Exploding Cut-off wheels

[SSGTWC]

As of lately the cut-off wheels I've been using, have been exploding on me. This has been happening after just a couple of cuts. I've been using cut-off wheels in my 4 1/2" grinder for years, and up until recently, I've never had one explode on me. Luckily, I've had the proper PPE on every time.

I can't think of anything I'm doing different when tightening down on the wheels. The only thing different is going from the DEWALT cut-off wheels, to brands bought from Linweld, and HomeDepot. The DEWALT ones, I never had a problem with, but the others, they just give up the ghost.

Anybody else have this problem? Or am I missing something?

 

[35mastr]

Buy good quality wheels and this will not happen.

 

[FoMoCoPower]

Start buying the 3m Green Corps...and it wont happen.

 

[jmauld]

Be sure to send a note to linweld and home depot and let them know about this.

 

[Joe69]

Yup, sounds like inferior wheels.

Joe

 

[Diesel_Crawler]

Yup, sounds like inferior wheels.

Joe

+1

Toss them all get 3M or Walter cut wheels. They bought us an off brand for the shop and I have a scare on my cheek because of it.

 

[Merkava_4]

Get real cut-off wheels!! Get 3M, Norton, or SAIT.

 

[StumpXJ]

Norton work really well for me, and I get em from Home Depot... so?

~ James

 

[sickboi55]

norton here as well

 

[OccupantRJ]

Interesting. I am using HF cutoff wheels in my home shop and have had no problems with them. I bought 80 of them when they were on sale, and my son and I used them heavily through the summer. Is the rpm rating of the cutoff wheels you have being exceeded?

 

[SSGTWC]

Interesting. I am using HF cutoff wheels in my home shop and have had no problems with them. I bought 80 of them when they were on sale, and my son and I used them heavily through the summer. Is the rpm rating of the cutoff wheels you have being exceeded?

I don't know.....hmm

Of course that maybe the case. I'll get another DEWALT one, try it and report back.

 

[Art From De Leon]

Interesting. I am using HF cutoff wheels in my home shop and have had no problems with them. I bought 80 of them when they were on sale, and my son and I used them heavily through the summer. Is the rpm rating of the cutoff wheels you have being exceeded?

And the next one out of the box MAY fail catstrophically, the chicoms have NO concept of quality control, and find it almost impossible to repeat the manufacturing process to ensure that any two products are the same.

When your life depends on something, avoid chicrap at all costs.

 

[oldwino]

I have been using HF cutoff wheels for some time now and never a problem...I do wear full PPE and if one is dropped or bumped, out it goes (goes the same with High cost wheels also) as anything spinning 10,000rpm this close to my person gets my full respect.
As a side note, stopped at local HD to pick up a couple of grinding wheels and Norton's are now also made in China

 

[TireTracks]

I have been using HF cutoff wheels for some time now and never a problem...I do wear full PPE and if one is dropped or bumped, out it goes (goes the same with High cost wheels also) as anything spinning 10,000rpm this close to my person gets my full respect.
As a side note, stopped at local HD to pick up a couple of grinding wheels and Norton's are now also made in China

Probably in the same factory as the Harbor freight ones.

 

[StumpXJ]

I have used the harbor freight ones, but they dont last for ****. The thin cut offs from HF last a 1/3 of the time the Nortons do in my opinion. I have had all brands fly apart, its just the nature of the beast.

 

[scooby074]

Get yourself some decent wheels.

Walter is #1
Flexovit #2
Sait #3
Norton #4

 

[SSGTWC]

Was out in the shop today cleaning things up, and found another wheel I haven't used. Both of the wheels, the ones bought from Linweld and Home Depot, are Norton brands.

So this leads me to think I'm doing something wrong when tightening these down. What is everyone's technique?

 

[scooby074]

Was out in the shop today cleaning things up, and found another wheel I haven't used. Both of the wheels, the ones bought from Linweld and Home Depot, are Norton brands.

So this leads me to think I'm doing something wrong when tightening these down. What is everyone's technique?

what kind of backer flange are you using?
if its cupped then you need the proper cupped wheel type 27.

if your wheels are flat type 1 then you either have to use a flat backer or tighten very carefully.

