Bonded Abrasives

Abrasives are generally categorized into cutting, grinding, sanding and finishing.  Bonded Abrasives are the primary products used in cutting and grinding applications.  Bonded abrasives were born from the need to cut or grind down hard materials and are known for their aggressive stock removal and fast cuts. 

What makes up a bonded abrasive?

Bonded abrasives are made up of 5 Primary ingredients:

1. Grain. The abrasive grains do all the cutting and grinding action.  Wheels can be made using aluminum oxide, zirconia, ceramic and silicon carbide grains.  Aluminum oxide (AO) is the most commonly found grain used in bonded abrasives, they offer long life and consistent results.  Zirconia grains are more friable than AO, providing a more aggressive cut.  Ceramic grains, the least commonly used, provide the longest life AND fast cuts; check out our 4X wheels to test out the ceramic grain.
2. Resin. Thermosetting phenolic resins liquify under the high pressure and heat of the cooking /curing process.  Once cool the resin sets up hard as a rock, giving the bonded abrasive its hardness.
3. Fiberglass. The literal safety net of the abrasive disc, fiberglass provides additional safety from side load pressure during usage.  Our abrasives discs come with 2 to 3 layers of internal fiberglass.
4. Metal Center. The metal center helps to guide the wheel onto the machine arbor as well as protects the arbor from undercutting that can be caused by exposed grain.
5. Label.  Benchmark Abrasives exclusively uses bake on labels on our wheels. The labels are baked right into the wheel formula during the pressing stage of manufacturing. When the wheel comes out of the oven the label is on there permanently…who likes labels flying off their discs (not us!)?

Abrasive Grinding Theory aka “How these rocks work?”

Abrasive grains are held together using thermosetting phenolic resins.  The abrasive grain is shaped into a round disc shape and affixed to a tool that can spin at high RPMs (revolutions per minute).  As the tool spins the disc, the disc is brought to the work piece to grind or cut.  As the disc meets the material surface, the fast moving grains cut or grind the material and create a decent amount of friction.  As the disc gets hotter the phenolic resins start to break down again, releasing the spent or dull abrasives grains, exposing new fresh cutting grains below.  As the resins break down and throw off the spent grain the wheel shrinks.

What do T27 and T1 mean?

Bonded abrasive cutting discs come in two shapes, Type 27 aka T27 (depressed center) and Type 1  aka T1 (flat) or T41 if you are in Europe.  Depressed center wheels are good at flush cutting protrusions like nail heads, lag bolts etc.  Type 1 Flat cut off wheels are universally used for all other cutting applications when using an angle grinder.

Types of Bonded Abrasives you can find at Benchmark Abrasives

• Cut-Off wheels
• Grinding Wheels
• Depressed Center Cut-Off Wheels
• Chop Saw Wheels
• Gas Saw Wheels

Machine Brands that are compatible with Benchmark Sanding Discs

• Black & Decker®
• Bosch®
• Ridgid®
• Ryobi®
• Skil®
• Porter Cable®
• Cobalt®
• Dewalt®
• Milwaukee®
• Makita®
• Craftsman®
• Norton®
• Metabo®
• And more…

Cut-Off wheels

Cut-off Wheels provide premium performance and increases in productivity. These disc is designed for use in angle grinders and is ideal for all types of metal/stainless steel materials as well as for cutting Fiberglass, Steel, Iron, Plastic, Stainless Steel, and other Ferrous Metals. They are internally reinforced with high tensile strength fiberglass. Highly refined ingredients will not contaminate stainless steel. It offers fast cool cutting that allows the operator to work with minimum pressure and a reduced heat-affected zone during cutting minimizes burr creation.

Bottom line, these cut off wheels offer LESS cutting resistance for fast work, LESS work piece waste, LESS vibration, LESS burrs and sparks and LESS dust than the competition.

• Sizes: 3”, 4”, 4-1/2”, 5”, 6”, 7”
• Thicknesses: 0.040”, 0.045”, 1/16” and 1/8”
• Available Formulas: Steel/Stainless, 4X ceramic grain wheels and Aluminum Cut

Tool Compatibility: Angle Grinder, Die Grinders, Air Powered Cut Off Tools, Electric Cut Off Tools, Skil Saws

Grinding Wheels

Depressed Center Grinding Wheels are suitable for general grinding of stainless steel, carbon steel, and other ferrous metals. Grinding Wheels are made to meet both ANSI and EN Standards. These wheels allow for a recessed locking nut to permit various grinding and cutting applications. Designed with the operator in mind, these grinding wheels are formulated for fast stock removal balanced with long service life.

They are manufactured with multiple layers of fiberglass, Bakelite resin, and European Aluminum Oxide grain. These wheels have set the benchmark for cost-efficient grinding.

• Sizes: 4-1/2”, 5”, 6”, 7”
• Thicknesses: 1/4” and 1/8”
• Available Formulas: Steel/Stainless and Aluminum Cut

Tool Compatibility: Angle Grinder

Depressed Center Cut-Off Wheels

T27 Depressed Center Thin Cut-off Wheels provide premium performance and increases in productivity.  The depressed center design allows the flange/lock nut to recess within the grinding wheel so that it can be used for various grinding and cutting applications.  This disc is designed for use in angle grinders and is ideal for all types of metal/stainless steel materials. These Cut off Wheels are designed for cutting Fiberglass, Steel, Iron, Plastic, Stainless Steel, and other Ferrous Metals. These wheels are internally reinforced with high tensile strength fiberglass. Highly refined ingredients will not contaminate stainless steel. It offers fast cool cutting that allows the operator to work with minimum pressure and a reduced heat-affected zone during cutting minimizes burr creation.

• Sizes: 4-1/2”, 5”, 6”, 7”
• Thicknesses: 0.040”, 0.045”, 1/16” and 1/8”
• Available Formulas: Steel/Stainless, 4X ceramic grain wheels and Aluminum Cut

Tool Compatibility: Angle Grinder, Die Grinders, Air Powered Cut Off Tools, Electric Cut Off Tools, Skil Saws

Chop Saw Wheels

Chop Saw Wheels are manufactured using aluminum oxide material which has a grainy texture that is good enough to cut metals with ultimate precision and perfection. These chop saw wheels help the user in providing maximum precision for cutting the metal with a perfect finish. Perfect for use on all ferrous metal, iron, steel, tube, pipe, and light gauge material like drywall studs.

Bottom line, these cut off wheels offer LESS cutting resistance for fast work, LESS work piece waste, LESS vibration, LESS burrs and sparks and LESS dust than the competition.

• Sizes: 14”
• Thicknesses: 3/32” and 1/8”
• Available Formulas: Steel/Stainless

Tool Compatibility: Chop Saws, Stationary Saws, Low Horsepower Saws, Portable Saws, Electric Chop Saws

Gas Saw Wheels

Gas Saw Wheels feature heat-treated aluminum oxide grains, which are triple external reinforced with high tensile strength fiberglass that allows for safe, fast cuts without vibrations & burrs even during extreme applications and high speeds. These Gas Saw blades can be used to cut steel, structural steel, rebar, iron pipe, bar stock, angle iron, metal tubing, etc.

Ideal for metal applications such as stainless steel, sheet metal, cast iron, and a variety of other materials.

• Sizes: 12” and 14”
• Thicknesses: 1/8” (5/64”)
• Available Formulas: Steel/Stainless

Tool Compatibility: Gas Powered Saws ONLY

Safety

Always wear proper PPE to include (but not limited to) safety glasses, hearing protection, respirator, and hand protection.  Keep all guards in place on your machine.