4 inch cutoff wheel

jdm61

jdm61

itinerant metal pounder
Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
47,357
I just received a shiny new 7 x 48 sheet of .110 AEB-L yesterday and I’m wondering what kind of wheel I need to buy for my 4 inch angle grinder to chop this stuff up into bite-size pieces.
 
Do you want to risk cutting without a guard? If you do I would check your grinders speed and grab some 6" off of Amazon. I ordered some by accident and they work great. Most 6" are still rated for the same speed as 4" but cut on a totally different level. If not get 4". Unless you have a connection at a welding supply store Amazon is about the easiest place I have found. I like the cut off wheels. Just treat them right. I lasted a career as a welder and never had problems. Don't bind them up. The thinner they are the better they cut but are more fragile and sometimes more expensive. Don't get thicker than 1/16".
 
I'd use a porta-band, or better yet, a horizontal band saw, but your standard off the shelf 4.5" cut-off wheels should do the trick.
An abrasive (or carbide) metal chopsaw, while cutting a wider kerf, wouldn't be the worst option either.
 
Just to clarify. The new standard is 4.5" wheels. The older standard is 4" but hasn't been the normal size for awhile. What one do you have?
 
No portaband and my Harbor Freight bandsaw will not really fit a 48 inch long piece of steel. That will be used for trimming. etc.
Just so we are clear, I am asking how to cut out blanks like I see others do, not just cut the sheet in half. ;)
I have a 4 or 4.5 Dewalt and also a 6 or 7, whatever the next size up is. Smaller one still has the guard attached and currently has a masonry wheel for cutting kiln tile to use as forge floor. Big one has a cut wheel. The last time that I did this, i think that I used the bandsaw (it has been a while) but the sheets of both AEB-L and 115W8 were smaller than this 4 foot long monstrosity. I am looking to get 12 large kitchen blades from the sheet.
 
I use my harbor freight bandsaw to cut 24" x 48" sheets of titanium, as long as you are not cutting anything wider than 4". You just have to anchor the rear legs to the floor.
 
Just a PSA regarding cut-off wheels; 1) Lehigh Valley Abrasives, are usually the best game in town. 2) If you have a standard 4.5" angle grinder you're using, most will accommodate 5" wheels, inside the guard. You get a LOT more abrasive for your money with 5" wheels vs 4.5" wheels.

With stainless, make sure and get the "extended life" cutting discs, the regular ones cut faster and are a little cheaper, but they break down super fast. For actual grinding wheels I like the fast cutting action of the non-extended life ones, but not for cutting discs. I'd compare prices, not sure I"d buy the premium ones for cutting stainless, but, definitely get the extended life variety.


Although, I've had no problem cutting AEB-L with a bandsaw. 15n20, is a different story.
 
I will do almost anything to avoid having to cut stainless with an abrasive disc.
 
Use your HF bandsaw. Cut the sheet into shorter sections as needed. For example, start with a 12" piece and cut the desired blanks on the saw, As you need more blades, cut off appropriate size pieces.

If cutting across the 7" part won't make it in one cut, cut as far as the saw allows and then flip the sheet over and cut from the other side.

I have cut up a lot of 7" by 36" and 7" by 48" sheet on a HF bandsaw.
 
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