What Is a Flapwheel?
A flapwheel is used for metal polishing. It is attached to the tip of an electric drill, air drill, or router. It has a structure in which the polishing cloth is fixed in a radial position. As with sandpaper, the coarseness of the grit is determined by the number of grit, and the larger the number, the finer the grit.
There are also various types, from large to small, according to the size of the part to be polished. Furthermore, since the product has a self-controlling effect, and can be used for a relatively long time.
Uses of Flapwheels
Flapwheels are often used for machine maintenance tasks. They are very efficient in removing rust and polishing quickly, whereas polishing by hand would take too much time. They are also used for rough polishing before final polishing during product production. For final polishing, a felt fabric part called a buff is used. It can be used in conjunction with abrasives to achieve a fairly shiny finish.
Also, due to its structure, flapwheels have an air-cooling effect and are less likely to give off heat to the object to be polished. Therefore, strain and burning can be eliminated.
Features of Flapwheels
Flapwheels are used for various processes, including deburring and removing scratches on machine parts. Their structure does not cause clogging during polishing, thus enabling uniform finishing surfaces. This is due to their self-sharpening action, as mentioned above. Also, because of its cylindrical shape, it can be used for parts with curved surfaces (pipes and spheres). When polishing cylindrical-shaped parts, even if the inside diameter is smaller than the hand, a smaller diameter flapwheel can be used.
Flapwheels can be used to clean up burn marks after welding. The use of flapwheels allows for a clean surface finish without leaving burn marks.
However, the flapwheel must be kept parallel to the material in order to achieve a clean, polished surface. If the flapwheel is applied at an angle, the surface will not be even, and the flapwheel itself will be unevenly worn instead of a clean cylindrical shape.
Flap foils can also be used for polishing wood as well as metal materials. The same advantages apply to wood as to metal.