Paint & rust removal with Makita angle grinder?

[txlonghorn1989]

I picked up a like new Makita 4.5" angle grinder (model #9557) last year at a garage sale. I've never used an angle grinder before buying this one. I've only used a cutoff wheel to but some cattle pen fencing. I have a Makita cordless drill with some 2.5"-4" wire wheels and brushes (both steel and brass) that I'm using to remove rust and paint from some toolboxes/cabinets. I'm not real happy with how long it's taking. I feel I could make this a much quicker job using the angle grinder with a wire wheel brush. In reading the instruction manual for the grinder, it appears this is possible. I googled wire wheel and all I see are the twisted wire wheels. I'm worried these might be too aggressive. So...finally my questions...what do people use with their angle grinders to remove rust and paint on old toolboxes/tool cabinets? Again, I'm not seeing any wire brush wheels that aren't twisted for angle grinders. If you use them what do you use and where do you buy them? Any help/guidance would be much appreciated.

 

[XJSuperman]

I use my dewalt 4.5" angle grinder more than any other tool I own. I ran a makita like yours all day every day for 3 years roughly, and they are great. Get on amazon, or go to Lowes, or MillsFleetFarm, or some other local hardware store and stock up.

Flap discs of varying grits

fiber discs of varying grits
fiber disc backing plate

knotted wire wheel
metal grinding wheels

The links are just for examples:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-Zirconia-4-5-in-80-Grit-Grinding-Wheel/1207175
You could try this, it might be less aggressive https://www.lowes.com/pd/Shopsmith-...c-4-5-in-60-Grit-Paint-Stripping-Disc/4747491

 

[arrowhead]

I've found stripping discs are very efficient removing paint and rust. They may not last as long, but they won't remove as much of the base metal as a sanding disc.

 

[Chicken]

another vote for stripping discs.

or 'coarse' wire wheel.

I have an angle grinder collection and they all are very high mileage. could be my favorite tool..

 

[Rickenbackerman]

I've spent hours behind my DeWalt grinder and have wore out 6 or 7 HF wire cup brushes - IMO they work great and I don't find them to be too aggressive on steel.

But wear thick clothing, gloves and safety glasses because they WILL toss wires out at high speed every once in a while! And hold that sucker tight because if it grabs ahold of something it's taking it!

 

[txlonghorn1989]

The arbor on my angle grinder is 5/8". I see both 5/8" and 7/8" arbor wheels at both the orange and blue big box stores. My instruction manual says nothing about which size arbor I should be using. Common sense leads me to thinking I should be using the wheels with the same size hole for my arbor but I suspect that either may work as there are additional things (for lack of a better word) that ensure the wheels are locked in place. Could someone enlighten me please?

 

[Parrothead]

I've done a pretty fair amount of body work over the years and always used flexible grinding discs in my drill. Does a nice job of removing rust without cutting into the surface.

 

[XJSuperman]

USE ONLY THE PROPER SIZE ARBOR!!! Using the wrong size arbor hole will allow the disc to move out of balance and can self-destruct or vibrate causing cutting wheels to crack and shatter and hurt you.

 

[topp64]

Strip disc is my pick too. They are kinda pricey at Home Depot, about $10 a piece, but I just picked up a 10 pack for about $35 at Benchmark Abrasives. I saw another thread here on GJ for a discount code at Benchmark and that's where I've been going for abrasives ever since. I used strip10 for 10% off the strip disc about 1 week ago. I think if you use garage journal for the code it's 10% off too.

 

[driz]

The arbor on my angle grinder is 5/8". I see both 5/8" and 7/8" arbor wheels at both the orange and blue big box stores. My instruction manual says nothing about which size arbor I should be using. Common sense leads me to thinking I should be using the wheels with the same size hole for my arbor but I suspect that either may work as there are additional things (for lack of a better word) that ensure the wheels are locked in place. Could someone enlighten me please?

5/8 is the standard size for these small 4 and 4 1/2” grinders . Anything bigger threaded or holed st y away from . It’s for something else.


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[lakeroadster]

I used my Makita angle grinder and Norton Rapid Strip discs to strip all the paint and filler from the bed of my '65 C10.

It worked great.. pretty amazing how quick it was.

Be sure to wear a respirator and a full face shield though. Lord only knows the toxic **** you'll be removing, and the full face shield is a must too. Sometimes the disc will grab and flip chunks of whatever... wherever.

Have fun and enjoy

 

[crewchief888]

5/8" is the typical thread size on angle grinders, altho i have seen some smaller metric ones as well... old makita and CM pro's come to mind

cut off wheels, grinding wheels and flap disks typically have a 7/8" hole. your grinder has a stepped washer and a threaded "nut" both sized for the 7/8" arbor hole.

most of a big box stores have a 3" or 3 1/2" knotted wire cup brush thats threaded 5/8".
a typical 4 1/2" angle grinder spins at 10-12K RPM. larger cup wire wheels arent rated for that high of an RPM, and i can guarantee you'll have enough wires stuck in you your wife will think you're a porcupine...

 

[lakeroadster]

Could someone enlighten me please?

5/8 is the standard size for these small 4 and 4 1/2” grinders . Anything bigger threaded or holed st y away from . It’s for something else.

You can also buy adapters.. like this one..

