Harbor Freight cut off wheels

[bubinga]

I know this one is 60 grit http://www.harborfreight.com/pack-of-5-4-1-2-half-inch-metal-cutting-discs-66394.html

But want is the difference between these two 40 grit ones?
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-12-in-40-grit-metal-cut-off-wheel-10-pc-61195.html (No reviews on this one)

http://www.harborfreight.com/pack-of-10-4-1-2-half-inch-cut-off-wheels-for-metal-45430.html (18 reviews, 15 good, 3 Not good..................)

And I see the 60 grit is 5 piece, but it is more money than 2X the 10 piece
40 grit ones.
Are the 60 grit better ones?
I got One of the 40 grit, (not sure what part number) from a fellow at the flea market, and it seemed to work pretty well.
Anyone have experience with these HF cut off wheels, or worse yet, have any problems with them.
Or am I better off getting the DeWalt ones?
Thank you,

 

[Askme42]

I've heard of a few problems with them but never had any personally. They don't last long but what cut off wheel does.

Now I stock up when I find name brand stuff on clearance.

 

[Provincial]

The professional grade wheels I get at the local welding supply cut a narrower kerf (since the wheel is narrower), last longer, and cut better. I have never had a failure with a HF cutoff wheel, and I keep some around in case I need a wider cut or run out of the better ones.

I find that there isn't enough price difference to warrant using the HF wheels for everyday.

 

[bubinga]

ok thanks guys,

 

[e30bradley]

I don't like the HF ones.. I've used them a lot. I'm talking about the cutoff wheels, not the flap wheels.

 

[steel 35]

Be careful with flat wheels.

 

[G_P]

I have not used many of the HF cutoff wheels, but the ones I did use were much more prone to shattering/exploding than name brand wheels.

Make sure you have the guard in place! Not going to be a fun day if you get shrapnel from a wheel stuck in you.

 

[Exceller8]

Mine broke in half the first time I tried them. Never again!!!

 

[sbyrne92]

I used their 3" die grinder version, I think it was 4 for $1. I had to cut off an exhaust clamp, that had shifted horizontally which was right next to the frame. So I couldn't use my guard. I was terrified the entire time, I changed the wheel each time I started to see the mesh holding it together. They work, but I wouldn't use them again.

 

[bubinga]

Gee, the one l got at the flea market worked pretty good, (harbor freight one)
But maybe l better just buy a few dewalts. They were only $2.00 each at Ace hardware.
I don't need to be getting hurt.

 

[monomach]

Harbor Freight has a lot of good stuff, but I've had bad experiences with 4.5" wheels, reciprocating saw blades, sandpaper, etc.

It's so cheap to get a real brand, there's no sense taking a risk.

 

[GTO]

I've had the HF cut offs explode on me before.Do not use these without a full face mask.

 

[dgxlh]

I use them all the time. The 4 inch ones. Ive used them after I've dropped them and a piece broke. They are pretty good have probably used 60+ and haven't exploded one yet

 

[cheechi]

Haven't had any shattering, but for the money the HF ones aren't as good as the next step up. You can get dewalt at lowes & HD, or you can get Norton at Northern. I'd go with either of those first before I consider buying HF wheels, just because they last longer.

Even though many of us haven't had them shatter, you should still pay attention to the fact that it has happened commonly in the past.

 

[bcradio]

Harbor Freight has a lot of good stuff, but I've had bad experiences with 4.5" wheels, reciprocating saw blades, sandpaper, etc.

It's so cheap to get a real brand, there's no sense taking a risk.

This exactly... avoid them like the plague. I will also add circular saw blades to the list (including tile/concrete blades). And by circular saw blades, I mean ALL sizes not just 7 1/4.

 

[bubinga]

I have not used many of the HF cutoff wheels, but the ones I did use were much more prone to shattering/exploding than name brand wheels.
Make sure you have the guard in place! Not going to be a fun day if you get shrapnel from a wheel stuck in you.

No fun at all!!

Mine broke in half the first time I tried them. Never again!!!

Harbor Freight has a lot of good stuff, but I've had bad experiences with 4.5" wheels, reciprocating saw blades, sandpaper, etc.

It's so cheap to get a real brand, there's no sense taking a risk.

I've had the HF cut offs explode on me before.Do not use these without a full face mask.

Haven't had any shattering, but for the money the HF ones aren't as good as the next step up. You can get dewalt at lowes & HD, or you can get Norton at Northern. I'd go with either of those first before I consider buying HF wheels, just because they last longer.

