Grinding/cutting disc shelf life?

**Sprint** · 1st June 2009, 01:20 AM

a couple of months back my dad gave me his old 7" angle grinder that he's been carting all over the world, along with a stack of cutting/grinding discs

at a conservative guess, the consumables that came with the grinder are at least 20 years old, and my question is.... are they still safe to use?

**BMKal** · 1st June 2009, 01:45 AM

If they look OK, I'd probably be tempted to try the grinding discs, provided you've got a decent guard on the thing - but I think I'd just chuck the cutting discs without even thinking too much about it. Much easier for faulty cutting discs to let go and send schrapnel everywhere.

**p38arover** · 1st June 2009, 03:19 AM

I didn't know they had a shelf life.

**JDNSW** · 1st June 2009, 05:37 AM

Like Ron I had never thought of them having a shelf life. I wonder what they use as a binder?

I suspect that their safety depends more on storage conditions than on age though.

John

**discowhite** · 1st June 2009, 06:22 AM

just buy a few new ones.. if they have been wet or damp, over the last 20years, they might have you just dont know, new ones arnt expensive but a trip to the doctors might be..

cheers phil

**Bigbjorn** · 1st June 2009, 10:19 AM

I never considered they might have a shelf life. I wonder if they do. I have a pedestal grinder here that I bought in 1980 and it still has the original wheels on it. My tool and cutter grinder is using wheels bought at auction in 1997. Most grinding wheels/discs have a code on them that will tell you the bond used. I know aluminium specific products are impregnated with beeswax but that is a separate issue to the bond.

**Sprint** · 1st June 2009, 10:22 AM

theyve lived in well made wood toolboxes and are in remarkably good condition considering thier age, and i am certain they have never been wet or damp

theres only a couple of cutting discs, but they allways were a last resort anyway..... i prefer the thinner style

**JDNSW** · 1st June 2009, 10:42 AM

Originally Posted by discowhite

just buy a few new ones.. if they have been wet or damp, over the last 20years, they might have you just dont know, new ones arnt expensive but a trip to the doctors might be..

cheers phil

This is a common attitude, which I think I will start a separate thread on in General rather than Technical chatter.

John