Finishing By The Numbers

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STAINLESS STEEL MARKETNORTON

ABRASIVE PRODUCTS GUIDE

Some of the most commonly used final finishes are:#3 – Coarse abrasive finish applied mechanically. #4 – Brushed finish.#5 – Satin finish. #6 – Matte finish (brushed but smoother than #4). #7 – Reflective finish. #8 – Mirror finish.

The use of stainless steel in North America continues to grow in popularity for industries such as appliance, food processing equipment, aerospace, and medical. In some stainless steel applications, weld grinding is required as one of the last steps for finishing. As the demand for stainless steel increases, welders and metal fabricators need to understand how to obtain the proper finish to achieve the desired aesthetic appearance.

PART # DESCRIPTION69957398003 4-1/2" F980P 60 Grit Fiber Disc69957398013 7" F980P 60 Grit Fiber Disc66254400258 4-1/2" x 5/8"-11 R980P 60 Grit Type 27 QTrim Flap Disc 66254461067 7" x 5/8"-11 R980P 60 Grit Type 27 QTrim Flap Disc 66261044491 1" x 11" R980P 60 Grit Belt66254429243 4-1/2" x 5/8-11 Type 27 VTX-5AM 77696090152 3" R980P 60 Grit Blaze Mini Flap Disc66261162321 3" Blaze Cloth 3 Ply 60 Grit Disc

BEST OPTION• Norton Blaze Discs

− Patented, new generation ceramic alumina abrasive grain for fast cut and long life

− Self-lubricating supersize treatment minimizes heat, loading and glazing − FOR STOCK REMOVAL:

Norton Blaze Fiber Disc – F980P, 60 grit » Fiber discs remove excess material from flat and contoured surfaces with a fast initial rate of cut.

» A hard back-up pad can be used to help increase the disc life with reduced heat at point of contact

− FOR PRODUCT LIFE: Norton Blaze Quick Trim Flap Disc – R980P, 60 grit » Flap discs remove heavy weld seams and excess material while providing long abrasive life without the need for a backup pad.

» For speed and aggressive stock removal, a Type 29 conical disc is a suitable choice, while for blending and smooth cuts, a Type 27 is preferred.

BEST OPTION• Norton Blaze Belts

− Patented, new generation ceramic alumina abrasive grain for fast cut and long life

− Self-lubricating supersize treatment minimizes heat, loading and glazing − FOR SETTING SCRATCH:

Norton Blaze – R980P, 120 grit

• Norton Vortex Non-Woven Wheels − High-performance engineered grain and improved resin bond design that holds shape well with less wheel dressing

− Non-metallic, so no contamination of workpiece − Controlled porosity for cool cutting and improved cut rate − FOR CORNER WELDS AND GRIND LINES:

Norton Vortex Rapid Blend Unified Wheel

GOOD SUBSTITUTES• Merit High Performance Flap Wheel – 80 grit, 3" x 1" x 1/4"• Norton NORaX Belts – U936 X200 grit and X100 grit, 3-1/2" x 15-1/2"

and 1" x 11"

PART # DESCRIPTION66261042542 3-1/2" x 15-1/2" R980P 120 Grit Belt66254429243 4-1/2" x 5/8-11 Type 27 VTX-5AM 08834137451 3" x 1" x 1/4" Merit High Performance 80 grit63642501510 1" x 11" R980P 120 grit Belt

Weld Take Down/Blending Reduce and Set Scratch PatternWith the weld ground down, next is setting an in-line scratch pattern. Be sure to keep the tool flat/even on the work surface for best results.

The neater the weld, the easier this step will be for a smoother blend.

STEP 1 STEP 2

GOOD SUBSTITUTES• For flat surfaces with precise welds: Norton Blaze Narrow Cloth Belt –

R980P 60 or 80 grit • For precise TIG welds with reduced steps: Norton Vortex Unified

Depressed Center Wheel – 5AM, Type 27• For more complex areas and ease of use: New Norton Blaze R980P Mini

Flap Discs or Norton Blaze R980P Quick-Change Discs

STAINLESS STEEL FINISHING BY THE NUMBERS ABRASIVE PRODUCTS GUIDE

www.nortonindustrial.com

STEP1• Use a finer abrasive, when possible,

to reduce the depth of the scratch that is put into the base material.

• Change the density and face of the backup pad to create a more or less aggressive scratch.

STEP 2• Reduce the entire blended weld

to ensure deep scratches will not remain in the final product.

STEP 4• Use a lower RPM tool and a softer pneumatic wheel to reduce chatter on the work surface.• Use a Norton 746 medium hand pad for final visual blending of surface on Dynaline 57400 tool.

