Angle grinder ??

[SK-Mike]

Got myself a New Angle grinder (Makita Cordless/Brushless), Never owned one before. Need to stock up on some grinding wheels, and cut off discs.

I see cut off discs listing sizes as 5" x 0.032" & 5" x 0.040"

Is the 0.032 & 0.040 the thickness of the disc?

If Yes, will the thicker disc last longer = more cuts per disc?

 

[matt_i]

Being battery operated I'd go as thin as possible. No need to remove extra metal to do the same job.

 

[jimmyin3D]

Got myself a New Angle grinder (Makita Cordless/Brushless), Never owned one before. Need to stock up on some grinding wheels, and cut off discs.

I see cut off discs listing sizes as 5" x 0.032" & 5" x 0.040"

Is the 0.032 & 0.040 the thickness of the disc?

If Yes, will the thicker disc last longer = more cuts per disc?

That’s kind of true but the thinner discs are way may useful when cutting metal. Try out the diablo discs.

Also if it’s your first grinder practice some caution while using an angle grinder. Grindr discs can explode, high rpms means a small slip can cause major damage. So make sure to wear gloves and a face mask at the least.

You’ll wonder why you didn’t pick up one sooner, angle grinders are super useful though.

 

[Wamsutta]

The most important safety precaution is to always use the side handle and never take it off. Never use the grinder one-handed.

 

[lis2323]

For a cut off wheel this is all I use now even though I still have several boxes of abrasive discs.

https://www.kmstools.com/lenox-4-1-2-diamond-cut-off-wheel-150842

Cuts cooler, cleaner, safer, cheaper and you will save time not changing blades.

 

[M_George]

Just get the disks you need when you need them. Before you know it you'll have a drawer full.

 

[JoeMcGov]

Always where eye protection. Hand protection. Arm protection. These things are HIGH torque. It can get away from you in a flash with bad results. Being very cautious.

Any Diablo branded disc is good. They quality and life are great. But usually carry a price premium.

Otherwise a good side angle grinder is an excellent addition to ones tool stable.

 

[M_George]

For starters get a couple flap disks, thin cut off disks, and a thick grinding dist.
And as JoeMcGov said where gloves and safety glasses. I often use a face shield as well.

 

[thebeekeeper1]

And in the blink of an eye . . .

 

[tarmy]

For starters get a couple flap disks, thin cut off disks, and a thick grinding dist.
And as JoeMcGov said where gloves and safety glasses. I often use a face shield as well.

This...all of it.

The amount of things that come off the surface can do a lot of damage...wear a good face shield.

Get a good fire extinguisher too...sparks fly onto everything...

 

[SK-Mike]

Wow! Thanks for the heads up on the safety precautions. Will be sure to always wear gloves, eye protection, and Now that I've seen that photo, will wear my Safety shield.

Thanks for the tips on blades also.

When it comes to flap discs. Are these good for sharpening lawn blades?

 

[tarmy]

Wow! Thanks for the heads up on the safety precautions. Will be sure to always wear gloves, eye protection, and Now that I've seen that photo, will wear my Safety shield.

Thanks for the tips on blades also.

When it comes to flap discs. Are these good for sharpening lawn blades?

Most of the “grinding” that I do is with flap discs...damn near all of it.

 

[PassnThru]

Two questions:
1 - how deep are you cutting?
2 - do you have an air compressor?

I have an angle grinder but I use my air powered right angle die grinder for all but the hardest and repetitive tasks. If you are cutting metal occasionally and it's just angle - then look at a die grinder.

 

[PR1Gneon]

Never take the guard off.
Dont use cheap wheels and should be rated for higher rpms than the grinder.
Always hold the grinder with 2 hands.
Use the 12-3 area of your wheels.
Grind with the sparks flying away from you.
Always use a faceshield and gloves

I never use anything thinner than .045 for cutting.

The DeWalt High Performace wheels last long.

Sent from my SM-J337A using Tapatalk

 

[Dieselhammer]

I'll probably be the ginger step child in this thread for this comment, but i tend to like air grinders more like the blue point AT415B. I almost always have an air hose out anyways and when you're doing tough jobs that strain the grinder an air grinder only gets cooler and wont let the magic smoke out of the motor...

 

[tym]

Holy ****...

For real. And that is a lesson why we should all wear safety glasses.

I have one of the Bosch 4.5" corded angle grinders with paddle switch, which I use with the wheel guard and side handle. Question: the manual shows an optional hand shield for the side handle, which I'd like to get, but can't seem to find anywhere. Does anyone know where to get it?

 

[BarryWells]

I'll toss this out there. For cutoff discs by Metabo original slicers. I use maybe 20 a month.....for years

 

[FishingMan]

Get yourself a Uvex Bionic face shield and wear it every time you cut.

 

[bassbone52]

Wow! Thanks for the heads up on the safety precautions. Will be sure to always wear gloves, eye protection, and Now that I've seen that photo, will wear my Safety shield.

Thanks for the tips on blades also.

When it comes to flap discs. Are these good for sharpening lawn blades?

Flap discs are the **** for mower blades. I use 80 grit

 

[SK-Mike]

Another question I have. The Makita Angle Grinder came with 2 disc, one thin cut off, and one grinding disc, both are 5" size.

Most of the flap discs I am finding online are 4.5" size. Will the 4.5" size work on my particular tool? (Makita XAG11Z)

Thanks for all the tips and advice.

 

[bassbone52]

Another question I have. The Makita Angle Grinder came with 2 disc, one thin cut off, and one grinding disc, both are 5" size.

Most of the flap discs I am finding online are 4.5" size. Will the 4.5" size work on my particular tool? (Makita XAG11Z)

Thanks for all the tips and advice.

