The grinding head on my grinder is frozen on the motor shaft. How do I remove it?
You may find that you can move the grinder head down, but not up and off, the shaft. This is due to the shaft becoming larger for one of two reasons.
First, glass, dust and debris accumulate on the shaft. This coating builds up and makes the shaft larger.
The second possibility is a nick or scar on the shaft, causing the same thing.
In either case, push the bit down to get it out of the way. Then, using a fine steel wool, gently polish the motor shaft (with the motor running) for about a minute. The bit will usually then just lift right off!
If this attempt does not work, you can apply an anti-seize liquid or spray (such as WD-40) onto the grinding head and motor shaft. Wait 10 or 12 hours and try removing the bit.
As a last resort, you can try using a faucet handle/washer remover (from a friendly plumber or hardware store). This tool is used by placing the center of the remover on top of the motor shaft and the pullers beneath the outer edges of the bottom of the grinding head.
Here are a few things you can do to help prevent your grinding head from becoming frozen onto the motor shaft:
Remove the grinding head each time youre done grinding. It sounds like a hassle, but its worth the trouble.
We strongly recommend that you coat the shaft frequently with a thin coat of petroleum jelly or teflon motor shaft lubricant.
Make sure that when youre tightening the set screw onto the motor shaft that you tighten it only on the flat surface of the shaft. If you dont, you might scar the shaft and cause the bit to be difficult or impossible to remove.
Looking for a grinder? Here are a few Delphi offerings...
Reprinted with permission from Stained Glass News. All rights reserved.
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