The Do's and Don'ts for Handling, Storage, and Inspection of Grinding Wheels

Handle all grinding wheels with care. Remember there is no such thing as an unbreakable grinding wheel. Be safe and follow the attached Do's and Don'ts for handling, storage and inspection of grinding wheels.

Do's

Do check all shipments of grinding wheels for possible damage in transit.
Do report any damaged containers or pallets.
Do refuse any shipment that has been damaged in transit. The carrier is responsible for delivering the container or pallet in good condition.
Do carefully inspect the wheels in a shipment, as they are unpacked.
Do ring test each wheel (primarily applicable to vitrified products) 4 inches and larger before mounting.
Do store grinding wheels in a rack, or on shelves designed to accept and protect them. 

Do handle grinding wheels carefully because they are fragile and can be easily chipped, crack or broken.
Do store wheels so that you do use the oldest wheels in stock first.
Do store wheels in a dry, protected area free from extreme variations in temperature.
Do store wheels away from solvents.
Do run wheels in protected area, with the machine guard in place, for at least one minute before grinding.
Do store wheels and portable tools on hooks or racks at your work area.
Do remove the wheel from the portable tool if you are transporting it to another location.
Do remove portable wheels from their portable tools when you have completed a job or finished a work shift.
Do remove portable wheels from portable tools for overnight or long-term storage.
Do follow wheel manufacturer's recommended shelf life.
Do comply with ANSI B7.1 storage requirements.

Don'ts

Don't accept shipments of grinding wheels that show damage to the pallet, box or container.
Don't store grinding wheels in a random manner or in an unprotected place.
Don't handle grinding wheels carelessly.
Don't retain wheels that may have been damaged or abused.
Don't store wheels in a random manner with no regard to how long they have been in storage
Don't use a cracked wheel or one that has been dropped or become damaged.
Don't roll wheels (hoop fashion).
Don't stack shipping pallets higher than the wheel manufacturer?s recommendations.
Don't transport portable tools with wheels still attached. Remove wheels from portable tools before transporting them away for your work area.
Don't store wheels on portable tools overnight or between work shifts.
Don't handle portable machines and wheels carelessly

For additional information on this topic or any other grinding wheel safety information, please review ANSI, OSHA and literature provided by the grinding wheel and machine manufacturer. Contact IRS for additional questions.

Credit: Roger Cloutier, Senior Product Safety Engineer at Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc.