grinding wheels

[chinweasle]

for a 4 1/2 dewalt angle grinder.

Is there any noticable difference in a "standard" grinding wheel, and one that has the "flaps"?

[Old Scout]

This is not a grinding disc, but a Conditioning Disc


http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/169945_lg.jpg

[cebby]

The flaps aren't as aggressive and are easier to control IMO. But they take longer to do the same thing. For removing alot of material, I grab a grinding wheel, for less material removal or something i need a little more control with I use the flapper. If you are grinding alot and cutting things off the grinding wheel is the right choice.

[chinweasle]

so the flapper is more for "finese" jobs.....

is there anything that grinds faster than a standard disk?

[MOOSEKNUCKLE]

THE FLAPPER DISK IS MORE FOR FINISH/POLISHING SURFACES AFTER BEING GROUND DOWN. NOW....PUT A SEVEN INCH FLAPPER DISK ON EITHER 4" OR 7"
GRINDER AND THAT WILL MOVE SOME SERIOUS MATERIAL WHILE LEAVING A SMOOTH FINISH :grinpimp:

[Brandon]

I've been removing a lot of metal lately and it does make a difference.. but not much - basically just cheaper to go with the grinding wheel. I'm gonna pick up a 7" grinder and I'll leave a regular grinding wheel on that and keep the flap ones on my 4 and 4.5" grinders...

If you really want to remove the metal the small grinder suck anyway so stick with the flap deals, I get em at Blue Collar near my house for about $4 Grinding wheels are cheaper, I'm sure you can find em cheaper than THIS (http://rcrc4x4.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=223&zenid=f31c6104e9af0a82b27f8031ca5fb0a4) ($15 for 10 of em).

[ghettojeep]

jeezus.... :rolleyes:

Buy one, use it, compare... They're like $5.

[Toyota_Jim]

I dont use grinding wheels anymore unless i am cutting with one.
I stick to flap discs. Buy them by the hundereds for 1.89 each.

[MOOSEKNUCKLE]

I dont use grinding wheels anymore unless i am cutting with one.
I stick to flap discs. Buy them by the hundereds for 1.89 each.

FROM?

[Toyota_Jim]

Ebay,
I bought 500 of them from a guy on there and it came out to around 1.88-189 a piece time they were shipped.

[thelbz]

if you want to remove a ton of material use a grinding stone, thats what we called them where i used to work. Id reccomend using a 7" grinder because those stones are big and heavy. But the flap discs, i just use them for finishing before painting

[chumly2071]

I use Flexovit "metal hog" grinding discs on my 4-1/2 for heavy removal, and then use the same brand flap discs for smoothing/blending/finishing. the hard wheels cut very fast, and both are chepaer than other brands at my distributor. They also seem to laast longer as well. If I need to get really crazy, I break out the 7" grinder with the same brand abrasives.

[pmurf1]

I just buy the HF 10 for $5 ones when they're on sale. The masonry or steel ones both work well on steel, but I usually get the masonry ones. They seem to hold up better. They're so cheap compared to the HD ones, you can toss them more.

[KS Toy]

Ebay,
I bought 500 of them from a guy on there and it came out to around 1.88-189 a piece time they were shipped.


So you bought $940 worth :confused:

[BrettM]

there are 4 main things I se on my 4.5" angle grinder, in order from most aggressive to least:

(1) cutting wheel- usually 1/16" thick, good for cutting through steel
(2) grinding wheel- usually 1/4" thick, good for grinding and removing steel
(3) flap wheel- good for polishing a rough grinding job
(4) wire wheel- good for removing rust and surface "gunk"

(2)

[KidJethro]

A 36 grit flapper will remove metal as fast or faster than a grinding wheel. Grinding wheels suck. I'll never use another one. I've got 2 4.5" grinders with flappers, and two with the thin cut off discs. Another 4.5 that alwasy wears the wire wheel. 1 9" grinder with a 36 grit flapper. Thats all I ever use. I have a huuuge 9" grinding wheel that fits the big grinder...I had it for 5 years and used it like 2 times.

[Toyota_Jim]

KS toy, It was a little more cause I bought some other stuff too.

