In our recent blogs, we’ve talked separately about diamond wheels and resin wheels, including how resin wheels often fail because they are used in the wrong stage. Today, let’s connect everything together and answer a key question many customers ask:

“Why can’t I finish glass edge polishing with only one wheel? Why do both diamond wheels and resin wheels have to work together?”

This is a great question — and honestly, once you understand the roles of each wheel, your processing line becomes more efficient, your product finish improves, and your wheel costs drop noticeably.

Let’s break it down in a simple, practical way.

1. Each Wheel Has a Different Job

A diamond wheel is made for cutting, shaping, grinding, and fast material removal.
A resin wheel is made for smoothing, polishing, and creating a clean edge finish.

Think of it like sanding wood:

• Coarse sandpaper first

• Fine sandpaper later

One can’t replace the other.

If you try to polish with a diamond wheel, the edge will look rough.
If you try to grind with a resin wheel, it will burn, wear fast, and basically say “I quit” — well, not literally, but you get the idea.

So the process needs both. That’s the core.

2. Diamond Wheels Handle the Heavy Work

During glass edge processing, the diamond wheel removes:

• Sharp edges

• Flakes

• Chips

• Burrs

• Material thickness

This step requires strong mechanical action. A diamond wheel can handle this because of the hardness and durability of its diamond grits.

Skipping this step forces the resin wheel to do work it was never designed to handle, and then problems appear quickly:

• Heat buildup

• Wheel deformation

• Shorter lifespan

• Uneven polishing

And here’s the kicker: your processing efficiency drops a lot.

3. Resin Wheels Perfect the Finish

Once the diamond wheel completes the rough or semi-fine grinding, the resin wheel comes in to polish the glass edge and create a smooth finish.

Resin wheels excel at:

• Removing micro-scratches

• Achieving transparency

• Producing a glossy surface

• Preparing the edge for high-end applications

As we explained in the previous blog, resin wheels require:

• Correct water cooling

• Proper feed speed

• Low applied pressure

• Appropriate bond formula

Otherwise the edge won’t look good — it becomes slightly blurred or hazy, especially on ultra-clear glass.

And the truth is, no one wants a “meh” finish.

4. Why One Wheel Can’t Replace the Other

This is the part many new operators misunderstand.

A diamond wheel is too aggressive to polish.
A resin wheel is too soft to grind.

You need a hybrid workflow because glass processing itself is a multi-stage job:

1. Rough grinding — diamond wheel

2. Fine grinding — diamond wheel or metal-bond wheel

3. Polishing — resin wheel

4. Final shaping or surface smoothing — optional polishing wheel

Skipping even one stage affects:

• Edge quality

• Tool life

• Transmission of light

• Overall product value

And yes, sometimes customers ask: “Can I speed up the line by using only diamond grinding?”
No — the edge will be too rough for furniture glass, shower glass, automotive glass, or architectural panels.

This workflow exists because it simply works.

5. You Save More Money by Using Both

Many factories believe that reducing the number of wheels saves money.
But actually, the opposite happens.

When you use wheels correctly:

• Resin wheels last longer

• Diamond wheels wear evenly

• Machines run cooler

• Energy consumption drops

• Polishing quality improves

Small detail, big difference.

Skipping a wheel may look like saving costs, but you end up spending more replacing damaged wheels or reworking defective glass pieces. That’s not the kind of expense anyone wants.

And yes, this gets worse if water cooling is not stable (as we mentioned before), because resin wheels become even more sensitive.

6. How Jiangxi Jinlong Supports This Workflow

Here’s where our experience since 2003 becomes valuable.
Our product line includes:

• Diamond wheels for glass rough grinding

• Resin wheels for glass polishing

• Diamond squaring wheels

• Polishing wheels for final finishing

Factories in glass processing, furniture glass, deep-processing lines, and CNC edge machines rely on us because we design products to work together, not independently.

Our tools help ensure:

• Smooth workflow

• Lower replacement frequency

• Better surface quality

• Stable transparency

• High productivity on multi-stage lines

And as always, we’re here to help customers choose the right diamond wheel + resin wheel pairing.

Final Thoughts

Diamond wheels and resin wheels are a team — not competitors.
One shapes, one finishes.
One grinds, one polishes.
One removes material, one improves value.

Once you apply this workflow, your glass edges improve instantly and your production efficiency becomes much more stable.