Angle or straight grinder? Advice please.

[Sparkster]

I have a small bench grinder, but now find I need something more portable. It will be mainly used for cleaning steel, aluminium and stainless prior to paint or Tig welding. This will be for projects associated with motorcycles, nothing huge. The power supply will be normal domestic 240v 13A. I don't want to buy something underpowered or too small and then have to buy again.

What kind of disc size, rpm, etc etc should I look for? Also, would a straight grinder be more versatile?
If I'm going to use it with a cutting disc for cutting thinner sheet steel will it need to be higher powered than one just used for cleaning?
What kind of disc is the best to use on steel when cleaning pre-Tig?

Anything else I need to consider?

Thanks in advance!

 

[piman]

Hello Sparkster,

for any straight line cutting I would say an angle grinder as it is easier to keep to a stright line being a more natural action.

Alec

 

[Sparkster]

Cheers Alec!

 

[Robotstar5]

115mm (4½") is the most popular diameter so biggest choice of wheels/discs.

 

[Ducky]

I just use a cheap B&Q own brand grinder, works fine for cleaning/cutting metal I want to weld. Was about £16 but I think they've gone up a bit now, cheap enough to be chuck-able when they give up the ghost.

 

[Sparkster]

Great! Didn't think they'd be so cheap. Thanks for the info.

 

[tombardier]

i wouldn't use the b&q performance power ones to be honest. they get very hot. what I would recommend if you can find one, is a 'parkside' grinder from lidl. for the price, they're absolutely brilliant (german engineering ). I bought my 4 1/2" one for 20 quid, and they did a 9" one for 35 quid too.

I've got a black and decker professional one as well, and that's pretty brilliant too. it's good for continuous use, and the flywheel will just pump out stone cold air all day long. the parkside gets a little bit hot after heavy use, but I still think it's brilliant!

 

[Sparkster]

Great, thank you! There's a Lidl quite close to me so I'll take a look.

 

[bert]

I have the B&Q cheap one, used it a lot and its still going after almost 4 years.

Its getting a little noisy now but for the money its worked out very cheap.

 

[Sparkster]

Thanks bert!

 

[plantlife]

i wouldn't use the b&q performance power ones to be honest. they get very hot. what I would recommend if you can find one, is a 'parkside' grinder from lidl. for the price, they're absolutely brilliant (german engineering ). I bought my 4 1/2" one for 20 quid, and they did a 9" one for 35 quid too.

I've got a black and decker professional one as well, and that's pretty brilliant too. it's good for continuous use, and the flywheel will just pump out stone cold air all day long. the parkside gets a little bit hot after heavy use, but I still think it's brilliant!

hi,
I've just seen the parkside grinder on the lidl website, is it worth buying?
thanks

 

[langy]

If your cleaning ready for TIG welding a Poly disc is way better, don't use the same one for stainless and steel and aluminium though.

 

[Dev]

Can't be bad to a 3 year warranty for £20. Just make sure you keep the receipt somewhere safe.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Cutting sheet with a straight grinder and a disc is a recipe for shattered discs and visits to A+E.
Angle grinder every time.

 

[BrokenBiker]

i wouldn't use the b&q performance power ones to be honest. they get very hot.

i use a b and q performance grinder, and hammer drill and cordless drill in the flat and have never noticed them get hot

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

i use a b and q performance grinder, and hammer drill and cordless drill in the flat

Has your balcony workshop now entended into the kitchen?

 

[plantlife]

I think i'll check them out