Hook, line and sinker Derek.
How long did it take you to find that answer.
In fact, you are now one up on me, I have never heard of what you are on about, must investigate that one.
But on the other hand, how many other people on here haven't heard of it as well, and by your recommendation, would just go ahead and grind away on a standard ali oxide wheel.
Just to update the people on here, as some most probably don't have an engineering background.
Any material that is not ferrous or above, should NOT be allowed to touch an ali oxide bonded grinding wheel (normally fitted to the cheapo offhand grinders that are available everywhere), unless it has been specially bonded to allow grinding of softer materials.
The harder the material, normally the softer the wheel to be used. So softer materials must use a much harder wheel.
The soft particles from whatever you are attempting to grind clog up the gaps in the bonded wheel, and force the oxide particles apart. This can lead to catastrophic failure of the wheel, which propel at high velocity, in all directions, pieces of the fractured wheel. If a piece hits you, expect very deep penetration wounds.
I had my woodworking neighbour come around last week to have his screwdriver reshaped. I knew he had a grindstone, and I asked him why he didn't use that.
'Oh I never grind metal on my wheel, I only use it for wood, and besides, it is all clogged up, and you haven't got a spare one knocking about anywhere'.
This was from someone who thinks that metal is any other material harder than aluminium. He never asks for brass or steel, just metal.
After reading him the riot act, not only did I refuse to give him one of my many spare wheels, I refused to do his screwdriver mod as well.
Up until now, he has been exceptionally lucky.
Do you feel lucky, when sharpening your pencil on the grinder?
Bogs