Angle grinder cutting disks, which ones?

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Hey guys. Just bought the Milwaukee 2882 one key 4.5-5” paddle angle grinder. I’ve always just ever used whatever discs the shop or individual had at the time but now that I’ve got my own, I’m curious. Do cheap ones last as long as more expensive ones? I’m also more weary of cheap ones shattering.

 

[M6erfan]

You'll probably get a bunch of responses from Harbor Freight to Pferd and more. I generally use Milwaukee or Dewalt blades, they're easy to get, not super expensive, and hold up fine for my use. I will say that the Diablo blades didn't last long when I was cutting black pipe, the Milwaukee metal cutting blades lasted probably 75% longer.

Project Farm has a couple videos on YouTube testing different brands of cut off wheels.

 

[cavalry]

I have had no luck with cheap discs. They wear quick and seem more prone to catastrophic failure. Do not buy a brand you have never heard of off amazon.
The best compromise for cost, dust and durability I have found has been Walter "zip wheel". A few years ago I did acquire a case of Metabo "slicer" for free and they sit behind the Walters in the cabinet. Not bad discs, and I guess they are pretty inexpensive, but they are dusty AF.

sidenote- I have also tried the diamond metal cutting discs. They sit behind the Metabo discs in the cabinet.

 

[timgunn1962]

My experience has tended to be that the "better" ones do tend to be better and last longer. It's not as clear-cut as it could be though: there are expensive disks that last no longer than most cheap ones and there are cheap ones that punch well above their weight. I'm across the pond, so specific recommendations from me would be unlikely to help you. The best advice I can give is to try a few different ones and when you find one that you think hits the sweet-spot for your use, stock up on them.

For my cordless grinder (4 1/2" Makita), the disks I tend to use most are the Lenox MetalMax or similar diamond-edged steel disks. These have advantages and disadvantages, so whether they are appropriate depends on what you do with your grinder. I do mostly maintenance work on sites and I like the MetalMax because they don't wear down significantly in use and they are MUCH less likely to shatter than thin cutting disks. They don't cut as well/fast as the thin disks, but they are able to do a pretty good job of grinding compared to a thin cutting disk. In a lot of cases, I'll need to cut off an anchor bolt, which leaves a sloping stub that needs grinding off flush with the surface. The MetalMax (other similar products are available) is just the quickest, easiest, safest way I've found to do certain jobs and tends to be the disk that gets left on the grinder by default. There are certainly times when I'll use grinding disks, thin cutting disks, flap disks or clean-and-strip disks, because they each do certain jobs much better than anything else.

 

[jbtvt]

You'll get the longest life out of discs from Sait, Weiler, Norton, Metabo, or other industrial supply brands. From the big box I notice Diablo does outlast Avanti. Honestly I've had pretty good luck with even Benchmark, which is a somewhat known but still cheap Amazon brand, on my 6" grinder. Doesn't last too long but good bang for the buck. Definitely had plenty of other cheap ones explode at the slightest flex, so they can be hit or miss.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Another vote for the diamond coated steel blades like Lennox. They aren't as good for thick material but for most stuff you cut every day they aren't noticeably slower however they make far, far less mess. All that material that disappears from the abrasive discs ends up in the air, in your lungs and all over every flat surface in the shop.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Another vote for the diamond coated steel blades like Lennox. They aren't as good for thick material but for most stuff you cut every day they aren't noticeably slower however they make far, far less mess. All that material that disappears from the abrasive discs ends up in the air, in your lungs and all over every flat surface in the shop.

Do the diamond coated wheels last say, 10 regular disks or?

 

[dnschmidt]

Pferd, Metabo, SAIT and especially WALTER are the answer to your question.

 

[dnschmidt]

You'll probably get a bunch of responses from Harbor Freight to Pferd and more. I generally use Milwaukee or Dewalt blades, they're easy to get, not super expensive, and hold up fine for my use. I will say that the Diablo blades didn't last long when I was cutting black pipe, the Milwaukee metal cutting blades lasted probably 75% longer.

Project Farm has a couple videos on YouTube testing different brands of cut off wheels.

I thought Project Farm's episode was ******** due to the fact that all he tested was the **** he could buy at Home Depot. No Pferd, Walter, SAIT, Metabo, Norton or 3M discs were included. If you want quality go to a welding supply house not Home Depot and Lowes.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Do the diamond coated wheels last say, 10 regular disks or?

I've found they last about as long as about 20 discs before they have any noticeable degradation but they continue to cut long after that... probably equivalent to 35 or so abrasive discs. I usually abuse them after that point so I don't know how long they would have lasted. Big plus is they don't snag and self destruct like an abrasive disc.

 

[scooby074]

Walter zip cuts are what I've always mostly used. Once in a while some purchaser would get Sait or some other cheaper brand but it wasn't long before zip cuts were back in stock. they just give the best life and safest performance IMHO

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

I found a tool company called “ mad dog tools “ that claims to have a lifetime warranty on their diamond impregnated steel disc 4.5” wheel. $135 shipped with tax so I guess we’ll see. My thinking is even if I do wear it out after 3 times it’s paid for itself. I hate the anticipation of waiting for wheels to take flight if they’re tweaked.

