Proper Sheet Metal Grinding

Grinding is the process of the precise removal of material using abrasive grains. Grinding is a precision oriented process and the rate of material removal is low when compared to other processes such as drilling or milling. Grinding usually is performed when the sheet metal needs to be cleaned, smoothed, or shaped into another form.

There are various tools available for grinding sheet metal. A round pneumatic grinder with a bolt on pad works well for most sheet metal grinding jobs. A small side grinder is also a good choice, especially when space is an issue.

When grinding anything, grind in a position that will make the sparks go away from you or other people around you. Also, a face mask and gloves are needed to protect yourself and others from injury.

If you are grinding dirty sheet metal, for example in auto restoration, grind in a back and forth motion, but not to slow as the metal is usually thin and can easily burn through. Grind back to the good undamaged metal until all rust and paint is completely removed and the bare metal is exposed. From there the necessary repairs can be performed to fix the rusty sheet metal. You will want to use a course pad to start grinding if there is a great amount of rush and paint to remove. Then you will want to use a fine pad before any paint or primer is applied to the metal. This will help prevent any grinding marks from showing up in the paint after application.