[TheForge] Home-made grinders and wire brushes

[Cindy and James]

I needed a heavy duty rig to de-rust and de-scale some # 14 rebar 
(1-3/4") for a staircase handrail and newel posts, plus all the other 
sizes rebar in that project.  Tried my small angle grinders w/ wire 
wheels, then my old Milwaukee 9" w/ wire wheel.  They were killing me - 
literally.  (I was doing this w/ a hot bar.)

Out of desperation I came up w/ an old 220v. 2 hp pump motor (no base) 
from my swimming pool.  Rigged a mount, bought a $50 wire wheel from the 
hardware store (I forget the RPM rating but it was more that the 3450 or 
so the motor put out), put a work-base to lay the bar on and wallah!  
That puppy took the stuff off the bar and would not bog down!

Like others in this thread have said, I learned really quickly to wear a 
full face shield + safety glasses, leather apron, welding gloves,  long 
sleeve shirt and also wore a respirator.  Even with all that garb on, 
don't stand in front of it!  It would make a porcupine proud!

I think I went through 5 or 6 of those wheels on that staircase but it 
saved me many man hours and the bar looked great (it was hot-waxed w/ 
beeswax).  I still have it rigged up on my work table and it does come 
in handy.  I consider it one of the MOST DANGEROUS pieces of equipment 
in my shop.  I would never consider running it w/ anyone around or 
permit anyone but me to operate it.

James
Paris, TX