Disc Grinder help

ChristoDart

ChristoDart

Joined
Jun 29, 2011
Messages
750
Hello all. Finally getting around to purchasing my first disc grinder and wanted a little help. I will most likely be getting the Nielsen interchangeably disc setup and know I want the Beaumont work rest. I’m leaning toward just forking out the money for the horizontal disc grinder setup from Beaumont. With workrest it runs about 1600. I know it can be pieced together for less but if I want the reversible capability and easy setup is this a decent deal route to go? Also haven’t had any experience with Beaumont but have not heard the best things about them the last couple years. Is that something I should be worried about if I’m not ordering their actual grinder? I’m very handy but no electrician. Work keeps me busy so I’m not opposed to spending a little more for the easy setup. Thank y’all I’m advance for any input.
 
I would take a look at the disc grinders offered by Pheer Grinders. You can get a much better deal, and I absolutely love mine.

Others may disagree, but after using mine for a month (regular plain flat disc from Pheer), I don't really see the point of the Nielsen system. You don't really need PSA discs either—just get a tube of 3M feathering adhesive. Disk changes are super fast and easy, and you can use disks OR 9x11 sanding sheets.

Edit: I don't know the quality of his work rests, since I don't use one. Mine is set up vertically, with a bench mounting plate from Beaumont.
 
The only reason I can think of to get the changeable disc is to switch between a 1 degree and a dead flat disc. I have just a 1 degree disc though (the Beaumont), and that makes things as flat as I can tell anyways. In my opinion all you need is a 1 degree disc and you’re good to go. I use feathering adhesive and just 9x11 sheets. Inexpensive and simple. You can change the paper many times on one coat of adhesive before cleanup and reapply. I don’t have a work rest on mine because I was concerned the rest frame would be in the way when I was doing blades. I keep telling myself I’ll make my own rest planning for it to leave full clearance when the table is removed, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get around to it.
 
I've never used the beveled disks, but I haven't had a problem yet with the dead flat one. I think you just sort of learn how to work with it and what NOT to do, as far as getting a blade thrown.

Pheer also offers a 1.5 hp option, which I got. The machine is a beast.
 
Thanks for the replies! Yea, I've been pondering one for over a year so I'm pretttty well versed in the options and the interchangeable disc setup. I'm going with the Pheer and putting the Beaumont work rest on it. Holding off on the interchangeable discs until I see a need for it. Now, 1 or 1.5 hp? I’ll probably be doing mostly scale flattening and kitchen knife flattening. Thanks again.
 
I built my own version of the Nielson changeable disc, and I'd say it's pretty handy. I find myself swapping between a rubber backed disc, and just a solid steel disk. Also, it's nice to be able to swap between grits without pulling the paper off, especially if they've still got some life left in them.
 
I’ve heard a lot of people say 1 hp is all a disc grinder really needs, but I also hear people say more hp can never hurt. I like the 1.5 hp... I know I’m not ever going to bog it down.

I do like that the Nielsen discs are steel. I wish the Pheer was - not that its been a problem for me. I also use a rubber backer a lot, but again, with the 3M feathering adhesive, it’s super fast and easy to change it out. And I guess with the exception of the 120 grit blue zirconia discs (and the trizact discs), I don’t find the life of the paper is really long enough that I would want to reuse it again. So I’m just happy to use a fresh sheet every time.
 
I agree, with 9"X11" sandpaper sheets the life using isn't long enough to worry about reusing paper. I don't use my disk grinder for "hogging" material, so went with a 3/4 hp which has been plenty. Now, "if" you're planning to put some 36 or 50 grit disks on and really moving some metal, then the 1.5 hp would be the ticket. For me, that's what the 2X72 is for - hogging material.

I started with a solid metal disk and wasn't very impressed and didn't use the disk grinder very much. Once I put the rubber backing on it changed everything, now I LOVE the disk grinder for flattening bevels and scales.
 