Works fine on my Makita. Bought 10 flap discs off Amazon for less than $20.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Two questions:
1 - how deep are you cutting?
2 - do you have an air compressor?

I have an angle grinder but I use my air powered right angle die grinder for all but the hardest and repetitive tasks. If you are cutting metal occasionally and it's just angle - then look at a die grinder.

I'll probably be the ginger step child in this thread for this comment, but i tend to like air grinders more like the blue point AT415B. I almost always have an air hose out anyways and when you're doing tough jobs that strain the grinder an air grinder only gets cooler and wont let the magic smoke out of the motor...

When I think portability, I think 80 gallon air compressor.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I generally have DeWalt cut off wheels on hand....air cut off, 4.5" grinder and chopsaw.


Edit: I stand corrected, my air cut off discs are not DeWalt.

 

[redwrench60]

Go grab the spindle nut spanner wrench that came with the grinder and throw it in the trash. You don’t need it. If you never install with the spanner then you’ll never need the spanner to remove. If your abrasive wheels are threaded just hit the spindle lock button and spin em on hand tight. If your abrasives aren’t threaded just hit the spindle lock button, put the spindle nut on finger tight and snug the wheel down by hand. It can’t come loose, the spindle spins and loads in the tightening direction. To remove just hit the button and with a gloved hand palm smack the wheel in the loosen direction. (You are wearing heavy gloves right?)

You’re life will be better not being a slave to that easily lost wrench.

Edit: hey don’t forget ALWAYS pop out the battery or unplug grinder before wheel changes.

 

[Bacon!]

When it comes to flap discs. Are these good for sharpening lawn blades?

Will they sharpen a blade? Yes. "Good for"? Not really unless you can't hold your angle grinder steady enough using a normal metal grinding disc, which could be true due to the operator using a grinder that's too heavy for them or an improper angle.

Flap discs can't get them as sharp and take longer, but in this lower removal rate there is also less chance of an inexperienced operator putting a gouge in the blade.

Flap discs are still useful on mower blades to blast away dried grass and rust, though an angle grinder wire brush will do that well too. I usually use a knotted cup brush on my angle grinder for this.

I find the flap wheels most cost effective for sanding softer surfaces, but not wood unless it's an edge-flap design so you're going with the wood grain.

 

[lis2323]

Will they sharpen a blade? Yes. "Good for"? Not really unless you can't hold your angle grinder steady enough using a normal metal grinding disc, which could be true due to the operator using a grinder that's too heavy for them or an improper angle.

Flap discs can't get them as sharp and take longer, but in this lower removal rate there is also less chance of an inexperienced operator putting a gouge in the blade.

Flap discs are still useful on mower blades to blast away dried grass and rust, though an angle grinder wire brush will do that well too. I usually use a knotted cup brush on my angle grinder for this.

I find the flap wheels most cost effective for sanding softer surfaces, but not wood unless it's an edge-flap design so you're going with the wood grain.

The biggest mistake people make is clamping their mower blade in the vise and grinding to a nice sharp edge with a hand held angle grinder. This is actually the worst thing you can do.

This newly sharpened blade will immediately lose its edge in use and rapidly get duller.

Blades require a “hollow” or concave profile to maintain a proper cutting edge. No matter how steady you think you are you are in effect creating a CONVEX profile without the use of a jig.




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[Bacon!]

The biggest mistake people make is clamping their mower blade in the vise and grinding to a nice sharp edge with a hand held angle grinder. This is actually the worst thing you can do.

This newly sharpened blade will immediately lose its edge in use and rapidly get duller.

Blades require a “hollow” or concave profile to maintain a proper cutting edge. No matter how steady you think you are you are in effect creating a CONVEX profile without the use of a jig.

Hard to believe that you're doubly backwards on this.

1) Convex blade profiles take longer to lose their edge and get duller much slower. Problem is, they were never as sharp (well cutting) in the first place.

2) A grinder with a round wheel inherently creates a concave profile. You're doing something terribly wrong if a metal grinding wheel makes a convex profile against a blade edge, possibly trying to take off too little material at a time and too many passes at different angles?

At the same time you don't want it too concave or it'll get dings too easily as well as rapid dulling. The slightly concave, near flat grind from an angle grinder wheel works well for me, a reasonable trade off between new cutting performance, ding resistance, and dulling. It has worked well on my present blades which I've used over 20 years (along with a 2nd set to swap in, already sharpened, when I service the deck).

If you need a jig, you need one. I don't. No blade sharpness problem. You're just lacking proper technique. I'd imagine there are youtube videos out there but if you're already invested in a flap wheel and jig and get acceptable results, you might as well stick with what you know... just as I will.

 

[ChrisLS8]

For grinding get Diablo, for cutoff get Diablo or Metalmax. I got absolutely fed up with even high end abrasive wheels lasting a really short time cutting steel and or shattering off

 

[tonyprovo723]

1- For a corded grinder, tape the spanner to the plug. You know where it is and must un plug it to work on the wheel.
2- Pull the battery before you change the wheel if cordeless.
3- Make sure the wheel stopped spinning before you put it down. It will spin right off a work bench onto your lap.
4- Did you know they make different guards? Type #1 is the more typical open face guard for grinding. Type #27 has half the face covered for the cutting wheels. Safer but more cumbersome. There is likely more types, but those are the only ones I noticed.

Different wheels are for different materials besides different applications. The Lenox one suggested is awesome for ferrous / steel. For soft aluminum, it is just about disposable.

Enjoy the new tool.

Sent from my SM-G965U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[SK-Mike]

One last grinder newbie question, pardon my ignorance.

I see some Discs/wheels listed as type 29 & some type 27. What does that refer to? Just want to make sure I order the correct wheel & discs that fit my tool before I place an order.

Again sorry for all the pesky questions. Thanks for all the advice.