Expert: Kent Lauer - 4/30/2009

Question
Hi Kent,
I've recently returned to stained glass work and bought a new 3/4" grinder head for an old grinder I inherited. I've only made 3-10" projects and my bit started chipping the edges of the glass while grinding and the last 2 days I've seen bits of metal grit, I suppose coming off the bit. I believe I've kept a good amount of water in the well.  What am I doing wrong? How long does a bit last? And - I take the bit off once in a while to keep it from freezing up, but now I can't get it off the post. Does this happen often with grinders?
Cindy

Answer
Hi Cindy,
  It sounds like you got a defective grinder head. I would contact the place you got the head from and tell them that the plating is coming off. You are doing nothing wrong, sometimes electroplating doesn't take, and that sure sounds like whats happening to you. The grinder head should last a long time. To get the head off, try spraying some WD-40 on it, let it sit a spell (10-20 minutes) and then try to remove it.
   Hope this helps you,
     Cheers,
       Kent

please visit my website....www.kentlauer.com