How to Test a Grinder Stone

Test a grinder stone with a "ring test" to see if it is structurally sound and safe to use. Cracks in grinding stones are hard to see with the naked eye, and the stones should be tested prior to each use. During the ring test, undamaged grinder stones are tapped and will emit a clear ringing tone. Damaged grinder stones will have a muffled or uneven sound when tapped.

Screwdriver or hammer with wooden handle
Wooden mallet

Instructions

- 1
  Insert a finger into the hole in the center of the stone to allow the grinder stone to hang freely. If the grinder stone is too heavy to do so safely, hold it with the outer edge resting on a hard surface.
- 2
  Tap the grinder stone with a wooden-handled tool, such as a hammer or large screwdriver, or use a wooden mallet for a heavy wheel. Using the wooden end of the tool, tap the stone at four points on the wheel -- each 45 degrees from either side of the vertical center line, about two inches in from the outer edge.
- 3
  Listen to the sound or ring that the grinder stone makes. Turn the wheel 45 degrees to the right and tap again. Tap it four times, listening carefully each time to the sound that it makes, which should be an even, clear ringing tone. If it is muffled or uneven, the wheel is cracked or damaged and should not be used.

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