Die grinder and burrs

[bonepyro]

What would you choose, air or electric (240v) powered.

Looking at getting a die grinder, initially for use with burrs to clean up cuts,weld, holes and slots in general mild steel fabrications, but with an eye longer term to then using it with flap wheels and brushes when I get to the restoration of my bug.

Looking at a low cost hobby level machine, but wondered if anyone had useful feedback.

 

[brightspark]

a quality compressed air ones the best. small and powerful and can adjust the speed easily . use garrison carbide bits there the best

 

[123hotchef]

air for me too i brought some burrs from china carbide ones cheap they are still going 1 is worn out

 

[daleyd]

Id say it depends if you already have a good compressor. If so then air driven would be at least worth a go, if not then may be worth considering the electric ones?

 

[Mr shiney]

I use a couple of cheap air ones for exactly the jobs you describe, have served me fine for years.

 

[pedrobedro]

I gave up with my air die grinder and use a cheap Aldi 240v Dremel lookalike. The air grinder ran my 3hp compressor almost continuously it's the greediest tool out. It's cheaper to run electric grinder than a 3hp compressor and quieter as well.

 

[HMB]

Air grinder and garryson dies

 

[gordon stephenson]

I have a fair old stock of 1/4' - 6mm shank Sandvik carbide burrs in a good variety of shapes, Always perform very well, Top class burrs. I use an air machine

 

[blenkie1]

Usually use an air one in the workshop but also have a Metabo cordless one I keep in the van its ideal just to elongate the odd hole. I use Garryson bits.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I have just checked out the prices of Garrison burrs, And prices seem very good, Im pretty sure when I had my Sandvik burrs "Donated" years ago they were around £20-00 each,

 

[piman]

Hello all,

even with a 3 h.p. compressor, the two air die grinders I have needed more than the compressor delivered.
I bought a Makita variable speed die grinder from E Bay for about £100 albeit it is 120v, I have not used air since.

Alec

 

[123hotchef]

they do eat air!

 

[armalites]

Air tool are one of things where many of cheap ones are very good but often the quality brands use much less air. Not talking rebadged stuff like Sealey and SIP but CP or Snap On.

Horses for courses but to get an electric one with the same power as a decent air one it will be twice the size and defeat the whole point for many jobs. My two air ones fit in the palm of my hand. They are both smaller than my Dremmel.

Air is much safer too.

 

[Ton-up]

I'd suggest that if you are using it at home, an electric one. You need a big compressor to keep an air one running other than short runs. The compressor will use a lot of electric to run. I have a Bosch GGS 28C that I use as much as my air ones.
I would say that an air, 90 degree one is indispensible with Roloc or similar discs.

 

[whm_fab]

Air tool are one of things where many of cheap ones are very good but often the quality brands use much less air. Not talking rebadged stuff like Sealey and SIP but CP or Snap On.

Horses for courses but to get an electric one with the same power as a decent air one it will be twice the size and defeat the whole point for many jobs. My two air ones fit in the palm of my hand. They are both smaller than my Dremmel.

Air is much safer too.

thats what it all boils down to, available air.

air tools are the most frustrating crap tools going when you dont have enough air to supply them.

if you have the air, they outweight electric tools by a country mile.

at the end of the day, if you have a massive high powered compressor, get a goo quality air tool.
if you dont, electric is your only option, as running a die grinder on a hobby compressor is a complete waste of time.

 

[whm_fab]

I would say that an air, 90 degree one is indispensible with Roloc or similar discs.

agree, ive a snap-on one of these that i use various grit 3m roloc sanding disks on, i use it probably every day.
the scotchbrite type weld linishing pads are fantastic too, but again, use more air than you can imagine

 

[bonepyro]

Hmm, now even less sure. I have a 3 HP compressor with 150ltr tank plumbed in, so air should be there, but as Armalites mentions I guess it depends on the quality of the tool to how much air it's going to demand.

For a < £50 budget is there any recommendation of a specific make/model?

 

[armalites]

If you want straight then this isn't a bad price delivered

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CP-Air-Di...296129?hash=item1c46589a81:g:guYAAOxyNThTc9I0

CP875 is the 90 version of the same

One thing to bare in mind many CP and Snap On/Bluepoint have 1/4NPT threads, you can get converters and sometimes a normal 1/4 BSP will nip just fine. I find that using a 1/4 NPP barb and adding a length of soft/flexible air hose permanently to the tool with a fitting on the makes it more comfortable in your hand as there is less leverage from the main hose.x

I've just had a read of the CP875 spec and it says average 5.5CFM but up to 22CFM under load. If you are cleaning welds etc then you won't be running for hours continuously.

Sometime it's worth buying them in a kit as the Roloc fittings can start to add up.

You should have enough air, you can buy cheap 90 degree ones with a few stone delivered for £16 on ebay, I would say cheap enough to try and see how you get on. If it suits your needs you could buy 2-3 and have with different tools on to save swapping bits. That may be more beneficial than buying a more expensive unit

The cost differential isn't proportional, you do pay a premium for name and they won't be 5 times as good, they may feel nicer, run smoother.

 

[johnakay]

I have just checked out the prices of Garrison burrs, And prices seem very good, Im pretty sure when I had my Sandvik burrs "Donated" years ago they were around £20-00 each,

eek Gordon me ol fruit didn't know you were one of us a feef.lol

 

[brightspark]

they do eat air!

the one I have doesn't its an old Ingersoll rand . runs all day on my 3hp comp cheapo or new ones may be crap