[glfredrick]

I've noticed some difference in the brand of grinding wheels as well that bears note.

For instance, the "Norton" branded wheels that Home Depot sells are pure junk. They will not grind very well at all. The HF ones work reasonably well for the money, and I generally use them. Better wheels are out there, but I don't have all the brand names right at hand here in my office, but Metabo seem to be good as well if you can find them for a good price.

Snap On is just starting a new program where we feature Bosch name-brand products with prices that are competitive with the local home stores. I'm excited about that, we might even generate some sales income from that stuff... We will have two different angle grinders, a recip saw, a cut-off saw, a couple of drills, including a sweet angle drill, and the consumables for all that stuff, including a cobalt drill set for cheap... I'll report back as soon as I get some in my hands to use.

[Azrckcrawler]

there are 4 main things I se on my 4.5" angle grinder, in order from most aggressive to least:

(1) cutting wheel- usually 1/16" thick, good for cutting through steel
(2) grinding wheel- usually 1/4" thick, good for grinding and removing steel
(3) flap wheel- good for polishing a rough grinding job
(4) wire wheel- good for removing rust and surface "gunk"

(2)


Sait makes an awesome cutoff disc that is only .045 thick. I used to use those all teh time before I got my plasma cutter.

[JJS]

i make knives, and i use flap discs for doing the contours of the blade. they are much easier to control and detail with than a grinding wheel. i wouldn't use anything else for rust stripping either.

[Kartracer55]

Flap disks are WAY more expensive. so unless you buy 500 of them your looking at liek 5-6 a piece, if not more.

Jim

[JeepAddict]

I love the 36 grit flap wheels for material removal but they're just too expensive compared to the HF grinding discs. I have the flap discs in two or three grits for shaping and finishing. If I could afford 500 flap discs I probably wouldn't need them as much since I would just buy some better metal cutting tools instead! Basically if the flap wheels weren't so much I would use them a lot more.

[KidJethro]

$4 ea for the 4.5" flappers at my AirGas dealer. Whats a grinding wheel cost these days?

[Kartracer55]

Well griding wheel price all depends on Brand and whether they are made in usa or a chinese prison. usually $1-$2 give or take. If you are going to be grinding tons of metal, a gridning wheel is the way to go, because they last longer than a flapper, and are much cheaper. If its only the occasional weld prep or something, then a flap wheel is fine.

Jim

[Tim84K10]

1 9" grinder with a 36 grit flapper. Thats all I ever use. I have a huuuge 9" grinding wheel that fits the big grinder...I had it for 5 years and used it like 2 times.

Dude, you're way more man than me. I even hate 7" grinders. Me, with a 9" grinder, would be a death trap!!

I use cheap discs I get from the farm store. 1/4" for grinding and 1/8" for cutting. The .045" ones suck. Let it bounce just once and it explodes in your face....I hate that. The 1/8" ones take some abuse.

I have one flap disc, I think 80 grit. I paid $4-5 for it and it works really nice for smoothing something, especially if you're trying to keep an edge from being sharp where you might run your hands across the metal. After the flap disc, it's nice and smooth.

[mountain4x4]

I cant find the .045 disks around local anymore. I'll have to look online and order more. They are awesome for cutting off frozen suspension bolts and other odd stuff.

Yes, they are kinda dangerous, I wear a full-face mask, leather gloves/leather armed welding jacket and make sure the guard is angled right. DONT let them bounce...

[James_Fendley]

if you want to remove a ton of material use a grinding stone, thats what we called them where i used to work. Id reccomend using a 7" grinder because those stones are big and heavy. But the flap discs, i just use them for finishing before painting

Be sure to check the speed rating if you are talking about a bonded wheel. Putting the wrong wheel on a angle grinder, wife gets a new husband and the Ins. money.

Had a bad accident where I work 4 years ago. Bet I have seen every grinding wheel safety video. Co worker was killed when wheel exploded. 30"x10" wheel makes a hell of a mess. Guard held the wheel. But when the guard came off it broke (8) 3/4" hard SHCS, the 2" coolant pipe got him in the head. Did not know you could loose that much blood that quick.

James