Ken H> said:
I agree, with 9"X11" sandpaper sheets the life using isn't long enough to worry about reusing paper. I don't use my disk grinder for "hogging" material, so went with a 3/4 hp which has been plenty. Now, "if" you're planning to put some 36 or 50 grit disks on and really moving some metal, then the 1.5 hp would be the ticket. For me, that's what the 2X72 is for - hogging material.

I started with a solid metal disk and wasn't very impressed and didn't use the disk grinder very much. Once I put the rubber backing on it changed everything, now I LOVE the disk grinder for flattening bevels and scales.
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Ken , 3M feathering adhesive works on rubber backing ? BW , I use 40 grit zirconia on my 3/4 hp disk sander and I grind a lot of kitchen knife from hardened steel , no problemo with lack of power .. ..
 
Natlek said:
Ken , 3M feathering adhesive works on rubber backing ? BW , I use 40 grit zirconia on my 3/4 hp disk sander and I grind a lot of kitchen knife from hardened steel , no problemo with lack of power .. ..
Click to expand...

Yup, the 3M stuff works just fine on rubber.
 
I found a huge difference in performance between rhynowet redline sheets and the 9” abrasive from Pop’s. The piece from pops has lasted much longer and didn’t clog as fast. They feel thicker and are not much more expensive. I still use redline sheets for higher grits, but they’re worn out very quickly.
 
Thanks for the heads up, not a fan of that work rest though. What are y'all using for your rubber backing? Just some thin hard rubber from a craft store?
 
Josh Rider said:
I found a huge difference in performance between rhynowet redline sheets and the 9” abrasive from Pop’s. The piece from pops has lasted much longer and didn’t clog as fast. They feel thicker and are not much more expensive. I still use redline sheets for higher grits, but they’re worn out very quickly.
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Josh, that rhynowet redline paper isn't that a wet sandpaper? That will clog pretty fast if it doesn't have a fluid flow to wash away the swarf. For disk grinder an AO type open grit paper that's designed to work dry will tend to last longer than the wet sandpaper - even if it's labeled as "wet or dry" sandpaper.
 
Ken H> said:
Josh, that rhynowet redline paper isn't that a wet sandpaper? That will clog pretty fast if it doesn't have a fluid flow to wash away the swarf. For disk grinder an AO type open grit paper that's designed to work dry will tend to last longer than the wet sandpaper - even if it's labeled as "wet or dry" sandpaper.
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It’s wet or dry. I spray simple green, windex, sometimes wd-40 depending on what I’m working on.
It’s probably the difference between open coat and closed coat abrasives.
http://abrasiveresource.blogspot.com/2014/04/what-is-difference-between-open-coat.html?m=1

I don’t know that for sure, just what I surmise.
 
I use a 1/16" sheet of 60 durometer rubber that I cut down to size. I'm sure other thicknesses and hardnesses could work for different effects—I just remember Nick Wheeler saying his backing was 1/16" in one of his videos, so I figured that was a good place to start.
 
While we're talking about discs... The A45 trizact disc that Trugrit sells is freaking awesome. I really wish they had it in A30 too...
 
ChristoDart said:
Thanks for the heads up, not a fan of that work rest though. What are y'all using for your rubber backing? Just some thin hard rubber from a craft store?
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You can get various thicknesses and durometers from McMaster-Carr. That's where I got mine. IIRC, I'm using .120" thick, 60 or 70 duro.
 
Thanks for all the help everyone. Went with the pheer 1hp and ordered the Beaumont rest. I'll get some of that rubber backing as well. Y'all applying the rubber backing to the disc with the feathering adhesive as well?
 
ChristoDart said:
Thanks for all the help everyone. Went with the pheer 1hp and ordered the Beaumont rest. I'll get some of that rubber backing as well. Y'all applying the rubber backing to the disc with the feathering adhesive as well?
Click to expand...

I used some spray adhesive for my rubber. Feathering adhesive would likely work fine as well.
 
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