Angle grinders...?

G

Guy Thomas

Joined
Feb 1, 2000
Messages
1,370
I've not had much experience with hand held grinders, that said, are angle grinders and disc grinders the same beast? Many members mention using angle grinders with thin cutting blades for carving up things like large saw blades. Harbor Freight has a 4 1/2" disc grinder on sale for $18.99, and it looks exactly like the 4 1/2" angle grinder they carry by the same manufacturer which I believe is Chicago Eectric. I'd like to buy an angle grinder but the cheapest at the usual places (Lowe's, Wal-Mart etc.) is around$60.00. The one at Harbor Freight looks like a good deal. Your help here is greatly appreciated, these saw blades I have laying around here are calling me ("please make knives out of us)-Guy T.
 
i've uesd one, they're easy to use, but it takes a little practice. it's just another method of producing a blade, works just as good as the others, my father perfers the angle grinder method. definetly do not go for a cheap anngle grinder, and malfuntions with a powerful handhelp machine can be hazardous to yur health.
the best angle grinder i know of is the METABO marathon grinder, used by proffesional ironworkers, sheetmetal workers, welders, and much more. it'll out last the harbor frieght one. you can also go for a 5" or 6" disk size. ball and needle bearings, insulation to withstand heat up to 392 degrees, safety clutche to save the user and gear train from damage, if you have the wheel jam on you. no tool wheel change. i forget the price of this grinder but it's somewhere in the range of $100- $200 i may be wrong though.
 
Silent, I have one of the import,and a Black&Decker,the import will work fine if you don't overload it, of course overloading the B&D will do the same thing, burn up the motor, if you go for the B&D, Dewalt etc. they are all the same basiclly, look for the largest amp motor and best deal Walmart carries a lower amp motorthan can be had elsewhere for ame money on SALE. the import has a different spindle and is not adaptable to the 41/2 wire brushes. When cutting sawblades with this you do not want topush it to hard or notch to deep. It will kick back. For limited funds and ocaisional use I would buy Another Import, for heavy every day use buy a Millwauke.
 
If you go with an angle grinder it is a good idea to get one with a constant pressure switch.
 
Wow.Angle head grinders... a blast from the past.
My first knives were hogged out on a 7hp angle head grinder. 9" abrasive cut off wheel, fire flying. Have to say I built up my arms quite a bit. Used to clamp them vertical in a big vise and go up and down to get the hollow grind. Ha.
Then I sanded them out with a sanding flapper wheel and polished with valve lapping compound.
How one grows...
Now, I will admit that I still use an abrasive cut off wheel for profiling on my Wilton. NOTHING (short of a torch) removes metal faster.


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Jay
www.gilanet.com/JayFisher/index.htm
 
i switched from an angle grinder to a belt sander too. where did you get a 7hp angle grinder, my dad would like on of them, how much do they cost?
 
i want to buy one for my dad (union sheetmetal worker/ welder) for fathers day, he could use one, he has a 4.5" angle grinder now.
 
I admit to making all of my first knives and swords with nothing but an angle grinder. I still find it an indespensable tool. Cutting steel with the torch leaves much too much work for the 2X72 and grinding scale with the angle grinder saves lots on expensive belts.
Cheapely, Lynn
 
Well my power tool arsenal has increased by one 4 1/2" Black & Decker angle grinder. Can't wait to try it out on one of these blasted saw blades!-Guy T.
P.S.-If anyone has tips for using the thin cut-off discs, please post them!
 
I've got one of the Chicago tools ones, and I've had it for a little over a year. Be glad you went with the B&D. My drill press is Chicago, and it's great, but just for an example on the angle grinder, the ground prong on the plug is fake. It came out of the plug and imbedded itself in the socket. For using the thin disks, I dremel out the hole to make it large enough and it works great, but be careful, you can take it out of balance far too easily this way. They're meant to be used with a drill, after all.

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Oz

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