Even though many of us haven't had them shatter, you should still pay attention to the fact that it has happened commonly in the past.

This exactly... avoid them like the plague. I will also add circular saw blades to the list (including tile/concrete blades). And by circular saw blades, I mean ALL sizes not just 7 1/4.

Although I did not have a problem with the one I got at the Flea Market (Harbor Freight one),
enough of you either saw them explode, or had them explode, there is
enough of a risk in my mind to avoid them.
I will remove them from my HF basket (Cart)
I think best not to use them any more.
What does Lowes usually charge for the DeWalt?
Like l said, IIRC they were $2.00 at Ace Hardware.

 

[crewchief888]

i've had more than one HF cutoff wheel explode. they also seem to have 1/2 the life of any other cutoff's i've used.

i try to wait till lowes or HD has them on sale before i stock up.

reg prices seems to be under $2 ea, i cant remember what the sale prices typically are

 

[lightning02]

I use Norton and never had a problem. The money saved ain't worth it if something does happen with those HF ones

 

[fivespdcat]

I agree with the rest of the guys, not worth risking it to save $0.50 a wheel. They usually around $1.25 for dewalt on amazon, or you can buy some overstock from Cripe.

 

[Schurkey]

I worked for a company that had serious QA problems. Those of us on the "assembly line" had to take improperly-made parts, and rework them ourselves to make 'em fit properly. We lived 'n' died by our die-grinders, cutoff wheels, and rotary files. Those cutoff wheels were used to sculpt usable stuff from ****--the typical "making honey from dogshit" deal. By that, I mean we'd do much more than "cut" with them--we'd make those die-grinders and cutoff wheels do the work of angle grinders and milling machines.

One day, someone who doesn't use tools decided it was a good idea to buy cheap cutoff wheels. That lasted about two days--first off, we used two or three times as many of the crappy ones; and secondly, the shrapnel flying off the wheels was injuring the workers. We could watch the diameter of the wheels reduce on a single cut. The wheels didn't so much "explode" as the wear rate was INCREDIBLE.

From that day, I've avoided discount cutoff wheels. My favorite was Walter "Zip" wheels; but they have a thousand varieties and no local supplier any more.
This probably replaced the older Walter wheels I used--but I have not actually used this version:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003O9VQXO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Harbor Fright? You deserve what you get.


http://www.walter.com/Walter/CA/en/Promotions

 

[Stooge]

I've used the HF 4 1/2 discs with the blue labels fairly often, i usually try to have some Metabos on hand that i order or Dewalts that lowes sells but are often sold out. The blue label ones worked alright, maybe didnt last as long and would sometimes break on thicker materials. Last time i was in HF, they only had the green label ones that i hadnt seen at the store before, and they seemed awful, lasted even less time and kept splintering apart. I think i could make maybe a foot and a half of cut through 18ga sheet metal before the disc would be too small to use. I think i'll just make sure i have something else to use for my projects.
I do still use the grinding discs and flapper discs without issue

 

[dsp1]

Please DO NOT ever use Harbor Freight cut off wheels or grinding wheels. I had 1 cut off wheel and 2 grinder wheels shatter on me. Do you know how bad it hurts getting hit with a big chunk of grinder wheel that was spinning at around 10,000 rpm before it let go.

 

[ATC]

Here:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4303215#post4303215

 

[Schurkey]

Here:

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4303215#post4303215

Aren't those angle-grinder wheels, not cutoff wheels? I don't see details of the abrasive part numbers. If they're for an angle-grinder, they'd be totally-different products for totally-different uses.

 

[FriendOfYours]

I've been using the 4.5in 40 grit ones every day for 5 or 6 years, have had maybe two explode out of literally hundreds. They last just as long as the dewalt ones from HD and the like

They are thin, you just have to be gentle and keep them square. I like that they are thin, great for chopping up long beds

Anyone who is going to Lowes or Home Depot to buy cutoff discs don't use them very much. You are either buying in bulk with an account, online or HF. Between myself and our 4 other guys, we used every disc known to man more than a few times. HF are just fine

 

[jdmstr]

i usually just go to lowe's and buy dewalt cut off wheels and grinder wheels there like 2 bucks a piece id rather pay the extra 25 cent's or so and not have an exploding HF wheel rip my face off.

 

[abk241]

....We could watch the diameter of the wheels reduce on a single cut. The wheels didn't so much "explode" as the wear rate was INCREDIBLE.....

Harbor Fright? You deserve what you get.


http://www.walter.com/Walter/CA/en/Promotions

I totally agree...HF wheels do not last as long.