 

[timgunn1962]

Do the diamond coated wheels last say, 10 regular disks or?

It's difficult to say because it varies according to the nature of the task and the reason you need to change disks. If you are cutting steel angle/section into lengths, for example, and need to change disks when they're no longer big enough to make a complete cut, the MetalMax will likely outlast a box of 100 thin cutting disks.

If you are cutting 1/4" allthread, and wear the disk right down, the MetalMax might only last as long as ten thin cutting disks.

For the sort of stuff I do, I'm pretty confident the steel/diamond disks have a useful life between 10 and 100 times that of the (reasonably decent) thin disks I use. YMMV.

They do cut slower though, so in a workshop environment with everything to hand, you need to account for the time saved by using thin disks. On site, the extra few seconds per cut tends to be of more trivial concern.

 

[PhantomEB]

Work has Walters but only in 5” discs…….I got 4.5s at home…..

 

[Dave455]

You’re doing the right thing by looking beyond whatever is available locally!

Much good advice here already, and I would also advise looking for known makes where feasible. If you can find a good supplier, then sometimes you can trust what they offer, even if it’s unfamiliar.

I’m assuming you are in the U.S? I’m in the U.K, but we share suppliers such as MSC and Zoro, both of who offer cutting discs. You may find that good quality discs from one of these suppliers, cost no more than poorer ones from a store with higher margins.

Are you cutting stone / masonry, or metal?

For the former, forget conventional discs. I do this work seldom, but when I do I only use diamond discs. They remove less material, and the disc doesn’t disintegrate as you cut, so they are way cleaner to use.

I use these Marcrist, but that might be a British brand. Anything reputable works.



For steel, I now only use these ”thin kerf” cutting discs. By minimising the thickness of the cut they reduce the cutting effort, and the dust, but good quality is more important than ever with these thin discs. Norton, Sait and Pferd have all been mentioned, and I can vouch for them all.

I’ve recently been using these 0.8mm Flexovit discs and they are great.


If I find a disc I like I tend to stock up, but cutting discs are susceptible to moisture, so I tend to vacuum seal my supplies!

If I get an urgent job, it’s great to be able to go to my stores and pull out a cutting disc, grinding disc, flapwheel, or wire brush, in whatever size I need, without worrying about the quality!

 

[strutaeng]

I do hobby welding, but have done some pretty good sized projects around the house.

I started with a 4.5" angle grinder like everyone else. Later bought a 4.5 Ryobi cordless for very work and a 7" Makita beast.

Not that long ago I bought a 6" DeWalt grinder and a NIB Bosch 5" grinder. I try to buy cutting discs, grinding wheels and flap wheels in bulk on Lehigh Abrasives. I may purchase $60-$80 at a time and I'm good for a while. The prices and performance I find are better than local stuff. And I hate stopping in the middle of job just to go buy a $3 disc at the home center.

The 6" DeWalt is the most versatile in speed, power, and performance. I'm currently working using some metabo 6" discs and those things are wicked.

Bonded Abrasives - Cut Off Wheels - Type 1 - Page 1 - Lehigh Valley Abrasives

www.lehighvalleyabrasives.com

 

[Outahere]

cut off wheel

I have been buying 4" cut off wheels for my angle grinder. Was wondering if there is better quality? I am using it on mild steel, car frame and burning thru them really fast. Hoping there is one better then another. Thanks

www.garagejournal.com

grinding and cut off wheels for 4 1/2 to 6 inch angle grinders

Sorry if this has already been hashed over, but I could not find anything. What are your all's experiences with brands of grinding wheels and cut off wheels in the 4 1/2 inch to 6 inch size for angle grinders that last/work better than others. I have recently re-located to a place where I now...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[Steve_P]

Again, there is a PF test on these. Yes, he only tested the Home Depot, or Amazon "****" because that's what 99% of people buy. People that are buying consumables at a welding store are most likely commercial customers, and as such they already know the answer to which is best to them; they're not the PF audience.
The Lenox diamond wheels work great, but they are slow cutting. Their main advantage IMO is they will not explode. If you are only doing a few cuts now and then in a home shop, they're worth a try based on the safety aspect alone.

 

[Rusted Nut]

We use grinder discs and cut-off wheels quite a bit at work. I very rarely see broken grinder discs, but see a lot of broken cut-off wheels. I’ve the best luck with SAIT cut-off wheels, used properly you run SAIT wheels down to 2”. I would not get within 50’ of a cheap/HF cut-off wheel. We require full face shield protection when using cut-off wheels, attached photo shows why.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I like cut off wheels that have a recessed center, especially if they have an intergal 5/8-11 hub nut. For most of what I do being able to lay the cutting disc flat or nearly flat on stock is a big advantage. On flat discs the nut is almost always in the way for flush cuts. DeWalt makes the ones I have now. Disc life is Ok.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I’ve had the best luck with Diablo they are really good. Never failed on me and last a long time. Second place definitely Norton I bought them when I couldn’t find the Diablo ones and they do good as well. Zipped right thru what I needed it too. You shouldn’t be disappointed with either one. Those are the only ones I’ve had good luck with. The 3M they provide at work aren’t bad either but I prefer the ones I listed.

