Angle Grinder Bit for Light Metal Sanding?

[oldschoolcraft]

I have an old cast metal table with a glass surface. I want to repaint it. But first I'd like to sand it down before I hit it with primer.

I picked up an angle grinder a few months ago and haven't had a need to use it yet so I was thinking this might be my chance! I picked up a wire cup brush for it and another wire brush. Would that work to strip the old paint off?

I am open to buying different attachments if necessary. Always a good excuse to buy a new tool! Or if this is a bad idea I'll sand by hand because it's not a very big table and could probably do it by hand in under an hour.

 

[garfunkle24]

Wire wheels would work fine for that and in fact are probably the preferred option. This style of disc would also work well:

https://www.3mcanada.ca/3M/en_CA/metalworking-ca/applications/surface-preparation/clean-and-strip-discs/

https://www.empireabrasives.com/4-1-2-easy-strip-paint-removal-disc/

 

[PhysicsDude]

Wire brush wheel or cup is probably the best tool/attachment for stripping paint off metal.

Depending on the shape of your table, a smaller wire wheel or cup on a dremel or drill might be better for small hard to access areas. An angle grinder will remove the paint pretty aggressively, so you might have to be a little careful with it.

 

[zkling]

Wire wheel. I've found most of those stripping discs to be rather abrasive, you will loose metal with them and features.

 

[Rattle]

Wire wheels work well. Just make sure you get one rated for the speed or rpm of your grinder.

 

[danielbuck]

if you're not familiar with angle grinders and wire wheels, just watch out, the wire wheel will fling little wires every so often. They don't really hurt (uh, unless it gets in your eyes I guess!), but they can get caught in your shirt and poke you later on. Just a note of caution

 

[RTM]

Ignorant question, why not an abrasive flap wheel for this job?

 

[MoonRise]

Wire wheel will usually remove paint.

A flap wheel will remove paint AND metal.

 

[garfunkle24]

Ignorant question, why not an abrasive flap wheel for this job?

Flap wheels will easily remove metal too and dish out any flat surface. I do use them to remove paint and mill scale all the time though, on stuff where it doesn't matter.

Of course paint stripper would work too and make for a lot less abrasive work. Hard to get good stuff these days though (can only get the weak sauce stuff here in Canada now) and it's a little nasty to work with.

 

[ZRX61]

if you're not familiar with angle grinders and wire wheels, just watch out, the wire wheel will fling little wires every so often. They don't really hurt (uh, unless it gets in your eyes I guess!), but they can get caught in your shirt and poke you later on. Just a note of caution

Eyes? I'd recommend leather pants over safety glasses. So far I've stapled my **** to my leg, a ball to my leg & my **** to a ball.
I now stand to one side of the bench grinder with the wire wheel on it AND I keep pliers RIGHT THERE so I don't have to walk 20ft to get something to extract the wire...

 

[RTM]

So flap disk is ok when removing rust then? Better or worse than wire wheel there?

 

[Cheepbeer]

Those strip discs are bad ***!

 

[danielbuck]

So flap disk is ok when removing rust then? Better or worse than wire wheel there?

flap is really meant for removing metal itself, in a gentler way than a stone. They can get loaded up if you use them for paint removal and such. THey will work though.

 

[garfunkle24]

flap is really meant for removing metal itself, in a gentler way than a stone. They can get loaded up if you use them for paint removal and such. THey will work though.

Exactly. Being somewhat pliable they are able to follow contours and are great for blending welds, smoothing stuff out etc. For paint removal, a wire wheel is much cheaper and safer for the underlying metal.

I've found most of those stripping discs to be rather abrasive, you will loose metal with them and features.

Agreed.

 

[Stephenw]

A wire wheel is a perfect example of why you should buy a grinder with variable speed.

 

[RTM]

Thanks guys, and apologies for hijacking oldschoolcraft’s thread.

I was getting pummeled by dremel wire wheel bits today, can’t imagine what ZRX was doing.

 

[SeisMec]

Eyes? I'd recommend leather pants over safety glasses. So far I've stapled my **** to my leg, a ball to my leg & my **** to a ball.
I now stand to one side of the bench grinder with the wire wheel on it AND I keep pliers RIGHT THERE so I don't have to walk 20ft to get something to extract the wire...

**** to ball might hurt less than eyeball to nose.

Twisted wire wheels would not be good for what OP wants, but they do seem to shed a lot less wire than standard non-twisted.

 

[danielbuck]

A wire wheel is a perfect example of why you should buy a grinder with variable speed.

pneumatic

 

[king nero]

Those strip discs are bad ***!

I'm sold on them as well. Have the 3M discs. They don't really remove base material. Was a real eye-opener first time I've used them. A wire wheel has its place, but as the guy (or girl, I don't judge) above, with his balls stapled to his leg can attest, they also have their downsides

 

[Locker537]

Wire wheel and scotch brite.