M10-1.25 to 3/8 in.-1 Thread Adapter

I've used the adapter with the knotted wire wheels for years without issue, well, except for the porcupine issue crewchief888 discusses.

Again, wear safety glasses and a full face shield.

 

[cjarvis]

All the above, but I like these quite a bit for less agressive work:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GBG3JNC/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_469_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=FBM6K2KK4DFC7JZVKPDC&dpPl=1&dpID=51hRqtSixwL

 

[scubadoober]

Do you have a the flange nut that threads onto your 5/8x11 spindle for your grinder? If the answer is no then you have to use a "hub" on your wheels, or buy a flange nut as mentioned above. Odds are good the nut is long gone which is fine if you only want to use a cup brush, but all other wheels will be much more expensive with a 5/8x11 hub.

 

[scooternut]

I use the Dewalt cupped wire brush for paint and rust removal on steel, typically vise restorations and the like.

 

[finn]

Stripping (3M) wheels or flap wheels.

Wire wheels make me nervous, even while wearing a face shield.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

USE ONLY THE PROPER SIZE ARBOR!!! Using the wrong size arbor hole will allow the disc to move out of balance and can self-destruct or vibrate causing cutting wheels to crack and shatter and hurt you.

Thanks XJSuperman! At the blue big box store, most of their wheels & discs are 7/8" arbor. With them being a Dewalt store primarily, I checked thinking that the Dewalt grinders must have a 7/8" arbor and that was not the case. Definitely confusing why they'd have so many more of the larger arbor grinder attachements. Interesting.

Mike

 

[KenC]

Thanks XJSuperman! At the blue big box store, most of their wheels & discs are 7/8" arbor. With them being a Dewalt store primarily, I checked thinking that the Dewalt grinders must have a 7/8" arbor and that was not the case. Definitely confusing why they'd have so many more of the larger arbor grinder attachements. Interesting.

Mike

the 5/8 screws onto the shaft. the 7/8 is retained by a nut. Either can be used on a 5/8 with the correct retaining nut. find your manual online

 

[6PTsocket]

I have a question as I am cleaning rust off a tool box that I am restoring. I used wire brushes and roloc discs and even a multitool but have not tried the angle grinder. I thought a flat flap disc might be too agressive. Now that I look at what is available, I see that some are 5/8-11 thread and others just have a depressed 5/8 hole. Is there any reason to buy the more epensive screw on ones or is it just for speed of repacement? What grit flapper is best for lightly rusted, painted sheet metal or should I stick with the stripper pads? They wear pretty fast for the high price. Thanks.

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[driz]

Paint & rust removal with Makita angle grinder?

Here’s what I have used for 5 years now. They used to be expensive but not now and those white nose covers are , well ****. I must have 4 of these hanging in various places. They work great and above all are comfortable which means you’ll wear them and these type don’t fog up glasses like those **** fiber jobs. Look at those replacement filter prices. How can you go wrong.

3 M 6000 series respirator. Check amazon

 

[Bondo]

I have a question as I am cleaning rust off a tool box that I am restoring. I used wire brushes and roloc discs and even a multitool but have not tried the angle grinder. I thought a flat flap disc might be too agressive. Now that I look at what is available, I see that some are 5/8-11 thread and others just have a depressed 5/8 hole. Is there any reason to buy the more epensive screw on ones or is it just for speed of repacement? What grit flapper is best for lightly rusted, painted sheet metal or should I stick with the stripper pads? They wear pretty fast for the high price. Thanks.

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Ayuh,.... As has already been explained in this thread,.....

If ya get a threaded wheel, ya need the 5/8"-11 discs,....

If ya get discs with just an open hole, ya need the 7/8" to fit the hub washer/ nut,...

 

[theoldwizard1]

I use the Dewalt cupped wire brush for paint and rust removal on steel, ...

Cupped brush is good for odd shapes. Get a one that is "knotted". HF has cheap ones.

 

[IndyGarage]

Cupped brush is good for odd shapes. Get a one that is "knotted". HF has cheap ones.

Cheap cupped brush will throw wires all over the place - buy the better ones and they will cost 3x as much and last 5x as long.

You have to be very careful with a wire brush in an angle grinder - the grinders are very powerful and spin very fast.

If the brush jumps back at you - if you do it enough, when the brush jumps back at you - it will scrape off any skin it touches instantly - gone!

I've used an angle grinder and a wire brush extensively. You have to constantly be on the lookout for it jumping out on you. I've had it happen twice - one time it ripped my shirt right off of me - but it saved the skin on my stomach. The other time I got lucky and just got grazed.

Always, always wear proper eye - preferably full face protection. I wear a Uvex full face shield.

 

[XJSuperman]

^ Agreed, I have several scars at lower abdomen height from wirewheels kicking back at me when working on odd shaped parts. Countless shirts have been ruined from wire holes, being caught, or being burnt. Protect your eyes and ears and the rest will be fine, but be careful. Hang on tight, but the second it kicks, let go and let it hit the floor. Don't be a hero and save the tool, itll get you before you know what happened.

 

[6PTsocket]

Ayuh,.... As has already been explained in this thread,.....

If ya get a threaded wheel, ya need the 5/8"-11 discs,....

If ya get discs with just an open hole, ya need the 7/8" to fit the hub washer/ nut,...

Thanks, missed it the first time.

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