How to Remove a Stuck Bit From Your Stained Glass Grinder
Grinder bits can become stuck onto the motor shaft for a variety of reasons. Generally, they can be easily removed with a little bit of work. It is important to remember that the bit is now attached to the most expensive and delicate part of your grinder - the motor. It is not uncommon that someone removing a grinder bit will succeed in getting it off only to cause severe and irreversible damage to the motor. For this reason, it is important to follow these suggestions in the order they are listed. They are listed from the least invasive to the most potentially invasive purposes. Followed carefully, these suggestions will prove useful for any stained glass grinders and bits whether from Inland Craft or other manufacturers.
Bit Removal
1. If you can push the bit further
down onto the shaft, do so as far as possible. It is most often the case that the shaft above where the bit was mounted has gotten crusted up with glass debris, coolant, hard water residue, etc. This residue might not even be obvious to the casual observer. Inspect the motor shaft above the bit. If it looks smooth but maybe has some dirt or grime on it, it can be cleaned up rather quickly. Using a small piece of ScotchBrite (that green scouring pad) or a piece of very fine (0000) steel wool, polish the end of the shaft all the way down to where the bit is now. This is easy to do by just turning the machine on and holding the scouring pad to the motor shaft as it turns. No more than seconds and you're done. If the bit was stuck on by dried up glass dust, it should slide off pretty easily now. See the end of this page for Prevention and Maintenance Tips to avoid this problem in the future.
2. If you can push the bit down as above, but you notice that there is a burr or scar on the round side of the motor shaft caused by the set screw (it appears as a small ring cut into the shaft), you will need to polish it out. This can often be done by using the same steel wool mentioned above, but occasionally it requires stronger abrasives. Be very careful here! You only want to remove the scar, you do not want to make the shaft smaller. It may be necessary to use very fine grit emery cloth or sandpaper here. But, again, be very careful. You can quickly damage the motor shaft if you are not paying attention. Once the scar is polished out, remove the bit. Clean both the bit and shaft and use some kind of lubricant as mentioned in the Prevention and Maintenance Tips. Never tighten the bit to the round side of the motor shaft. There is a flat side on the shaft that is added at great expense to allow for the set screw. You must use it all the time to avoid damage. See the end of this page for Prevention and Maintenance Tips to avoid this problem in the future.
3. If the bit is stuck such that it will not move in either direction, you will need to use a device that we call a gear puller. Some folks call them faucet pullers or plumbers helpers. They are used to get gears or faucet handles off the post they are pressed on to. If you happen to own one yourself, or know a mechanic or plumber that can help you, be gentle and patient with this device and the bit will almost certainly come off. See the end of this page for Prevention and Maintenance Tips to avoid this problem in the future. If you don't have access to a gear puller, you can usually walk into a plumbing supply store (with a smile) and they'll do it for you while you wait. Otherwise, call our Customer Service Department at (800) 521-8428 to obtain a Return Material Authorization Number and further instructions to send your machine in for repair.
Prevention and Maintenance Tips
Once you have removed the bit, clean the bit on the inside (where it slides over the motor shaft) as it will probably have some dried glass residue there. For the future, apply a non-water-soluble grease to the motor shaft to keep this residue out. We sell a product called
Motor Shaft Lubricant for a few
dollars, available from your regular stained glass supplier. It is specially formulated with Teflon for these wet applications. However, any petroleum jelly (like Vaseline or K-Y) will prove nearly equal to the task. Grinder bits should always be removed from the machine if they are not to be used for any length of time, i.e. a week or more. This will keep the bit from "cementing" to the shaft. It will also provide you with the opportunity (and habit) of inspecting the motor shaft and bits for proper hygiene.
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