Multiple angle grinders, what to use on each one"

[toolferone]

I am a 30 plus yr woodworking who is getting into welding. In my woodworking I delegate different routers (11 total) with different bits and leave it set up that way. I see people doing that same kind of thing with 4-1/2" angle grinders. I am up to 5 now with a really great open box buy on 2 DeWalt grinders. Here is how I have them set up right now.

1. cut-off disc (new DeWalt)
2. heavy grinding disc (new DeWalt)
3. flat flap disc (old B&D industrial)
4. cup wire wheel (old Makita with 10mm shaft and adaptor)
5. ? (cheap Ryobi)

I am open to suggestions. How do you have yours set up?

 

[tarmy]

You will probably find the the flap disc gets used the most. I have two different types of flap discs set up on mine. I have 5 grinders as well. Your selection will work nice.

 

[sberry]

I agree that is good but I use 1/4 grinding wheel first and wire wheel second. I can almost sand with the wheel. In fact am so used to using it that I rarely use a bench grinder and can sharpen a drill bit with it if I got to. The cut off wheel would be next and simply just never really leaned on flaps, nothing wrong with them but squaring cuts, removing old weld and slag, where I want to really grind right thru it. Since you are using the electric the flap would replace the sander I use in its place.

 

[toolferone]

I agree that is good but I use 1/4 grinding wheel first and wire wheel second. I can almost sand with the wheel. In fact am so used to using it that I rarely use a bench grinder and can sharpen a drill bit with it if I got to. The cut off wheel would be next and simply just never really leaned on flaps, nothing wrong with them but squaring cuts, removing old weld and slag, where I want to really grind right thru it. Since you are using the electric the flap would replace the sander I use in its place.

Theses were not in order of use, just a list. When you say "1/4 grinding wheel", do you mean how thick it is?

 

[sberry]

1/4x 4 1/2 While there is some debate about quality the welding jobber uses a wheel about 2$ in 25 box and some of the dollar wheels at TSC in blister packs aint bad. It shows up a little in real heavy hard work but isn't really worth messing with, so you use another dollar wheel once in a while and its been some time since I done a job where I actually ran off a couple wheels at once.
Something I like as well as variety is another one, if I am on a project have one sitting on the bench/vise.

 

[LXCam]

Theses were not in order of use, just a list. When you say "1/4 grinding wheel", do you mean how thick it is?

I can tel you I use a flap disc 50Xs to 1 then a grinding stone style. If it were me I'd have the flap disc on my best grinder.

 

[LXCam]

Hum, I'm missing a couple I need to get those back from my grand babies sperm donor, but still this is mainly what I prefer

 

[kerrynzl]

I am a 30 plus yr woodworking who is getting into welding. In my woodworking I delegate different routers (11 total) with different bits and leave it set up that way. I see people doing that same kind of thing with 4-1/2" angle grinders. I am up to 5 now with a really great open box buy on 2 DeWalt grinders. Here is how I have them set up right now.

1. cut-off disc (new DeWalt)
2. heavy grinding disc (new DeWalt)
3. flat flap disc (old B&D industrial)
4. cup wire wheel (old Makita with 10mm shaft and adaptor)
5. ? (cheap Ryobi)

I am open to suggestions. How do you have yours set up?

#4 : Cup wire wheel ........
Don't use an angle grinder or you'll be forever picking bits of wire out of your flip flops [at 10,000RPM they spin too fast and disintegrate the wire wheels]

Instead use a 2 speed sander polisher on the high speed [approx. 3400] and you'll wear the wire twists right down to nothing.

I use a Hitachi sander polisher that car painters use for polishing

 

[sberry]

I actually use air for wire wheels due to that. Its hard to throttle electrics. I like that right angle for cut off and wire. I use electric for heavy wheels. Its just a bit more convenient and so much cheaper to run. I do have a 5 inch sander but really like the 7 best.

 

[ndnchf]

I have 5 set up as:

Grinding disc
Twisted wire cup
Flap wheel
Polycarbide stripping wheel
Cut off wheel

 

[crewchief888]

in the garage i have 4 4 1/2" electric grinders

cut off disk
grinding wheel
wire wheel
flap disk or sanding disk

in my service truck

4 1/2" cordless grinder
cut off disk ( grinding wheel and flap disk)
air grinder
wire wheel

 

[dr_clyde]

I typically keep 2 grinders ready to go. I keep a 5" 36 grit ceramic sanding disc on one grinder, and a cutoff wheel on another.

If I had to have 5 set up, I'd have a cutoff wheel, sanding disc, pipeliner hard disc, wire wheel and a flap wheel.

 

[NUTTSGT]

How about a 40 or 60 grit flap disc and a second one with 80 grit ?


I, myself, only have two. One with a cut off disc and second with a flap disc. I swap out a grinding stone occasionally. If I buy a third grinder, that's what will stay in it.

