A couple years ago i noticed some chip-like marks on the top of one of my large Brilliant Cuts.
I couldn’t find any flakes of color or material though. For science, I pulled out something sharp and heavy and attempted to create similar damage, but the new damage was completely different. I tried several times to get the surface to chip or flake off, but couldn’t.
Aluminum grinders and their wear and tear is often debated, what have you seen?
I would have to clean my BCG’s in ISO to accurately describe the wear, and one of the reasons I bought them is they never need cleaning lol.
I have 6 BCG’s in daily use, all aluminum factory seconds. 3 large, 3 regular. My oldest one is 4 years old and shows a good amount of anodize worn off in the center sections. The outside teeth on the lid also show wear.
My 2 medium grind get the most use, and are also my oldest. My 2 coarse and 2 fine show very little if any anodize worn off, but they’re 1-3 years old and don’t see as much use. I haven’t seen any chipping, just wear from contact.
I’m interested in this as well. I’m by no means a metallurgist but I decided on a stainless steel grinder to be sure nothing is flaking off.
That damage actually looks aluminium oxide, similar to what I had on a boat,
Aluminum oxidation is the natural, rapid reaction of aluminum with oxygen to form a thin, protective layer of aluminum oxide (\(Al_{2}O_{3}\)) on the surface. This dull, gray, or white, chalky coating acts as a “self-healing” barrier that prevents further corrosion, making aluminum highly durable. Unlike iron rust, which flakes away, aluminum oxide adheres tightly, though it can be removed with acid cleaners or polishing.
Try polishing the chalky looking bits with vineagar to see if that helps.
I, like @Crush-Hardtack only have slight wear on the centre, but, unlike @Crush-Hardtack my BCG does need regular cleaning…sticky weed!
I’m sure if I cleaned them, they’d probably grind a little smoother, but they’ve never “needed” cleaning. I’ve put pounds of sticky and not so sticky weed through them, same results every time. Nice fluffy, consistent sized weed.
I used this grinder multiple times per day for about 6 years and the only marks I have gotten on mine are on the bottom where I’d expect it (pictured)
Those marks appear to be damage from being dropped or something being dropped on top of the grinder.
You can see the mark in the middle where whatever hit the grinder.
Both spots have marks in the middle of the damage.