 

[Rinspeed]

Those Walter are very good like all their other products but they are a little pricey.

 

[Steve_P]

For occasional home use, cost is going to most likely be a large factor in the decision; this is why the PF test has relevance for a DIYer. If a wheel costs 50% as much as the "best" and offers 80% of the life and performance of the best/most expensive wheel, that 50/80 ratio is an acceptable tradeoff to me in favor of the cheaper product for infrequent use. But if you're running a fab shop and paying someone that will have to change wheels, then that 50/80 is probably not a good tradeoff when your billed labor rate can be $100/hour.

 

[thooks]

You'll get the longest life out of discs from Sait, Weiler, Norton, Metabo, or other industrial supply brands. From the big box I notice Diablo does outlast Avanti. Honestly I've had pretty good luck with even Benchmark, which is a somewhat known but still cheap Amazon brand, on my 6" grinder. Doesn't last too long but good bang for the buck. Definitely had plenty of other cheap ones explode at the slightest flex, so they can be hit or miss.

THIS

Go to a professional/industrial welding supply shop and get some-

I like Weiler, Metabo Super Slicer, Radnor. Walter products are also very good.



The stuff from Benchmark is just homeowner grade stuff. No better than big box store stuff, just cheaper.

 

[tarbellb]

Wrong

do not go to your Local Welding Supply, these are the very last hold outs in the retail industry that are price gouging their shoppers.

Find the good stuff via this site then head over to eBay or online and order correctly.

Again it's typically a COO thing (in this case), USA, eu, and Japan making high quality abrasives.
Walter, pferd, 3M, United, Etc...

 

[dogdog]

Weil sait dewalt milfcky Diablo etc are all good.

HF ones in this case is nfg, the disc dust too much and disc life just sucked. When I cut up the steel bath tub 1/8 thick steel I think, the Diablo then used and hf one used Diablo last 3x longer than HF one and lot less dust.

This off brand is also very good, some Canadian guy here advertise it 2 or 3 years ago and I tried it. Its cut quality is comparable to dewalt and Diablo ones but priced a lot less at 1/3 cost. Ordered a second batch.


MITOLS 4 1/2 Cut Off Wheel - 25 PCS High Precision Ultra Thin Metal and Stainless Cutting Wheels for Angle Grinder, Type 1 0.045" Thick, 7/8" Arbor, 4-1/2" Diameter, Aluminum Oxide, 13300 RPM https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P1N2F5J/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Probably you can find that post if you search MITOLS here

 

[dnschmidt]

Work has Walters but only in 5” discs…….I got 4.5s at home…..

If I could get 5" Walters free from work I'd buy a 5" grinder. Just sayin'

 

[tarbellb]

I run 5" on my 4.5" all damn day

(no guard you dandy's)

 

[finn]

I’ve tried dozens brands. Performance generally tracks price. That said, I would rather have a bunch of options on the shelf than one or two “marquis “ brand. The cheap Tool Shop diamond disks from Menards are ok and inexpensive, but they’re not as good as Bosch.

The thin HF wheels are cheap but dusty and wear fast. I got two stacks of almost free flap discs from a Menards promotion that work, but they’re not as good as the ones from the Miller booth at the Iola Swap Meet.

I’m ambivalert. Pay your money and pick your choice. Not worth fretting about unless you’re a business user on a daily basis. They’re all consumables.

 

[PhantomEB]

If I could get 5" Walters free from work I'd buy a 5" grinder. Just sayin'

oh trust me it’s on the back of my mind, it’s just I have 4 Busch 4.5”s on hand.

 

[XJSuperman]

I've run NAPA, Dewalt, Benchmark, and a host of other cheap brands. Most wear about the same for me. I don't like to pay for the dewalt or other name brands, and the cheap ones I can get in bulk from Benchmark so thats who I've been sticking with lately. Diablo is on my list to try next. I use them a lot, I prefer to use the grinder/cutoff wheel to a sawzall for most cases.

 

[jwilson645]

The longevity of the discs also depends on how you operate it. Gotta let the disc do the work and not force it. If you try to force it, it wears it down faster and can also cause it to break.

 

[dnschmidt]

oh trust me it’s on the back of my mind, it’s just I have 4 Busch 4.5”s on hand.

Might be an easier way. Bosch, like everybody else likes to standardize their parts. The guard used on a 5" Bosch might fit your 4 1/2" Bosch grinders. If this is true, and I don't know if it is, just buy a five inch guard and you're golden. The speed of 4 1/2" and 5" versions are normally quite close to each other or identical. Six inch grinders are slower (about 9,000 rpm) because the blades have a much bigger circumference.