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Bar Stock Question
- Thread starter slip23us
- Start date
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2010
- Messages
- 2,460
Angle grinders work pretty well. You can mess you design up if you try to go too fast, but with good quality discs and a little patience, you can do just fine. The ground areas will need clean up, but that is par for the course. I have used one for a while because I never had enough patience for hacksaws, but YMMV.
This is how I do it. Like TheGeek said, go slow.
That's what I do. or just hacksaw.
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2006
- Messages
- 2,415
2nd on the angle grinder with a thin cutting blade, works well and you can shape with grinding blade after cutting to get close to final shape.
Some people have said the angle grinders are dangerous. Some people drill lots of holes and then cut. Most people use portaband saws from dewalt and milwaukee and build or buy a base. I have a used harbor freight larger machine for about $100 (Should have gone portaband). DM
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2007
- Messages
- 3,375
I work in oil refineries and we are very safety regulated and have an excellent safety record. We use angle grinders to cut metal all the time. They are safe as long as you follow some rules.
1. Match the disk to the grinder. NEVER run a disk that is rated for to low an rpm for the grinder. Use the proper backer and nut to secure disk.
2. Allows use the guard and keep it positioned between you and disk.
3. Always wear safety glasses and a face shield. Grit and metal in eyes is #1 grinder injury! Brush off your face shield and hair with your eyes closed when done.
4. Be careful with the disk, dropping it etc can crack it. NEVER use a damaged disk.
5. Don't pinch or side load the disk while grinding. this can cause cracks, uneven wear and cause grinder to kick out.
6. Keep a secure grip on the grinder. If it catches it can try to kick out. The side handle is your friend when cutting with a grinder.
7. Avoid using the face of the disk. The thinner the disk the more important this is. Never use the face of a an .045 cutting disk!
With the thicker disks like 1/4 and 3/32 when using the face the disk thins especially at the edges and pieces can fly off. Watch the edges!
Heavy face use can wear into the fiberglass reinforcement and make a shrapnel bomb!
8. Secure your work and when cutting only cut straight lines.
9. Watch the direction you are going to throw grit and sparks. Make sure it is clear of flammables and others are protected. Watch for fires! The grit and sparks ricochet!
10. Wear gloves and be careful. The disk will cut you in a heartbeat if you let it.
11. Respirator with particle filter. The grit is bad, the fiberglass reinforcing is bad as is much of the material being ground.
Extra thoughts. Cheap grinders are cheap grinders. Get a good grinder or pay for lots of cheap ones. Ditto on the disks. I prefer the Dewalt 4 1/2 or even better the Metobo in 5 1/2.
I have worn out thousands of disks and lots of grinders. I have had crap taken out of my eyes. Mostly my fault. I used to hate face shields. I can do a lot with a disk. I am sure I could get a blank profiled and beveled with one to the point of some easy file cleanup and hand sanding if need be. They take off material fast and care must be given. But, if you follow these rules, they are no more dangerous than any of the other power tools we use. Every one of them will maim you if you are careless.
1. Match the disk to the grinder. NEVER run a disk that is rated for to low an rpm for the grinder. Use the proper backer and nut to secure disk.
2. Allows use the guard and keep it positioned between you and disk.
3. Always wear safety glasses and a face shield. Grit and metal in eyes is #1 grinder injury! Brush off your face shield and hair with your eyes closed when done.
4. Be careful with the disk, dropping it etc can crack it. NEVER use a damaged disk.
5. Don't pinch or side load the disk while grinding. this can cause cracks, uneven wear and cause grinder to kick out.
6. Keep a secure grip on the grinder. If it catches it can try to kick out. The side handle is your friend when cutting with a grinder.
7. Avoid using the face of the disk. The thinner the disk the more important this is. Never use the face of a an .045 cutting disk!
With the thicker disks like 1/4 and 3/32 when using the face the disk thins especially at the edges and pieces can fly off. Watch the edges!
Heavy face use can wear into the fiberglass reinforcement and make a shrapnel bomb!
8. Secure your work and when cutting only cut straight lines.
9. Watch the direction you are going to throw grit and sparks. Make sure it is clear of flammables and others are protected. Watch for fires! The grit and sparks ricochet!
10. Wear gloves and be careful. The disk will cut you in a heartbeat if you let it.
11. Respirator with particle filter. The grit is bad, the fiberglass reinforcing is bad as is much of the material being ground.
Extra thoughts. Cheap grinders are cheap grinders. Get a good grinder or pay for lots of cheap ones. Ditto on the disks. I prefer the Dewalt 4 1/2 or even better the Metobo in 5 1/2.
I have worn out thousands of disks and lots of grinders. I have had crap taken out of my eyes. Mostly my fault. I used to hate face shields. I can do a lot with a disk. I am sure I could get a blank profiled and beveled with one to the point of some easy file cleanup and hand sanding if need be. They take off material fast and care must be given. But, if you follow these rules, they are no more dangerous than any of the other power tools we use. Every one of them will maim you if you are careless.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2010
- Messages
- 1,320
Just pony up the $80 or so for a bandsaw from HF and a few bucks for Milwaukee blades from Home Depot and you won't have to worry about using angle grinders, chop saws or hacksaws. I've had mine over a year and use if for metal, micarta and G10. Go slow. It's one of those tools you wonder how you got along without it once you own one.