Types can be seen here http://www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/rules/machinesafety/HTML/HT2-MS.htm#Type27Wheel

If you use a cupped backer with a flat disk and overtighten you can fracture the disk at the permiter of the cupped washer.

I usually just hand tighten the disk. that way you wont overtighten. I only use the wrench to loosen the disk.

 

[Kev442]

Might be leaning on them too hard lately also. Let the wheel do the work. I haven't had any explode on me, but I had a couple get really ragged, probably would have exploded if I hadn't let up on them a bit.

 

[fatboy99]

What method dose every one use to mount the cutoff wheel's to an angle grinder ? At present i use the backing plate for the grinding wheel and the nut but dont tighten the nut all the way ive had problem's with the off brand wheel's blowing appart but not the dewalt wheel's

 

[autobody]

Interesting. I am using HF cutoff wheels in my home shop and have had no problems with them. I bought 80 of them when they were on sale, and my son and I used them heavily through the summer. Is the rpm rating of the cutoff wheels you have being exceeded?

I have gone through many HF wheels, made in russia, so they must be good. I use them over the 3m greens that my boss buys. I have never had a problem with one, and they are a good price.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Interesting. I am using HF cutoff wheels in my home shop and have had no problems with them. I bought 80 of them when they were on sale, and my son and I used them heavily through the summer. Is the rpm rating of the cutoff wheels you have being exceeded?

I had two HF chopsaw wheels explode on spinup and bury themselves in the sheetrock. I packed all the abrasives up and took them back, not worth it.

 

[TireTracks]

I had two HF chopsaw wheels explode on spinup and bury themselves in the sheetrock. I packed all the abrasives up and took them back, not worth it.

I would have package my pants up with them. Thats scary.

 

[stricht8]

HF wheels are the way to go. A real sure thing - if you want them exploding in your face.

 

[speed bump]

I generally buy Flexovit anymore, I have never had a problem with the HF stuff though.

 

[TA^Guy]

I can't say I've ever had one exploded on me. I've used cheap ones in the past and they just seem to wear faster. I've never used DeWalt cutoff wheels but I do love DeWalt saw blades.

 

[SSGTWC]

Well after hearing others, and what I know now, I have concluded that I'm a *******! In my ignorance, I thought using the cups that come with the 4 1/2" that I use, was suppose to be used. No excuse on my part, that I should have used common sense. None! Today I put a wide 5/8" washer in place of the cup, made a bunch of cuts. No exploding wheels were experienced. Thanks to all who showed me the error of my ways.

 

[scooby074]

Well after hearing others, and what I know now, I have concluded that I'm a *******! In my ignorance, I thought using the cups that come with the 4 1/2" that I use, was suppose to be used. No excuse on my part, that I should have used common sense. None! Today I put a wide 5/8" washer in place of the cup, made a bunch of cuts. No exploding wheels were experienced. Thanks to all who showed me the error of my ways.

Glad you got it figured

 

[Mike F]

I am picking up a Metabo W8-115 4 1/2" grinder, but was wondering about Metabo's wheels. Nobody seems to mention them, but their grinders get rave reviews. It may be too much to ask of a manufacturer to be good at all things, but I would figure they would source and rebrand abrasives if it benefitted them. I am primarily concerned with a diamond cutting wheel and wheels for masonary grinding at this point for a project that needs completing right away. I am sure metal cutoff and grinding wheels will be needed in the future so if anyone has comments on those, please chime in.

 

[WVU Tuba Dale]

I have some Metabo Slicer 6" cutoff wheels (box of 50), and I have gone through 8 or 9 of them. They work well, and I have only had one that started wearing a bit uneven (probably operator error), and it got tossed asap. Thumbs up from me.

 

[Professur]

I usually use the best, but I bought a 10 pack of 4.5" cut off disks at a local travelling chi-com tool show (Kismet). Well, while cutting out some rotten floor inside a pickup cab, a fresh disk let go, making me very glad I hadn't cheaped out on my face mask. Needless to say, the lot now decorates the bottom of the missus' flower pots.

 

[arkangel06]

Sounds like your buying **** wheels, Ive only had this happen to me once using a ''powerfist'' brand wheel.