So I ground something, maybe aluminum unsure. It's the shiny spots in the picture. Will they go away when I grind steel? Hopefully have not ruined it.
Angle grinder question
- Thread starter Donald
- Start date
This! The wheel will be unbalanced and fracture and fly apart at speed.
Glad I saw this thread.
I don't even own an angle grinder, but my friends all do.
I don't even own an angle grinder, but my friends all do.
I learned recently that angle grinders have the nickname of "death wheel". When in doubt, determine how badly it can go wrong, and how long you're ok with the recovery from it. In this case, I think the cost of a new cutoff wheel is probably the cheaper option, certainly the safer one.
I used to use the Dremel cutoff discs. Today I'm amazed I never got hurt--when those snap, you'll find the pieces in the next room. Imagine what a much larger wheel with fragments of much more weight could do.
I used to use the Dremel cutoff discs. Today I'm amazed I never got hurt--when those snap, you'll find the pieces in the next room. Imagine what a much larger wheel with fragments of much more weight could do.
How can aluminum be crafted to that result? Something just abrasive like sandpaper?
specialty soft metal wheels, flap discs
or use wrong one and throw it out they cost 79cents and up.
Yep, aluminum is pretty easy to to work with hand tools.
That said, I find if you grind aluminum lightly, it doesn't seem to smear on to the wheel? Before I bought a pipe cutter, I have cut bike handle bars down with the angle grinder without any build up on the grinding disc.
How thick/thin is that disc? It is already failing, it looks like a cutoff wheel, if that is a thin disc you are lucky it didn't blow up. These are for aluminum..
https://www.amazon.com/aluminum-grinding-wheel/s?k=aluminum+grinding+wheel
I buy all my disc from Empire, use the correct disc and grinder for the job. For flap wheels and aluminum use I use a variable speed angle grinder. I use a few grinders all with different disc on them to save the switching disc around all the time on the same job.
https://www.empireabrasives.com/gri...v5lMfLaCtAL4FOk8FPM3d4RdvoILT3efRSmAnwHaxkyU2
You really need a "burr", as opposed to a stone. To cut material as opposed to grind it away.
The aluminum will clog the pores of the disc, and make the disc overheat, and explode, and do damage to something.
- Joined
- Mar 8, 2022
- Messages
- 240
Pitch it! It’s too loaded up.
A very good feature of my angle grinder is it's variable speed. If I had a suspect disk like the above I might continue to use it at low speed which would minimise the risk.
variable spped grinder?
Sure, lots of companies make them usually at a premium price. I bought a Makita 13A variable speed that cost about $200. Bosch has them, Hikoki even have a 120V brushless model.
never knew. yes big $$$ in comparison.
My variable speed grinder is a Macallister which is not a premium brand. It was gift so I don't know what it cost. I do know I feel a lot safer using only the speed needed for the job in hand and the reduced gyroscopic effect at low speeds is very noticeable making the tool more controllable.
I am wondering if they are widely available in the USA.
I have ran my share of grinders and never saw one in person.
Whether you should or shouldnt I have used cutting wheels and grinding stones that look worse than that, though for grinding work I much prefer a flap wheel these days than a store.
