Home >> Hobbies >> Other Hobbies

How to Grind Rubber

If you own a grinding wheel, you probably already know that applying rubber to it will clean the wheel and melt the rubber. This is due to the fact that only certain types of wheels will actually grind the rubber, while almost all others will just melt it. To grind rubber down into fine particles or to shape it without melting it, you need a specific rubber grinding wheel, but a traditional bench grinder will do the trick.

Things You'll Need

Bench grinder
Rubber bonded grinding (Pekay) wheel
Dust collector
Talcum powder

Instructions

- 1
  Mount the rubber bonded grinding wheel into your bench grinder. Securely fasten the lock nut into place.
- 2
  Start the grinder and allow it to get up to speed. Rubber is best ground at speeds between 1,500 and 2,000 rpm, if you grinder has a tachometer, allow this speed to be attained.
- 3
  Coat your piece of rubber lightly with a little talcum powder to lubricate the rubber against the wheel.
- 4
  Hold the piece of rubber you wish to grind against the wheel while monitoring the amount of rubber removed from it. Direct a dust collector inlet tube at the bottom of the wheel if you wish to collect rubber granules or powder.

Other Hobbies