Interleaf Flap Wheels

Flap Wheels are specific types of abrasive wheels. They feature rough flaps that radiate from the hub or the center of the wheel. Flap abrasive wheels are available in different sizes, shapes and dimensions. There are wheels with centers that are as small as four inches in diameter and go as large as twenty-four inches. Sometimes, they can have much larger dimensions.

 

A Flap Wheel is usually composed of a center (also called a hub) and the abrasives used to hold the wheel together. The center part of the wheel secures the flaps (or the strips) in place. The method in which the flaps are held together can vary and each method will determine the arbor of the flap wheel. The use of glue and adhesive to bond the straps in place and at the center is the most common method of bonding flaps.

 

Since flap wheels such as Interleaf Flap Wheels feature durable and highly flexible abrasives, they are ideal tools for a wide selection of applications. The wheels’ superior conformability makes them preferred devices for blending, de-burring, and finishing. The flap wheels can be easily shaped to match intricate shapes, edges, profiles, and contours. This is also the reason why they are used for polishing, metal fabrication, and welding purposes.

 

Compared to normal flap wheels, interleaf flap wheels can offer softer cutting actions. The wheels are fabricated in such a way that coated abrasive flaps and nonwoven web flaps are attached in an alternated manner. The alternated flaps provide the wheels the capacity for aggressive cutting actions and fine finishes. This type of flap wheel cuts materials and removes scratches while also promoting a matte finish. This is attributed to the introduction of nonwoven materials, which are alternately mixed with the abrasive cloth.

 

A wide selection of interleaf flap wheels is available in retail stores and online. There are also varieties that can be specially ordered. For polishing applications, interleaved flap wheels that feature 180 grits are preferred and recommended. However, these items can also be ordered with cloth abrasive leaves that come in 60 grits or finer.

 

Interleaf flap wheels are best used for polishing metals such as aluminum, brass, and stainless steel. For example, a craftsman can use the Norton Bear-Tex Flap Wheels to clean threaded parts, de-gloss plastic parts and remove oxide from circuit boards. These flap wheels are considered the most conformable of the brand’s products. They provide a cushioning action, which is a function ideal for flap wheels that are to be used on uneven surfaces. These interleaf flap wheels have coated abrasive cloths placed in between the usual Bear-Tex flaps. Although the product is less conformable, it will definitely remove more material.