flap disk brand recommendations please

[atch]

I've been using 4" and 4 1/2" flap disks of various grits from:

• Harbor Freight (cheap but not particularly good quality)

• local welding shops (good quality but pricey)

I've been looking on Amazon but there does not seem to be much selection. Nonetheless I'm tempted to order some anyway. Price can be good but don't have any way of knowing if they are **** or excellent or somewhere in between.

1. Where to you guys buy your flap disks?

2. What brand(s) do you recommend?

tia

 

[madhatter]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=458958

 

[Deerediesel]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=458958

My shop uses benchmark they are very good quality.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[recountryman]

I use Benchmark ones also.

 

[American Locomotive]

I really like the Pferd polyfan discs, especially their polyfan curve. Let's you really get in and clean up corner welders and put a nice blended radius.

 

[atch]

OK; I've ordered the 10 pack from Benchmark.

Any other suggestions?

 

[Steve_P]

The Warrior line from HF is shockingly good for the $ if they're on sale. Benchmark is also good. Sait is good as well, but more $

 

[Jack Olsen]

Freud Diablo.

 

[hefnerconstructionlc]

Pferd. Absolutely fantastic. Menards carries among others.

 

[thr3squared]

Benchmark have served me well.

I think Empire Abrasives, and Walter Surface Tech are also supposed to be good.

 

[dnschmidt]

Lehigh Valley Abrasives are without a doubt the best bang for the buck. I like ceramic but their Zirconia are fine and their aluminum oxide with stearate for aluminum are great if you're working with aluminum. If cost is no object Pferd and Walter are the best of the best.

 

[Jswain]

I use the Walter Enduro flex wheels that you can trim back. Buy a 10 pack on Amazon when they go on sale and they ended up being maybe 2x as much as the cheapest ones you can get.

Buuuuuut if you have a few bucks to spare and haven't tried using the resin fibre discs then I would highly recommend them, as a quality disc is about 1/2 or less of a quality flap disc. I've only used the I believe VSM ceramics and they are very nice, last I believe as long as a flap wheel, quick to change and very cheap, I think I got mine a 50 pack for $25 canadian ish on sale



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0717BNMNL/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Use one of these to hold it:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003O9ZT5A/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I find they cut welds just as well as a flap disc, better for rust as they are flexible enough to lean on and cover lots of surface area, and even better for delicate work because of that as well. If you have never tried one for the price, you should

 

[Ign]

I use the Walter Enduro flex wheels that you can trim back. Buy a 10 pack on Amazon when they go on sale and they ended up being maybe 2x as much as the cheapest ones you can get.

Buuuuuut if you have a few bucks to spare and haven't tried using the resin fibre discs then I would highly recommend them, as a quality disc is about 1/2 or less of a quality flap disc. I've only used the I believe VSM ceramics and they are very nice, last I believe as long as a flap wheel, quick to change and very cheap, I think I got mine a 50 pack for $25 canadian ish on sale



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0717BNMNL/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Use one of these to hold it:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003O9ZT5A/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I find they cut welds just as well as a flap disc, better for rust as they are flexible enough to lean on and cover lots of surface area, and even better for delicate work because of that as well. If you have never tried one for the price, you should

This x 1 trillion

DeWalt makes a nice heavy rubber backer for 4.5", and Cubitron discs are impressive. Ever since I learned of this setup working in a shop I haven't touched flap wheels. Most shops would go broke if they had to furnish their guys with flap wheels but resin discs are way cheaper

edit: the Walter backer linked looks promising/better because one major problem w the DeWalt is that the nut doesn't have provisions for a spanner (no holes) - I've learned to BARELY hand tighten upon install

 

[Rinspeed]

Benchmark have served me well.

I think Empire Abrasives, and Walter Surface Tech are also supposed to be good.

The Walter's are very nice but a little pricey, just like most of their other products.

 

[ecotec]

The one’s that I buy, are Norton Redheat and Freud Diablo and Demon.

I have no idea what the best ones are, though. I just buy what I can find locally.

 

[Cryptic1911]

I've liked the benchmark discs we've gotten

 

[johninct]

I have a really dumb question. I have never used a flap disk and was wondering when they are used instead of something else? Do they supersede a regular grinding disk?

 

[Jswain]

Can be used anywhere you would use a grinding disc. If you are smart about it(unlike myself) you would use a grinding disc to at least take off the sharp edges or get the weld close then finish with a flap wheel for a nice smooth finish

They are excellent to prep for welding and just as excellent at blending welds after welding

 

[gte718p]

Lehigh Valley Abrasives are without a doubt the best bang for the buck. I like ceramic but their Zirconia are fine and their aluminum oxide with stearate for aluminum are great if you're working with aluminum. If cost is no object Pferd and Walter are the best of the best.

I went with Lehigh valley on a GJ recommendation. I have been super happy with them.

 

[csp]

Any of them rated for use on stainless steel are going to last longer than those not rated for stainless. I look for this vs brand

 

[Monte]

Pferd Polifan Strong
Lukas SLTT
Eisenblätter Trimfix Hellfire

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Benchmark High Density all day long.

Lehigh is just OK. The disc is decent, but compared to buying Benchmark on Amazon, the price and speed of service are not that great.

 

[johninct]

Can be used anywhere you would use a grinding disc. If you are smart about it(unlike myself) you would use a grinding disc to at least take off the sharp edges or get the weld close then finish with a flap wheel for a nice smooth finish

They are excellent to prep for welding and just as excellent at blending welds after welding

Thanks!!!

 

[tarmy]

Sait...ovation...