 

[tarbellb]

Biggest concern is what gets variable speed (VS) action-

6" fiber resin pad- VS
120 grit flap- VS
60 grit flap
.035" cut-off disc
4" wire cup - VS

 

[AMCguy]

Ive got five.

7'' Makita with depressed centre grinding wheel.
5'' Makita with depressed centre grinding wheel.
5'' Makita with various grit sanding disks.
5'' Makita with metal prep disk.
5'' Makita with thin "zip" cut off wheel.

 

[AMCguy]

I might add, the best thing I ever did was cut the power cords off.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

How about a 40 or 60 grit flap disc and a second one with 80 grit ?


I, myself, only have two. One with a cut off disc and second with a flap disc. I swap out a grinding stone occasionally. If I buy a third grinder, that's what will stay in it.

I doubt you'll notice a difference in those 2 grits. I use 40 grit for steel. 120 didn't do anything for me just makes unnecessary heat. I do have a an 80 wheel for aluminum, but that's just to prevent cross contamination. I'd stick with 40s. I get good life out of benchmarks type 29 in my plasma cutting shop.

What might be handy for a lot of you fellas is non woven stripper discs. I buy benchmarks, they strip paint, rust and millscale.

 

[bigcreek]

I'm not exactly sure on the number but I have somewhere around 20 grinders. I have several 4.5"ers with various flap discs on them of different grits. Another 4.5" grinder with a grinding wheel. Actually a couple of those located in different ends of the shop. A 4.5" with a cut off wheel. A 7" with a cutoff wheel. A 9" with a grinding stone. A 9" with a grinding wheel. A couple 9" ers with wire wheels. A 4.5" with a heavy wire wheel. A 4.5" with a light wire wheel. A couple 6" grinders with heavy wire wheels. A 7" with a grinding wheel. I know there are a couple others but cant think of what they have on them. Here are a few of them in the picture.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I doubt you'll notice a difference in those 2 grits. I use 40 grit for steel. 120 didn't do anything for me just makes unnecessary heat. I do have a an 80 wheel for aluminum, but that's just to prevent cross contamination. I'd stick with 40s. I get good life out of benchmarks type 29 in my plasma cutting shop.

What might be handy for a lot of you fellas is non woven stripper discs. I buy benchmarks, they strip paint, rust and millscale.

Maybe, maybe not. We're not with the OP nor do we know what exactly he is doing with them and what he is working on. All we can do is offer suggestions and hopefully lead him in the right direction for something that works for him.

 

[toolferone]

Lots of help here and its cool to hear what works for you. Had not thought about VS. I guess I need another grinder, like I need a excuse .

 

[Billythekid1]

I might add, the best thing I ever did was cut the power cords off.

The reason this website is great I would have never thought of cutting the cords shorter

 

[velillen01]

I have three myself. All 4 1/2" dewalts. One has a flap disc on it pretty much all the time (40 grit). One of the others generally has a cut off disc on it. And the third is the one that switches around between a grinding disc, wire cup, or other attachment.

Its definitely nice having three. Two would be fine though. I tend to only use two at a time and honestly switching out discs only takes a minute.

 

[tarbellb]

Lots of help here and its cool to hear what works for you. Had not thought about VS. I guess I need another grinder, like I need a excuse .

This is where grinders get expensive unfortunately. Adding variable speed will double or triple the price of what its non VS counterpart would cost.

BUT.... its so worth it if you do any kind of blending/paint prep/high detail work. I kept seeing some of the guys I follow on Insta who do amazing work and they all used VS Matebos, so I finally sacked up and bought one.

$175 later I would do it again, in fact thinking about adding another to my arsenal. The control you get when spinning at 3000k vs 12000 is so nice.

One of my corners after miter, mig, blend, powder.

 

[ndnchf]

Having multiple grinders is really nice, so is having a place to store and use them. My two car garage is pretty crowded, so I do most of my grinding out in the driveway. To make this easier, I built this sturdy roll out work table with a rack that holds 4 of my grinders. It also has a permanently mounted outlet box with a 25' cord. I have a vise mounted on a heavy brake disc I can set on it when I need to hold something. Overall a very handy set up.

 

[crewchief888]

speaking of storage for multiple grinders...

grinders, and supplies are all in the red cabinet hanging on the wall....

 

[texasranger]

DeWalt 5" 13 amp rat tail with 40 grit 4.5" flap wheel, and a Makita 4.5" 7 amp with cut off wheel. This covers most of my needs. The DeWalt gets double duty running grinding wheels, but a flap wheel remains installed 90% of the time.

 

[toolferone]

Having multiple grinders is really nice, so is having a place to store and use them. I built this sturdy roll out work table with a rack that hoh.

I was thinking of making a rack like that on the side of my welding table also.

 

[sberry]

The price on a lot of this has dropped dramatically over the years, the quality on cheaper models has went up and it makes more sense than ever to buy additional units simply for convenience. Changing tooling isn't that big a deal for one off or when you need to but if a guy is busy with it then it gets old fast.
I have 3 or 4 of the same type in air just due to this. If I was busy again would add another yet.

