Flap Wheel 12" x 2" Unmounted Aluminum Oxide, Pack of 5

This is the largest flap wheel we sell and the only 12" size stocked in a full grit progression, so a finishing line can take a stainless tank shell, an aluminum panel or a run of architectural rail from scale to a 400 grit satin without leaving the 12" x 2" format. The longest flaps in the range give the coolest cut, the widest contact and the longest life between changes, and the 2" face covers wide work in a few overlapping passes.

Aluminum oxide cloth flaps, pack of 5, one grit per pack from 40 to 400, with a 5/8", 1" or 1-3/4" arbor hole. It belongs on slow-speed polishing lathes, backstands and flap wheel finishing machines in tank, vessel, rail, sheet metal and architectural metal shops.

• Largest wheel in our range: 12" diameter with a 2" face for wide work
• Full progression in one size, 40 to 400 grit, from scale removal to fine satin
• Longest flaps: coolest cut, widest contact patch and longest life between changes
• 5/8", 1" or 1-3/4" arbor hole for large lathes, backstands and flap wheel machines
• Aluminum oxide cloth flaps expose fresh grain as they wear; the finish stays uniform
• Pack of 5, converted in Anaheim, California; free shipping on orders over $200

Which arbor hole and grit should you choose for a 12" finishing line?

Match the hole to the arbor first. A 12" x 2" wheel is the heaviest flap wheel we make, and any play at the arbor becomes vibration and torn flaps.

• 5/8" Arbor Hole: slow-speed pedestal spindles with a 5/8" shaft, only where the guard and RPM are made for a 12" wheel.
• 1" Arbor Hole: large polishing lathes and buffing motors with 1" shafts.
• 1-3/4" Arbor Hole: flap wheel finishing machines and backstand spindles built around a 1-3/4" arbor with wide flanges; the most common choice for this size.

Then build the progression. Most lines run three or four of these grits on dedicated spindles:

• 40 and 60 grit: mill scale, rust, laser oxide and heavy weld blending on plate, tank shells and structural sections.
• 80 and 100 grit: weld toes, shear and grinder marks, the paint-ready surface on steel and aluminum.
• 120 and 150 grit: brushed finish on panels and rail, the standard surface before plating or powder coat.
• 320 and 400 grit: fine satin on stainless and brass, the pass before a buff and compound. There is no 180 or 240 in this size; 150 to 320 is the intended step, taken with light pressure.

Grit guide for tank, panel and rail production finishing

What machines does a 12" x 2" unmounted flap wheel fit?

• Flap wheel finishing machines and backstand spindles with 1-3/4" arbors and wide flanges. This is the machine the 12" x 2" is designed around; two wheels can be ganged for very wide sheet.
• Large polishing lathes and buffing motors with a 1" or 5/8" shaft that run at or below the RPM printed on the wheel. A 12" flap wheel and a 12" buff on one lathe is the classic satin-then-bright station for rail and tank work.
• Slow-speed pedestal spindles with a matching shaft and a guard sized for a 12" x 2" wheel.

Speed comes first. Bigger wheels turn slower: the tips of a 12" wheel travel twice as far per revolution as a 6", so this size carries the lowest RPM rating we sell. No standard bench grinder is suitable. Compare the rating printed on the wheel with the machine plate before mounting, and if the machine is faster, use a smaller wheel instead.

Flange and arbor fit. Use flanges of equal diameter that bear across the whole hub face, seat the wheel square, tighten firmly and spin it unloaded before use. Mount it so the flap tips trail the direction of rotation at the work point. If you gang wheels, keep grits identical and clamp the stack as one.

How to get the most out of it

1. Verify RPM against the wheel every time a wheel goes on. This is the slowest-rated size in the range.
2. Mount with the flaps trailing between full-diameter flanges and let it run unloaded until you are sure it is smooth.
3. Let the long flaps carry the work. Feed the part in until the flaps just flex and hold that pressure. A 12" wheel cushions more than any other size; leaning in only heats the part.
4. Overlapping passes across the 2" face. On tank shells and panels, overlap each pass by about half the face width. On rail and tube, run lengthwise and rotate slowly.
5. Final grit in one direction, on a fresh wheel. A production satin reads as one grain only if every 320 or 400 pass runs the same way on a wheel that has not been used for coarser work.
6. One grit per spindle. Changing a 12" x 2" wheel and re-checking flanges is slow; dedicate spindles and move parts down the line.
7. Clear loading with air. Aluminum and coated surfaces pack the flaps. Blow the wheel out; do not press.
8. Store spares on the hub or boxed. Twelve-inch flaps take a set if a wheel stands on its face for long.

Use it for / don't use it for

Use it for

• Full-progression finishing of stainless tanks, vessels and hoppers on a finishing machine or lathe
• Brushed and satin finishes on wide stainless, aluminum and brass sheet and panels
• Architectural rail, posts, wide tube and formed sections
• Weld blending and pre-paint surfacing on large structural and truck-body weldments
• Production lines that want one wheel format from 40 through 400 grit

Don't use it for

• Bench grinders of any size; the RPM is above the wheel rating and the guard will not fit
• Small parts, grooves, slots and inside corners; use a 6" wheel
• Grinding welds flush or heavy stock removal
• Cutting, notching or sharpening
• Hand-held tools; use our mounted 3" x 2" flap wheel with a 1/4" shank
• Undersized flanges or any arbor that does not match the hole exactly

Specifications

Frequently asked questions

Related products and guides

• All flap wheels, mounted and unmounted
• 12" x 1" Unmounted Aluminum Oxide Flap Wheels, pack of 5 (80 grit, narrow face)
• 10" x 2" Unmounted Aluminum Oxide Flap Wheels, pack of 5 (60 and 180 grit)
• 12" Airway Buffing Wheels for the bright pass after 400 grit
• Custom sanding belts made to order in about 3 days