BEST OPTION• Norton Rapid Prep Belts

− High performance, premium heat-treated aluminum oxide grain coated on nylon fibers bonded to a low stretch polyester backing

− Manufactured with proprietary Clean Bond technology for a smear-free finish without rework

− Ideal for controlled, sustained blending and refining without undercutting or gouging

− FOR FINE FINISH: Norton RapidPrep Bear-Tex Belts – Medium grit, 3-1/2" x 15-1/2"

GOOD SUBSTITUTES• Norton Rapid Prep XF Belts – Medium grit, 1" x 11" belt• Norton NORaX Belts – U936 X65 grit and U243 X80 grit, 3-1/2" x 15-1/2"

and 1" x 11"• Norton Rapid Finish Convolute Wheels – Medium grit

BEST OPTION• Norton Rapid Prep Belts

− High performance, premium heat-treated aluminum oxide grain coated on nylon fibers bonded to a low stretch polyester backing

− Manufactured with proprietary Clean Bond technology for a smear-free finish without rework

− Ideal for controlled, sustained blending and refining without undercutting or gouging

− FOR VERY FINE FINISH: Norton RapidPrep Bear-Tex Belts – Very Fine, 3-1/2" x 15-1/2"

GOOD SUBSTITUTES• Norton Rapid Prep XF Belts – Very Fine or Fine, 1" x 11" belt• Norton NORaX Belts – U243 or U264 X65 grit and finer, 3-1/2" x 15-1/2"

and 1" x 11"• Norton Rapid Finish Convolute Wheels – Fine grit • Norton Hand Pads

PART # DESCRIPTION63642500432 3-1/2" x 15-1/2" RP Med Belt XF63642500433 3-1/2" x 15-1/2" RP Fine Belt XF77696088381 1" x 11" RP Med Belt XF66261015808 3/4" x 18" RP Medium XF Belt

Final #4 Finish Finer Finish (Optional)

Changes in any one of many factors can affect the surface finish on the workpiece. This chart shows the effect on surface finish by changes in single factors of product specifications. Arrows have been used to signify the trend direction. The arrow length does not signify that the effect of each factor is equal.

Variable Factor Rough Finish High Rms Reading

Smooth Surface Lower Rms Reading

1. Wheel Speed Slow Fast

2. Feed Speed Faster (Long Scratch) Slower (Short Scratch)

3. Oscillation No Oscillation Oscillation

4. Lubricants Dry Water Soluble Oil Straight Oil Compounds

Quality of finish is primary concern. The exclusive Clean Bond technology of Norton RapidPrep products means no-smear finishes for improved efficiency and job productivity with optimum quality.

To further refine the finish, you can opt to do an even finer finishing step. However, this is not required but becomes more a personal preference vs. an impact to the quality.

PART # DESCRIPTION63642500433 3-1/2" x 15-1/2" RP Fine Belt XF77696088382 1" x 11" RP Fine Belt XF66261074600 746 Medium Hand Pad

STEP 3 STEP 4

STEP 3

STAINLESS STEEL FINISHING BY THE NUMBERS ABRASIVE PRODUCTS GUIDE

www.nortonindustrial.com

TIPS FOR SAFE USE OF ABRASIVES• Always follow proper safety guidelines for protective gear and

machine guards.• Start the tool just off the workpiece and bring it up to full operating speed

before grinding or sanding.• Always ease the disc into the workpiece at a 5- to 10-degree angle to

the surface.• Look for and avoid any areas on the workpiece where the disc may become

caught or jammed.• When grinding depressions, moldings, lips, and heavy welds, move the

grinder away from the work area and not into it.• Don’t allow a disc used for heavy stock removal to rest flat on the

workpiece; if you do, the whole tool assembly could be thrown into a rough, jumpy mode.

• Work the disc gradually into a jagged surface before allowing the edge of the disc to bite into it. This will prevent breakage of the disc edge.

• Secure small, movable workpieces before grinding or sanding to prevent them from moving when the abrasive makes contact.

• Grind or sand in well-ventilated areas.• Direct sparks away from your body and away from bystanders.• Do not grind near flammable materials.• Do not wear loose-fitting clothing.• Do not store or rest the grinder/sander on the disc and pad.• Do not place the grinder/sander down until the disc has stopped rotating.• If you drop the grinder/sander, replace the backup pad and disc before using

it again.• Avoid physical contact with the rotating disc or backup pad.• If chatter or vibration occurs during use, stop the tool at once. Determine the

cause of the problem and correct it before continuing.• When using a nonround disc and backup pad, avoid tight corners and other

areas where the disc can catch.• Do not use a tool that is rated for a higher speed than the abrasive product

and/or backup pad being used.

TO MAXIMIZE PRODUCTIVITY, CHOOSE A DYNABRADE TOOL TO MATCH THE ABRASIVE PRODUCT BEING USED.

Dynabrade Disc Sander (52634 or 53868)

Dynastraight 3400 RPM (13204) with Dynacushion Pneumatic Wheel (94472)

Dynabrade Disc Sander (52410)

Dynastraight 1800 RPM (13531) with Dynacushion Pneumatic Wheel (94472)

Dynabrade Right Angle Grinder 12000 RPM (52632)

Dynabrade Die Grinder 20000 RPM (48360) Dynafile II (40320)

Dynabrade Right Angle Disc Sander 9000 RPM with Wheel Attachment (52562)

STAINLESS STEEL FINISHING BY THE NUMBERS ABRASIVE PRODUCTS GUIDE

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FORM #8562© Saint‑Gobain February 2015.Norton, Blaze, and Vortex are registered trademarks; RapidBlend and RapidPrep are trademarks of Saint‑Gobain Abrasives.Dynabrade® is a registered trademark of Dynabrade, Inc.

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