Angle grinder with cut off disk.

[woody367]

So I have used angle grinders for years and never had an issue. Now maybe all this time I have been using it wrong. MI just got the mini DEWALT 4-1/2 corded grinder. I put a cutting disk on and it will not get tight, the disk is to thin. Tried a different brand and same thing. The way I do it is put the back piece on then the disk and the nut with the shoulder down or vice-versa. I have always used a 7/8 hole for grinding and cutting with the shoulder thru the disk. Any thoughts?. Thanks

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I had to go thru a bunch of outside nuts to find one that worked on one particular grinder at work. Sometimes glad the boss is a packrat...

 

[The Cobbler]

usually you turn the factory nut over and use it that way for thin discs

 

[Rusted Nut]

Sometimes you have to add a spacer of some sort. Some nuts you flip over and they will work.

 

[mikegt4]

The shoulder on the nut will bottom out on the spindle before the nut clamps tight on the thin disc. Try turning the nut over so the shoulder points out away from the disc. My grinder works that way when using thin cutting discs. It also gives a much larger clamping surface for a more stable disc.

 

[dnschmidt]

^^^^^ THIS!!!
On every grinder I've ever seen this is common practice. One side of the nut is for 1/4" thick grinding wheels and the other for thin cutoff discs.

 

[dvblanch]

Just take some thin cardboard ( like from a 12 pack ) and punch or cut out some washers to use as shims to to hold the disc tite
Also turn bottom nut flat side to disc as previously mentioned

 

[toolenthusiast]

Just take some thin cardboard ( like from a 12 pack ) and punch or cut out some washers to use as shims to to hold the disc tite

 

[kaymccampbell]

Both my Dewalt grinders you flip the nut over, and the cup in it allows it to squish down tighter.

 

[saltwater4life]

I always figured the shoulder on the nut was to run a larger sized arbor disc and still maintains centered.

 

[woody367]

Thanks for all the info guys. I will try you ideas in the morning. and as for dvblanch's idea I will have to pass. Not my way of doing on a high speed tool like this. I already had a blade once break apart. 30 stiches in my leg later.

​

 

[finn]

How many GJ members does it take to put a cutoff disc on a grinder?

 

[PoorUB]

You might need to find and adapter bushing/washer to use a cut off discs.
I had to do it with my one 4-1/2" grinder.

 

[woody367]

finn,
I guess 1 less minus you. There always has to be one that jumps in can not be serious.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

I have a Craftsman like that. A used up disc makes a perfect shim.

 

[redwrench60]

How many GJ members does it take to put a cutoff disc on a grinder?

About 2 or 3. The rest will jump in and tell the OP he should have bought a Milwaukee M18 Fuel.

Now that the questions been answered I can joke right?

 

[finn]

finn,
I guess 1 less minus you. There always has to be one that jumps in can not be serious.

Being serious is grossly overrated.

 

[GaryM909]

Is it a new angle grinder or a used one with the wrong backing plate? I have mixed the backing plates from different grinders although not 4 1/2" and have had to put a washer behind the backing plate. Also a used up disc or cardboard would work as a shim because I have done both.

 

[dnschmidt]

You might need to find and adapter bushing/washer to use a cut off discs.
I had to do it with my one 4-1/2" grinder.

A thousand years ago DeWalt did make a special washer for use with cut off discs. You needed this on their 4 1/2" paddle switch grinder of which they made tens of thousands and I still have one. That's the only example I can think of that doesn't use the "flip me over" washer that all modern grinders use.

 

[PoorUB]

A thousand years ago DeWalt did make a special washer for use with cut off discs. You needed this on their 4 1/2" paddle switch grinder of which they made tens of thousands and I still have one. That's the only example I can think of that doesn't use the "flip me over" washer that all modern grinders use.

I would have to look, but yes, my one grinder is old, maybe 30 years old, but still works great. I did inherit a newer DeWalt grinder from my dad and I have not tried a cut off wheel with it.

 

[Kurt4440]

A thousand years ago DeWalt did make a special washer for use with cut off discs. You needed this on their 4 1/2" paddle switch grinder of which they made tens of thousands and I still have one. That's the only example I can think of that doesn't use the "flip me over" washer that all modern grinders use.

Years ago, some boxes of cut off disks would come with these spacers / washers.
Yes, they are made of cardboard.

 

[darkzero]

I never had that happen to me but if it did I would put a heavier chamfer or counter bore the flat side of the nut to avoid bottoming out on the spindle threads. But I have a lathe so that would be easy.

In a pinch I would use a spacer to get by but I rather not have to bother with using some sort of spacer. Modify the nut if possible & be done with it.

How many GJ members does it take to put a cutoff disc on a grinder?

About 2 or 3. The rest will jump in and tell the OP he should have bought a Milwaukee M18 Fuel.

Now that the questions been answered I can joke right?

A true seasoned GJ member would say buy another grinder for use with cut off discs so you don't have to change wheel types when needed.

 

[darkzero]

I would put a heavier chamfer or counter bore the flat side of the nut to avoid bottoming out on the spindle threads.

I use a Fixtec nut, it can't be flipped so there is only a flat side & that side has a counter bore on it.

I also just dug out my stock M18 grinder nut, the "flat side" has a counter bore on it too. Come to think of, I think some grinders the inner spacer can be flipped (shoulder on one side, flat on the other)? On my M18 that inner spacer has a register driven by the spindle so it's not meant to be flipped & the wheel side has a short shoulder (compared to the stock nut).

If the OP is missing the inner spacer, that could be a reason why he's running out of threads?

 

[cdods]

On my grinders, even if I flip the nut, the real thin disks won't tighten up. I keep a few used thin disks around, that were ground down about as far as I could go, and use them as a washer / spacer.

Works for me.

 

[woody367]

I bought another brand disk and all works fine. I did also notice the shoulder on the nut and spacer are slightly different in thickness. Something I never knew and another thing learned on GJ. Thanks to all.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Sure leave a lot at the table not using depressed center wheels, as well as opening your spindle to abuse.

 

[wolf_from_wv]

Is it made for cut-off wheels? I tried to use cut-off wheels on my 18V Ryobi angle grinder, but they wouldn't tighten up even with the nut flipped over. I looked at the instructions, and saw the line that said not to use cut-off wheels.

 

[cmandp]

I use a Fixtec nut, it can't be flipped so there is only a flat side & that side has a counter bore on it.

This makes me think. Do any of you actually use the wrench for changing your grinder wheels?

I can see with the 0.04" cutoff wheels where that nut or the wrench might be good, they can be fragile. But I still just snug the nut down by grabbing the wheel and tightening it...

 

[darkzero]

Do any of you actually use the wrench for changing your grinder wheels?

I don't. I just press the spindle lock & grab the wheel to loosen. With the Fixtec nut I use the flip lever to tighten by hand but before that I would just screw on the nut & grab the wheel to tighten like you.

But these days I don't use an angle grinder all that much & not for heavy grinding. I only own one cordless angle grinder now & really only use flap discs & cut off wheels with it.