 

[sberry]

Air helps with the cord mess and I tend to like it better for the specialty tools. They get tossed under the vise bench.

 

[ndnchf]

The price on a lot of this has dropped dramatically over the years, the quality on cheaper models has went up and it makes more sense than ever to buy additional units simply for convenience. Changing tooling isn't that big a deal for one off or when you need to but if a guy is busy with it then it gets old fast.
I have 3 or 4 of the same type in air just due to this. If I was busy again would add another yet.

Good point on the price drop. The most recent one I got was just $10 from Harbor Freight with the coupon.

http://www.hfqpdb.com/best_coupon/4-1_2%22+ANGLE+GRINDER

Its a smaller model, only 4.3 amps. I use it with a sanding flap wheel for lighter clean up work. Heck for not much more than the cost of a burger and fries, you really can't go wrong. My others are 6 and 11 amp, they handle the heavier work just fine.

 

[sberry]

Yes, there are a lot of success stories with the 10$ grinder. There is a threshold depending on vendor at about 30 or so for something pretty decent with good power. There are more of them made all the time. Even Metabo has cheaper models now. In the rade to make some cheaper they actually made improvements. Everyone thinks the rubber cord is a step up but its not, the cheap vinyl outlasts them by a long shot and the brushes have got better especially if you factor in the cost.

 

[bigguns69]

This post got me thinking about my stash of grinders. Here is a pick oh what I have. I tape the wrench to the end of the cord so I don't have to go looking for tool when it's time to change out a wheel. I have moved away from the Milwaukee grinders cause my cords broke down after a couple years of usage and the DW are always on sale some where. If I could find an electric equivalent for the air right angle die grinder, I would get one of those in a heart beat. I like the idea of the short cord that has been posted. I have about the same amount of air tools for grinders but hate the stress on the air compressor running all the time.

 

[tarbellb]

I hand tighten 90% of my wheels... no wrenches needed.

 

[sberry]

I should try flaps on a couple things but I am so used to it that I can get an extremely sharp axe, garden hoe and mower blades with a 4 1/2 that its a habit and the way I do it. Super fast and easy using a super common tool.
The cut off wheels, the rotary files and pencil brushes seem to take a lot away from the machine shop. Its so I use so little actual machining havnt been the mile to the neighbors garage in quite a while. I have a Mygyver or fix for most of my problems and stock a few parts I just don't need to stand at a lathe. I rarely use a drill press. Its easier to flip it around in a vise or clamp to the table than to jig a lot of the time. I use pilots and quick chuck with battery drill. Cut some holes with a plasma.

 

[Richard D]

I might add, the best thing I ever did was cut the power cords off.

Why is that? Do you do a lot of walking around with the grinder, and always need an extension cord? I rarely take my grinders from the fab table/vise. Of course, there are exceptions. In fact, I have been known to put slightly longer cords on my tools so I don't need an extension, depending on the tool, usually wood tools.

 

[Warrenator]

I only have 4 grinders, all no-name, you guys are making me feel inferior. The next one will be a Makita.

Anyway, nobody mentioned the diamond blade for cutting concrete and stone. I actually use that one quite a bit. Can cut grooves in slab or block, cut bricks in half, the big use was cutting marble counter tops. Did a pretty neat job, not as good as the big water cooled diamond cutter at my local stone emporium but he charges 15 bucks a cut and takes a week to get it back.

You can get odd sized pieces of stone for nearly free and make nice flat areas on your workbench for doing "scary sharp" method of sharpening with wet/dry sandpaper. Countertop stone is almost perfectly flat and they always have cutoffs and cutouts from doing sink inserts and stuff

 

[dutchgray]

I might add, the best thing I ever did was cut the power cords off.

Thats a real nice bunch of old Makita's
I like the cords long, but most of the time I'm only using one, outside and with a extension lead.
Cheap vinyl cords are fine in a warm shop but next to no use outside in the winter, then they dont last that long at all,

 

[bczygan]

3 of the $10 HF ones.

Looks like I need some more.....

Been thinking that anyway. Thanks for the thread!

Bill

 

[tarbellb]

Thats a real nice bunch of old Makita's
I like the cords long, but most of the time I'm only using one, outside and with a extension lead.
Cheap vinyl cords are fine in a warm shop but next to no use outside in the winter, then they dont last that long at all,

Something tells me a cold kinked up cord DOES NOT slow sberry down.

 

[Chicken]

I've got 4 4 1/2".

-cut off wheel
-coarse flap disc [36 grit]
-fine flap disc [120 grit] usually I keep a worn one here for 'finishing work'. use the coarse to shape and then this to smooth.
-wire wheel [stiff disc type, rust/paint removal]

best thing I did was get enough grinders to not have to change discs all day..I like metal fab as a hobbyist. The one thing I need it s better power supply to keep them all plugged in and mobile. My space is small for a nice welding table.