flap wheels are awesome

[PoorOwner]

I was trying to grind an old bead to weld again and the grinding stone on my angle grinder was not getting all the rust out.

I put in a black and decker alum. oxide flap wheel I got from walmart, put on my HF angle grinder and it made the whole thing shines!.

And the HF grinder runs quite nice to my surprise. It was $19. It seems to bog a bit so having this spare to run the flap wheel is just perfect

 

[wilbilt]

I like flap discs. They excel at many things.

I do not feel the same way about HF angle grinders, however.

 

[eschoendorff]

I agree with everything Wil said, except my stoopid HF grinders won't die.

 

[Cebby]

Having an extra grinder to be flap b***h is key. I have a nice light Makita that I use (great for one handed use). I bought one of the Ridgid rebranded Metabos, but that thing is a tank. Gonna have to try a HF one of these days...

 

[kyoung]

I run a lawn/landscape business as a side job and am constantly sharpening mower blades. I have found that flap wheels work great and don't wear down the blades as fast as a grinding wheel.

As a side note, I have several angle grinders and keep different kinds of attachments on each one... like grinding wheels, flap disk, wire wheels, cut-off disks. Having several grinders keep me from having to change attachments when a different one is needed.

I use these grinders from Northern Tool and they last and last and last...

They are $9.99 each with FREE SHIPPING!!!!
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200319255_200319255

 

[PoorOwner]

Wow $9.99 I feel ripped having the HF one now.

Seriously it looks so much like the HF one. I know northern basically sell some of the same stuff, i bought some northern stuff before and the parts diagram was 100% identical

 

[jimvannoy]

Another good thing to use on welds are Roloc disks on a air angle grinder. I use 36 grit and it knocks down welds quick.

 

[Mandres]

I run a lawn/landscape business as a side job and am constantly sharpening mower blades. I have found that flap wheels work great and don't wear down the blades as fast as a grinding wheel.

As a side note, I have several angle grinders and keep different kinds of attachments on each one... like grinding wheels, flap disk, wire wheels, cut-off disks. Having several grinders keep me from having to change attachments when a different one is needed.

I use these grinders from Northern Tool and they last and last and last...

They are $9.99 each with FREE SHIPPING!!!!
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200319255_200319255

Thanks for the tip. Do you use an angle grinder or a bench grinder for mower blades? What kind of flap wheels do you use? I have a set of blades here that need sharpening.

 

[wilbilt]

Wow $9.99 I feel ripped having the HF one now.

No kidding. The first HF one I bought had no bearing in the head, just a piece of powdered metal machined to fit in the space.

I took it back and got a replacement. That one lasted maybe two minutes before melting in my hand. I grabbed it by the cord and slung it out into the south 40, where it probably still lies.

 

[chad s]

No kidding. The first HF one I bought had no bearing in the head, just a piece of powdered metal machined to fit in the space.

I took it back and got a replacement. That one lasted maybe two minutes before melting in my hand. I grabbed it by the cord and slung it out into the south 40, where it probably still lies.

Metabo. Metabo. Metabo. Say it with me now...

 

[kyoung]

Thanks for the tip. Do you use an angle grinder or a bench grinder for mower blades? What kind of flap wheels do you use? I have a set of blades here that need sharpening.

I use this type of disc on an angle grinder.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200312769_200312769

Usually does a good job of sharpening the blades if they are not in too bad of shape. If the blades are really dull or have been nicked bad by hitting something then I'll take a grinder to them first and then finish with the flap disc.

 

[migman2000]

For weld grinding flap discs are the best. I found a great site online which sells the longest lasting discs I have used for $1.72 each.

www.lehighvalleyabrasives.com

Good Luck.