Have Angle Grinder - Still Need Cutoff Tool?

[pgtr]

I have a Makita N9514B 4" angle grinder. It only turns 6,000 RPM which seems low compared to the specs I see for cutoff tools. Adequate? Or should I still get say a 3" cutoff tool (around $25 from Northern, etc.)?

(I do have an air powered cutoff tool but it consumes a lot of air and I'm really starting to lean towards getting rid of my few air tools (impact, ratchet and cutoff) as I already have electric versions of them all and haven't used any of them in years. Unless someone has a strong reason for keeping duplicate air tools in drawers that I never use... )

thanks

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

Air cutoff tools are useful for tight areas like cutting a line or an exhaust flange bolt. I don’t use them frequently but when I do it’s because nothing else will fit. I wouldn’t buy it and expect to use it much. It’s sorta an oh **** tool.

 

[sberry]

If you don't need it you don't need it but I wouldn't bother with most 25$ tools, about 35 today on some and 60 and 80 gets the generic semi branded heavy duty tool.

 

[American Locomotive]

6,000 RPM is super slow for a 4" angle grinder. Most 4.5" angle grinders turn around 10,000-11,000 RPM these days.

 

[dnschmidt]

Buy an electric die grinder. I have four Milwaukee versions of this tool. Two corded and one cordless. They have long necks which makes them far easier to get into tight places and puts the spinning wheel further away from you. You can also use them with carbide burrs and sanding rolls.

 

[neophyte]

With cut-off wheels, anything over 2” is supposed to be used with a cutting guard in case the cutting wheel shatters.
Cut-off tools have the proper guards, or at least they should.
Angle grinders sometimes have cut-off wheel guards, although for other angle grinders you need to purchase the cutting wheel guards separately.
Die grinders routinely don’t have cut off guards.
Metabo makes one or two models of cut-off guards for some of their electric die grinders, and they probably fit the cordless ones as well, but I’ve never actually found a place that lists the guards in stock.

 

[pi_guy]

I have a cutoff tool. But find an 90 die grinder with a mandrel and a cutoff wheel mounted works best. The guard was always in the way and you could use smaller wheels for harder to access places.