In part two of behind the scenes of 3M Clash of the Grinders, host Nate Bowman learns the science behind mill scale removal from 3M application engineer, Tyler Naatz. Tyler explains what mill scale is and the key to removing it with different types of abrasives.
In part two of behind the scenes of 3M Clash of the Grinders, host Nate Bowman learns the science behind mill scale removal from 3M application engineer, Tyler Naatz. Tyler explains what mill scale is and the key to removing it with different types of abrasives. Nate demonstrates using a Scotch-Brite™ Clean and Strip XT Pro Disc to remove coatings like mill scale, paint and rust without damaging the base metal.
This video was previously featured on 3M's YouTube channel.
Student: The Scotch-Brite disc was really cool. I've never used something like that before to finish. It took every little scratch that you could like feel out that they turned it real smooth.
Nate Bowman: Nate Bowman here, host of Clash of the Grinder student edition. I'm diving deep with 3M application engine ER Tyler Naatz to uncover the science behind the Scotch-Brite industrial abrasives used in the web series.
So Tyler, we're just off of Clash the Grinders, we're back here at the Cam Center to talk about Clean and Strip, one of my favorite products that I learned about during the competition. You are teaching these students how to best use the products that you guys make, so tell us a little bit about your role at 3M and what an application engineer does.
Tyler Naatz: Yeah, so myself and Matt King we're both metalworking specialists so we work with customers in the US but also globally on kind of optimizing their abrasive processing. When you're talking metal fabrication that could be an aircraft carrier down to a little trinket.
Nate: So out there in the field, we come into contact with kind of a variety of different levels of mill scale. So you got heavy mill scale removal, so on a lot of thicker you know hot roll type stuff then thinner mill scale removal like cold roll or you know a lot of thinner sheet metal that type of stuff. A lot of folks don't really know what the best products to kind of attack those things are.
Tyler: Mill scale is nasty stuff and I think if you ask any welder it's probably their least favorite thing to deal with, so there's many products that we can use depending on the type of mill scale and mill scale is this ceramic film layer that's on top of the substrate you're working on. A lot of time it's the carbon steel and the issue is you can't weld on it.
Nate: So we could start with like the heavy mill scale. You got a heavy mill scale, like where would you go first if it was you?
Tyler: Yeah, when you get into really, really thick heavy mill scale you need a product that'll break down and continuing to cut once you're through that layer. So it's like an M&M when you're looking at what mill scale is, it's that thin shell that's on the outside of the chocolate. So what we have to do is break through that and when it's really thick if you're using a coated product like a flap disc or a fiber disc, the mineral is really sharp but that layer is really just hard to get through so it'll actually dull out that mineral. That's where a portable bonded product here where depressed center grinding wheel it is really tough, strong but as you use it and it wears into the metal it will break down which is what we want it to do and get new mineral and continue cutting down into that substrate that we're working on. If it's really thin substrate or a thin mill scale that you're working on or even a medium mill scale, Clean and Strip product is fantastic especially our XT Pro, the silicon carbide version.
The mineral that's in this product does a great job of fracturing and continuing to cut where our extra cut product, which sounds like it might cut more and do better actually, tends to dull out and not work as well on mill scale. It does great on paint and rust and other things but with mill scale that silicon carbide mineral actually performs better. So this product is fantastic, it works super quickly like you mentioned before and it's great to get down to that base metal and get back to welding.
All right Nate so after running on some light mill scale, medium mill scale, you got rust, you got rusty old paint what did you think of the Scotch-Brite Clean and Strip XT Pro disc?
Nate: This is probably one of my favorite ways to prep metal I got to say. Just the versatility to be able to go from like one material to another to another to another and not having to change discs or change anything up. I like how it can kind of contour to different things. You're not gouging into anything. There was a little bit of like adhesive and stuff on here it took that right off but uh you know this is a very good demo of stuff that you would encounter out in the field and I think this is a great way to showcase the product, so I really appreciate you taking the time to show me this and also to kind of show I guess the audience this stuff cuz like I said I've been doing this for about 20 years and I've never seen anything that is as versatile or works as well as this at cleaning up metal for weld prep so thanks and we'll see you in the next one.
Tyler: You bet, thanks Nate.
When it comes to fabricating, assembling or processing anything around the world, 3M knows efficiency is key. From ultra-strong abrasives that keep processes running smoothly, to futuristic materials that literally lighten your workload. 3M innovative solutions keep your business and your employees working smoothly with innovative industry leading solutions in abrasives, PPE and facilities safety solutions and adhesives and tapes.
