Dummies Guide to Angle Grinders and Discs?

[Robotstar5]

Insurance company requires full forestry type headgear when using a petrol one. I thought it was a bit OTT but wore it anyway, and was glad I did after a stone the size of a golf ball hit the shield and dented it.

I use a full forestry hat with my petrol strimmer and safety glasses after I found vapourised greenery would still splash through the mesh
Don't know what the nieghbours think, can't hear 'em with ear defenders!

 

[chriskelland]

Quite a while ago I was asked to do some training/testing on grass cutters and trimmers. Got back to the office on site and it turned out that one of the lads on test had picked up a fair sized piece of stone with his brushwood cutter and chucked it through the windscreen of his boss's car. Had quite a chuckle about that, but, the moral is full safety kit and make an exclusion zone, oh, and don't work on your own, it's safer to have someone within earshot.

Chris.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

Talking about grinding discs, what is considered too thin to be useable? I've seen some grinding discs that are 3mm, surely that can't be right?

Regards,

Ian.

 

[irondarren]

Grinding discs are normally 5 mm thick or thicker, most are 6mm thick. 3mm is more of a cutting disk

 

[Muggins the Mug]

Hi Darren,

That's what I thought, I'm going to recheck them.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[Pete.]

Generally cutting discs are flat-sided and grinding discs are dished in the middle. You should never use the side of a flat-sided disc for grinding as you can cause yourself great harm when the disc shreds. As above, grinding discs are usually 1/4" thick or so whereas cutting discs are half that or less. I only really use 1mm discs now for cutting as they cut much faster, leave little or no burr and don't heat the work up so much. They are fantastic on stainless.

I did once find some 1mm thick 9" discs which were meant for cutting cast iron pipes so I was told but by god were they hazardous to use.

 

[Muggins the Mug]

Hi Pete,

Yeh I knew about the cupped part from the grinder manual that I had. I did pick up some grinding discs this afternoon that are 3mm (labelled grinding discs), you can see from the photographs below what I mean.

Regards,

Ian.

 

[chrisg3103]

i was under the impression that 1mm were quick cut (great discs) 3 mm were fettling, so you can grind and cut with them. and 6mm were grinding

i never use the 2/3 mm discs anymore since i discovered the wonders of the quick cut

 

[Mikey D]

if there 3mm thick therres no way id call them grinding discs , if i were you id have a look at the smith and arrow e bay site or e mail them via the thread on this site .... willwork out cheaper ,i suppose it depends how many you want tho

cheers mike