The portable grinder is a lightweight, hand-operated machine tool. It can be powered electrically or pneumatically, depending on the model selected. The portable grinder is used in the field or maintenance shop to grind excess metal from welds, remove rust, and for special finishing operations around the work area. Since this tool is hand operated, the quality of the work depends upon the ability and experience of the operator.
A small portable chuck type grinder may be known as a die grinder and is available with a number of accessories.
Small portable chuck type
These accessories include rotary files, small circular saws, wire brushes, assorted grinding wheels, and small sanding and polishing disks. These accessories are mounted to straight shank arbors which fit into the collet chuck of the grinder. Special reduction collets are provided so that smaller diameter arbors or shanks can be mounted in the chuck. Operations performed with this portable grinder include shaping and smoothing intricate dies and castings, removing burrs from edges and surfaces, cleaning and repairing threaded parts, repairing keyways and splines, grinding bevels, countersinking holes. and repairing scored and mutilated surfaces.
The portable grinder (wheel type) can be electric or pneumatic and is designed for heavy-duty portable grinding operations. It is capable of mounting and rotating 6- inch-diameter grinding abrasive wheels and 6-inch- diameter wire brushes and polishing wheels. This grinder is used as a hand grinder for removing rust, corrosion, and sharp burrs from large workpieces.
Portable Grinder (wheel type)
Most portable grinders come with a grinder stand. Mounted on this stand, the grinder can be used to sharpen twist drills and cutter bits in the machine shop. Most grinders also come equipped with a wheel guard that should remain in place at all times to protect the operator from flying sparks and waste material. The portable grinder is designed so that the face of the grinding wheel is used; never use the side of the wheel or serious injury or damage could occur.
Portable grinders
The angle grinder (disk type) can be electric or pneumatic, and is designed for heavy duty grinding operations. The angle grinder consists of a depressed center abrasive grinding disk with wheel guard attached to the basic portable motor assembly. Care must be taken to check the wheel for cracks and to ensure that the wheel guard stays in place while operating.