angle grinder cleaning

[Don Dougan <dondougan@zzzzzzzz>]

Hi Gary,

Even if you did use a compressor nozzle to blow out the vents
every time the dust would still shorten the life of the tool.  I use
the air nozzle every time I put the electric tool away after use, but
periodically I perform some basic cleaning inside the case.

If you only own one grinder then a major cleaning/check-up every
six months would be a good idea.  I have several grinders that I
rotate, so I try to do each of them about  once every year or two.

I unscrew the plastic/metal housing and use a cheap stiff-bristled
1-1/2" wide paintbrush to brush away all the dirty dust-crud that has
become caked-up with oil or grease.

I DO also use the air nozzle at this point since I can get to a lot of
little
nooks-and-crannys that were missed when just blowing through the
vents.  I take particular care on the cleaning the windings and the
switch
housing, since this is the only time there is access to those areas.

Since I have it apart, I will oil the bearings (check your owner's
manual, but probably straight 15 or 20 weight oil is good --
DO NOT use WD40 or a similar light weight oil, nor anything as
heavy as automotive motor oil).   Also check the grease in the
gear-housing (adding or repacking with standard white lithium
grease if needed), and finally, check the brushes.

If the brushes are shorter than 1/4" or so and/or the ends have
worn down at rakish angles, now is the time to replace them.
Re-assemble everything, being careful not to pinch any
easily-dislodged wires during the reassembly.

I don't know how you use the grinder and am unfamiliar with the
specific design of your Porter-Cable, but if you have just the one
grinder and you use it constantly it will probably get really hot during
use.  That can shorten the life of the tool as well.

I have seen the plastic housing around the bearings actually
soften and melt so the shaft actually develops a good bit of play (there
should be none whatsoever!).  If you wear gloves while using the tool,
periodically take them off and feel the housing.  If it is warmer than
you
would feel comfortable holding then let the tool cool down before using
it again.  [BTW - this goes for your dry-cut diamond blade as well]

Also be aware of the sound the grinder makes when you are using it
normally -- when you can detect a difference to the pitch it means that
something isn't right (usually either the brushes or the bearing).
If you catch those potential problems early enough you can replace the
brushes or apply a little oil before the condition degrades so much that
the
tool has to be scrapped.

In the long haul making sculpture is simply gonna cost you!
But you already knew that, didn't you?
If you buy several tools and rotate their use they will last a lot
longer,
probably longer than if you bought one tool and used it until it burns
up,
and bought a second one (using it until it burns up), and then a third
one . . .
Of course, the up-front cash layout is a bit more, but it also gives you
the
flexibility of having a diamond saw blade on one, a grinding disk on a
second, and a sanding disk on the third.  But you know that whatever
accessory you next want to use is never going to be one of those
already attached . . .   ;-O

Good Grinding to you,
Don

http://www.dondougan.homestead.com/indexdd.html