Regardless of what type of grinding wheel you are using, grinding must only be performed on the surface of the wheel for which it is designed. Using a cutting-off wheel for side grinding can have serious consequences. The safety code for grinding and cutting wheels is ANSI B7.1 “Safety Requirements for the Use, Care and Protection of Abrasive Wheels.” The code is very specific defining the proper grinding surfaces for each type of wheel and Figure 2 shows that the only acceptable grinding surface on a cutting wheel is on the periphery, not the sides.
Get the most out of your angle grinder by using different types of angle grinder wheels. The most apparent disc and probably the most popular one among different types of angle grinder discs is the grinding disc. Similar to other angle grinder discs, wire wheels are produced in different shapes and sizes because they are used for different purposes.
“Yes, the difference is the thickness of the disc. A cutting disc will be thinner than a grinding disc. The 4-1/2″ x 1/8″ disc you have should work well. Typically the grinding discs are at least 1/4” thick. You can’t put much side load on the thin cutting discs without breaking them, but you can use substantial force with the thicker discs.
“Yes, the difference is the thickness of the disc. A cutting disc will be thinner than a grinding disc. The 4-1/2″ x 1/8″ disc you have should work well. Typically the grinding discs are at least 1/4” thick. A cut off wheel, also known as a cutoff wheel or cutting disc, is an arbor-mounted tool that may be used with angle grinders or stationary cutoff saws.
An angle grinder is a hand-held power tool that can be used for a huge variety of different jobs including grinding, cutting, cleaning and polishing surfaces making it an essential tool to have in your arsenal. Before you start cutting, sanding or grinding perform a few practice runs across your item so that you know exactly how you need to hold the grinder and in what position it needs to be in. Use the Right Attachment: Use only grinding discs for grinding and cutting discs for cutting – essentially, only use a given disc or attachment for its intended use.
In short, an angle-grinder is the more versatile of the two, unlike a cut-off tool which can only, well, cut! That said, a cut off tool tends to be more accurate and better for delicate jobs. A cut off tool is a type of power tool that’s used to cut things that require more precision or power. If you own both power tools, never make the mistake of placing a cut off wheel from the cut off tool onto an angle grinder.
angle grinder cutting vs grinding Related Question:
What is the difference between grinding and cutting?
A cutting tool can be either single point or multi point. Grinding wheel is always multi point cutting tool. It can be made of metals, ceramics, diamond, or cBN. Grinding wheel is composed of abrasives, which are bound in another medium like resin or metal.
Can angle grinder be used for cutting?
An angle grinder is a handheld power tool that can be used for a variety of metal fabrication jobs that include cutting, grinding, deburring, finishing and polishing. The most common types of angle grinders are powered by electricity; either corded or battery powered.
What is the difference between an angle grinder and a cut off grinder?
A cut off tool can only be used for cutting, whereas an angle grinder provides you with cutting, shaping, sharpening, grinding, and other functions. A cut off tool can be easily operated with one hand, while the angle grinder requires both hands.
What is a cutting and grinding disc?
A range of hard grinding disks for structural steel. A range of abrasive flap disks for grinding, finishing and cleaning applications. Disks leaflet. PDF – 751.77 KB. Download.
Why I shouldn’t use a cutting wheel to grind with?
Cutting-off wheels are thin by design and do not have adequate lateral strength for side grinding. The fiberglass reinforcement is in the wheel to add strength. Using the side of the wheel can damage the fiberglass. This reduces the strength of the wheel and can lead to breakage.
Can I use a grinder to cut wood?
There are several reasons why some users attach a circular saw blade to an angle grinder. The blade of an angle grinder is a grindstone that is used to polish or sharpen metal and stone; it cannot be used for cut- ting wood because it may burn and singe the wood by friction.
Will an angle grinder cut steel?
Cutting metal, aluminium and steel with an angle grinder Metal is a hard material. You can use it for all kinds of metal, including bolts, pipes, iron, steel and sheet metal. You’ll need to use an abrasive metal-cutting disc. Secure the disc on the grinder and place the metal on a flat surface.
Do mechanics use angle grinders?
Angle grinders are standard equipment in metal fabrication shops and on construction sites. They are also common in machine shops, along with die grinders and bench grinders.
Whats a cut-off tool used for?
Cut-off tools are small, single-handed tools that are used to cut or sharpen metal pieces. They usually have around a 1 HP motor and have a cutting disc aligned at a right angle. Because of this design, they are not made to be used on thick pieces of metal. Instead, they are best for cutting through very thin pieces.
Is a disc cutter the same as an angle grinder?
What is the Difference Between an Angle Grinder and a Disc Cutter? The versatile, durable angle grinder is suitable for applications such as cutting, grinding, polishing and sharpening. Conversely, the disc cutter is a small, single-handed cutting blade which is best suited to light cutting applications.
Can you use a grinding wheel as a cutting wheel?
This is because grinding and pipeline wheels are mainly designed for grinding metal as opposed to cutting. The added thickness of a grinding wheel makes it difficult for cutting jobs, as the user would need to remove more material in a cut, leading to a longer cutting time and frustration.
When should I replace my cutting disc?
Always replace a cutting disc if it shows any signs of damage. This includes, but is not limited to visible cracks and chips or any signs of bending or twists to the wheel. Cut off wheels should be replaced when they hit their expiration date. This can be found imprinted on the metal center of the disc.
What can a cut off wheel cut?
It’s wheel life is going to be superior to that of any other grain it well outlast aluminum oxide and zirconia wheels. It’s designed to cut all forms of stainless steel, high tensile alloys, chrome and Inconel alloys. If your not on a budget and performance is a must a ceramic cut off wheel well surely impress.
What can’t an angle grinder cut?
The inspiration behind this creation is the natural defense mechanisms used by shells, grapefruit skins, and fish scales that makes them resistant from the attacks of various sea creatures. The material, named Proteus, cannot be cut using either angle grinders, drills, or high-pressure water jets.
Can I sand wood with an angle grinder?
When you need to remove or sand a lot of surface wood away, turning your angle grinder into a sander is the easiest and most cost effective way to do it.
