Smouser
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- Messages
- 1,099
- Location
- Amesbury, Wiltshire, UK
So, gather round, fellow tinkerers, as I recount a tale of excitement, questionable decisions, and one spectacularly bad idea.
A few days ago, I took a look at the old grinding wheel from the point-splitting motor on my trusty Brierley ZB50 drill grinder. It had that "seen better days" look about it – the kind of look that makes you think, "This probably shouldn’t spin at high speed near my face."
Naturally, I conducted the ring test. Hung it on a screwdriver shaft, gave it a light tap, and… nothing. Not the reassuring ting of a solid wheel, but the dull thud of something that might want to kill me. To confirm, I grabbed another (larger) wheel and tapped that – ring-a-ding-ding! Just as expected. Tried the suspect wheel again – no ring. Conclusion? Wheel's bad. I ordered a replacement from Zoro. So far, so good. Safety first, right?
But then, mistake number one: I didn't immediately destroy and bin the old wheel. Instead, I set it aside, where it silently awaited its chance to shine in this tragic comedy.
Fast forward to yesterday. I finished wiring up the VFD and got the point-splitting motor mounted. A moment of pride! Naturally, I wanted to show off this fine piece of engineering. Took a video of the startup, but without a wheel or holder installed, it just looked like... well, a motor spinning. A bit anticlimactic, really.
Enter mistake number two. "What harm could it do," I thought, "to pop the old, KNOWN BAD, grinding wheel on just for a quick video?" Surely, the universe would grant me this tiny indulgence.
Spoiler: it did not.
The wheel, unsurprisingly, came apart.
Thankfully, I emerged unscathed, though my dignity remains in pieces alongside the wheel. In hindsight, this was one of the most idiotic decisions I have ever made. And that’s saying something for someone who owns a VFD and thinks "quick video" trumps "basic safety."
Let my tale serve as a warning:
1. If you KNOW something is unsafe, destroy it immediately.
2. Do not give "just for a quick video" precedence over "not dying."
3. Take a moment to appreciate the irony of testing a motor meant for precision work by using a wheel that failed every test it could have possibly taken.
Stay safe out there. And if you're ever tempted to repeat my mistakes... don't. Trust me.
*Edit* Youtube turned the first upload into a short. Here is the alternative.
A few days ago, I took a look at the old grinding wheel from the point-splitting motor on my trusty Brierley ZB50 drill grinder. It had that "seen better days" look about it – the kind of look that makes you think, "This probably shouldn’t spin at high speed near my face."
Naturally, I conducted the ring test. Hung it on a screwdriver shaft, gave it a light tap, and… nothing. Not the reassuring ting of a solid wheel, but the dull thud of something that might want to kill me. To confirm, I grabbed another (larger) wheel and tapped that – ring-a-ding-ding! Just as expected. Tried the suspect wheel again – no ring. Conclusion? Wheel's bad. I ordered a replacement from Zoro. So far, so good. Safety first, right?
But then, mistake number one: I didn't immediately destroy and bin the old wheel. Instead, I set it aside, where it silently awaited its chance to shine in this tragic comedy.
Fast forward to yesterday. I finished wiring up the VFD and got the point-splitting motor mounted. A moment of pride! Naturally, I wanted to show off this fine piece of engineering. Took a video of the startup, but without a wheel or holder installed, it just looked like... well, a motor spinning. A bit anticlimactic, really.
Enter mistake number two. "What harm could it do," I thought, "to pop the old, KNOWN BAD, grinding wheel on just for a quick video?" Surely, the universe would grant me this tiny indulgence.
Spoiler: it did not.
The wheel, unsurprisingly, came apart.
Thankfully, I emerged unscathed, though my dignity remains in pieces alongside the wheel. In hindsight, this was one of the most idiotic decisions I have ever made. And that’s saying something for someone who owns a VFD and thinks "quick video" trumps "basic safety."
Let my tale serve as a warning:
1. If you KNOW something is unsafe, destroy it immediately.
2. Do not give "just for a quick video" precedence over "not dying."
3. Take a moment to appreciate the irony of testing a motor meant for precision work by using a wheel that failed every test it could have possibly taken.
Stay safe out there. And if you're ever tempted to repeat my mistakes... don't. Trust me.
*Edit* Youtube turned the first upload into a short. Here is the alternative.
).
..Reason why i never buy used wheels from a car booter as above post,have you seen how they just throw them around on the ground in a big pile.
