgia Grinding Wheel: Basics

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish