Grinding disk grit?

[2CRUZ]

let me start by saying I'm not a very good welder and I usually have to do a bit of grinding afterwards. Do grinding disk come in grits? It seems like it takes me forever to grind the welds. It seems like they are harder than the metal I'm welding. If so what is the best disk to use?

 

[Thumper68]

For cleaning up welds I have switched to flap disks and they come in many grits, A 60 grit seems to give the best of both material removal and finish for most stuff, if I want a finer finish I will go to a 80 then 100 grit.

For lots of material removal I use a 36 grit.

The only thing that I use regular grinding wheels for anymore is weld prep ie bevels.

 

[matt_i]

As above the fiber-reinforced grinding disks are the most aggressive. Flap wheels do a great job of blending, their weak point is trying to use the corner or radius at the end of the wheel, as if you were trying to dig into a fillet weld.

The flap wheels do come in grits, as I recall down to 24g.

 

[Kaizen]

I use a cut off wheel on my 4 inch grinder or the little 2inch ones on my air cut off tool. I typically am doing welding on thinner metals like body panels where I can't have any heat buildup. flap wheels and the like do that to some degree.
with a cut off wheel I can just cut the weld boogers. I hold it across the weld panels at 90 degrees or 45 degrees aprox. balance my hand on something and then make pushing motions along the weld. works in at least half if not 1/3 the time. I did remove the guard to see better so full face shield and protection is needed. I use the smaller air one to get in tight areas or on delicate jobs.

 

[bdbecker]

You might want to take a look at aluminum oxide or ceramic fiber backed sanding discs that use a backing pad, usually made of some type of plastic. There are lots of options for grits and types available. I rarely use a hard wheel for anything anymore since I got on to discs.

Norton is available at Menards and they make a solid product at a good price point. I've also had good luck with Diablo brand abrasives from Home Depot for other tasks, but have not tried their discs for metal work yet. The baddest of the bad is the 3M Cubitron II - you will be amazed at how fast that disc will knock down material and how long it will last. They are pricey and you'll probably have to get them online or through a weld supply company - maybe play around with Nortons to see what you like first, and then try out the Cubitron's.

 

[Cyberbear]

I buy my 36 and finer grit discs on Ebay for the best price. Practice your welding technique and save the cost and time of constant grinding. Take a night class at a welding school and learn how to improve your skills. Also, learn what the best type of welder is for your application.

 

[larry_g]

Grinding disks do come in grits and they also come in hardness of the binder. You can get a hard binder disk and it will last a long time but grind slower. A soft binder will grind faster and also wear faster. Take a bit of time and go to your local welding supply. Admit your ignorance, and ask what you need. They may have manufactures literature for you. Buy a few disks of different grits and hardness to try out. Say thank you.


lg
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