best cut off wheels

[nismomans13]

So i've been tearing out a lot of rust on the project car lately. And I have cheap harbor freight 3" cut off wheels for my air powered cut off tool. They work, but not as good as I'd like. I have Sait Slicers that i use on my angle grinder when the room permits and their amazing, but for tight areas I have to use smaller tools.

So what wheels do you all recommend? I thought about picking up a body saw too as it looked like I might be able to get cleaner cuts and it would be a bit more maneuverable.

 

[Major Ramifications]

Our customers have given me many good reviews of the Vermont American and Bosch wheels that we carry. They like the thinner ones.

 

[Monte]

Norton Norzon or Tyrolit brand

 

[DiStOrTiOn]

I like the Hilti ones myself, cost about 3 bucks each.

 

[87ELC2]

I like the Hilti ones myself, cost about 3 bucks each.

I've had good results with Hilti too.

 

[voidifused]

Walter mini cuts are all i use, bit on the $$ side but they last and do quite the job.

http://www.walter.com/walter_int/servlet/Home

 

[BillK]

I have had the best luck with 3M ... they have outlasted everything else we have tried at my shop.

 

[chad s]

Maybe 8-9 months ago a rep from a company called Smith & Arrow sent several of us packs of their cut of wheels to try. I must say, I am very impressed with them!

I was a loyal user of German made Pferd cut off wheels. I have tried them all. The Pferd are not the cheapest, but with as long as they last, they are a better value than the nortons, dewalts, sait, etc that just dont last long. Pferd is a very high end abrasive line that you will only find at welding and industrial supply companies.

I found the S&A cut offs to be almost as long lasting as Pferd .045 discs, but the S&A are .035. I have used Pferd .035 discs as well, and they have less of a life than the pferd .045 and the S&A .035.

Also, S&A has .035 3" cut off wheels for air cut off tools. I have yet to find another .035 thick 3" cut off wheel.

For sheetmetal work, the very thin kerf that an .035" disc makes is a bid advantage.

When my supply of Smith & Arrow wheels runs out, I will definitely be ordering more.


*** I do not work for S&A, I was just one of the recipients of a test sample. If I didnt like them, Id post that too, but I cant deny how good they are!****

 

[chad s]

Walter mini cuts are all i use, bit on the $$ side but they last and do quite the job.

http://www.walter.com/walter_int/servlet/Home

I use walter flap wheels and grinding stones (the flex ones, awesome!). My local welding supply doesnt stock their cut off discs, but Im sure they are top notch. Walter is another German company like Pferd, You can pretty much count on anything they sell to be top notch!

I have had the best luck with 3M ... they have outlasted everything else we have tried at my shop.

The 3M green corps wheels are extremely long lasting. But for the 3" ones, they are very thick. Im sure that has something to do with their longevity, but for the work I do, I'd rather replace a thinner disc more often.

 

[Uncle Buck]

It has been a few years since I used them much, but I seem to recall the 3M wheels lasting the best for me too.

 

[kartracer55]

I just use nortons. Cheap and plentiful!

 

[nismomans13]

wow, nice, thanks for the replies guys. I'm going to pick up a few of the ones named here and see which i like the best. I found some nice Metabo Slicers that fit my cut off tool too so i'll give them a try, we use metabo on the job site all the timer and i'm more than impressed with their products.

 

[ImportTuner]

I have the 3M Green and the Metabo; the Metabo seems to cut through everything easily ...

 

[chad s]

I just use nortons. Cheap and plentiful!

A $1.45 home depot norton lasts about a fifth of the time that a $2.50 Pferd lasts. Both are the same thickness. Which is the better value?

I also find that the Pferd cuts better, faster, and cleaner.

 

[Spookrider]

3M Green Core is what I use at work but, not alot. But, the few time I have used it it seems to do the job. I got mine off of E-Bay for good price.

 

[SteveU]

I also have used the Smith & Arrow 3" cut off wheels & like them a lot. I have cut 8' of 22 gauge sheet metal with one disc in a Dynabrade long neck cut off tool.

 

[Brad54]

I just cut a couple patch panels for the floor in my '62 Suburban. I started the project with quality 3M wheels in my pneumatic cut-off wheel. Half way through the project, I had to swap wheels, and went with the Lawson wheels I picked up from the Lawson guy at my swap meet.
Holy **** what a difference!!! They had a MUCH thinner cut, probably half the thickness of the 3M. They also cut much faster, and they lasted longer.
I'm a huge fan, and won't go back.

Luckily, my Lawson guy is a regular at my swap meet, so I'll be able to stock up. They're worth calling around until you find a place you can get them.

-Brad

 

[kartracer55]

A $1.45 home depot norton lasts about a fifth of the time that a $2.50 Pferd lasts. Both are the same thickness. Which is the better value?

I also find that the Pferd cuts better, faster, and cleaner.

Do use the norton 36 or 60 grit wheels?

And if you feel so strongly, I'll venture out of my comfort zone. Where can I buy a small pack of pferds?

 

[-B-]

I use Norton's for cutting off locks they seem to last quite long. ( 2 NYC locks, 2 standard kyrpto locks and usually a couple of pad locks)

 

[nissan_crawler]

I'll put up another vote for Smith & Arrow.

 

[Stephenw]

I have used Forney brand for many years. They were what were available in the welding section of the True Value Hardware that used to be close to my house. I noticed they are made in Taiwan. The Nortons they sell at Home Depot are made in China.

 

[vc-onthepc]

3m green cuttting wheels and as for air saw .. one word of advice keep the allen screws tight if they loosen stop and retighten them . they will ruin the tool by wearing out the threads if left loose while sawing .... ask me how i know "twice" ....thanks dad

 

[FNFS2000]

Metabo, in commercial construction Metabo is like a trade name for cut of grinders. "go get me the metabo" like "go get me a kleenex"