The Art of Grinding and Deburring: Best Practices for Superior Results
Over our years in business, we’ve seen customer expectations for grinding and deburring evolve. In our early days, for instance, many projects specified only very light grinding, with little concern for grind marks on the finished product. Today, aesthetic requirements are more stringent, and customers often expect increasingly higher-quality finishes.
That’s not a problem for us at Baillie Fabricating—we specialize in delivering high-quality grinding and deburring as part of our metal finishing services. Through years of experience and continuous training, our talented team has mastered these arts, and we can consult with you to meet your exact specifications while minimizing your pricing through design optimization.
The Fundamentals of Our Grinding and Deburring Techniques
Our process varies between every project, but we always work methodically. For heavy grinding, we typically start with a hard abrasive grinding wheel before switching to a flap wheel to achieve a smoother appearance. For the finest possible finish, we’ll move to a 120-grit flap wheel, which creates an excellent surface for paint or powder coating, or use non-woven abrasives for brush finishes.
Like grinding, deburring varies widely in scope. Sometimes, it's as simple as taking a sharp edge off a laser-cut piece. Other times, customers request a full 180-degree roundover on plate edges for applications where frequent human contact is expected. These different requirements significantly impact timeline and cost.
One of the most crucial aspects we focus on when grinding and deburring is leveraging the proper abrasives for the job. Some metal fabrication shops may try to use a single type of abrasive across different applications to save money, but we know that optimal results are impossible without having a variety of abrasive options.
These techniques also require careful attention to abrasive segregation. When switching between different materials, we never use the same abrasives. This prevents cross-contamination, which can lead to problems such as rust formation on stainless steel.
How to Optimize Your Project’s Pricing
In all of our manufacturing efforts, we try to help our customers minimize their price. We never want our customers to add unnecessary expense to their quote due to design choices. Some of the best ways to reduce the price of parts requiring grinding and deburring services include:
Communicate All Necessary Details
Knowing the details of your project can allow us to suggest tweaks to optimize your design for efficient manufacturing and lower price. We recommend sharing:
End Use: Some projects like construction equipment might require little grinding due to their eventual application. When we see a customer has chosen an expensive process for an application like this, we often offer alternative options.
Finishing Expectations: We default to high-quality finishes, which require additional time and cost. If a rougher grind or minor imperfections are acceptable, please let us know early in the quoting process to ensure the most efficient and cost-effective approach.
Coating: Will you be powder coating, painting, or hot-dip galvanizing this part? This can affect the grinding and deburring methods we recommend.
Avoid Internal Corners That Require Grinding
Grinding internal corners adds significant time and cost to projects. When designs call for elaborate welds and grinds in these areas, we frequently consult with customers to explore more efficient alternatives. For example, if functionality allows, a 100% exterior weld without a backup bead on an inside corner, can reduce finishing time and expense.
How Our Shop Trains Grinders for Top Results
While grinding machines can be used in some CNC machining projects, they are less common in welding services and general sheet metal fabrication. As a result, hand grinders are our tool of choice, and proper technique is critical to success.
For projects requiring the highest level of precision, we assign our most experienced grinders. Our team is continuously mentored and trained to maintain consistency and quality. For example, while new grinders may try tilting the tool to remove material faster, we emphasize keeping the grinding wheel flush and level to prevent low spots and ensure a uniform finish.
By prioritizing skill and attention to detail, we deliver the quality you expect.
Experience Precision Grinding and Deburring With Baillie Fab
At Baillie Fabricating, grinding and deburring are crafts we’ve refined to deliver the quality your projects demand. They’re just one aspect of the comprehensive services and expertise in our welding and fabrication shop. We’re ready to consult with you on your next project to help you minimize your costs while delivering the high-quality results you expect.
Request a quote to collaborate on your next project!
