Cut-off wheels and angle grinders

[4570Man]

I bought a diamond cutoff wheel because I was afraid of that happening. Although I'd guess it's a fake picture.

 

[yomax4]

A lot of the cheap HF and others are the difference between bushings vs bearings. I've had more trouble with the switches than the motors and or bushings. I just buy Milwaukee for $89.00 and never look back. The old saying applies here too. I can buy a cheapo grinder, But then I have to use it.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

View attachment 490556 sometimes zhit happens

I always use a full face shield when grinding or using cut off wheels. Actually the safety codes require a full face shield for these operations. Never had a COW shatter yet; but as this guy now knows; it can happen when ole man Murphy is lurking about.

Ron

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Several posters complained about COWs not mating up on the shaft. All mine; HF Dewalt, Craftsman have a washer that is grooved out on one dide and flat on the other. Just turn it over to the flat side.

Ron

 

[dragoneggs]

I won't argue the merits of HF grinders vs. brand equivalents but one thing I do recommend is open up the casing and jam some grease in it. The several I have had are barely packed. For a hobbyist, and one who wants the luxury of dedicated grinders... I find it hard to argue against HF. Going in, I considered them almost disposable. I have only disposed of one so far. For heavy hard use I do lean on my Dewalt or Milwaukee but I won't spend the time replacing wheels when I can just grab which ever HF grinder that has the wheel I want and don't lean on it hard. But I try to respect my tools regardless.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I have two 9 amp Makitas I bought approximately 22 years ago. They've both been trouble free. Cost per year less than $5 each.

View attachment 490469

Terry

Gee Big Barn! How can you possibly get by with ONLY 8 COWs? Your shop looks like a COW supply house

 

[Big Barn]

Gee Big Barn! How can you possibly get by with ONLY 8 COWs? Your shop looks like a COW supply house

Darn "tool ****" addiction. I try my best to attend the weekly meetings. "Hello, my name is Terry......."

 

[dickfoster]

Not to worry it will do fine with cut off wheels. I do keep an extra grinder around as I kill them fairly often. Also don't like changing wheels all the time. Sanding disks, wire brushes of all types & so on.

Same here. Buy them cheap and toss as you break them. I take the buy cheap and replace approach because angle grinders tend to get dropped a lot. I keep at least two of em, one with a grinder and the other with a cutoff wheel and replace with flap wheels and brushes as needed whichever grinder is handier.
I think the reason for the no cut off wheel warning on the one is probably due to the design of the guard and it's pretty much just a lawyer thing.

 

[dickfoster]

I won't waste my money on the Drill Master stuff because it ain't worth the cheap price!!
How ever, I just installed Hardie Plank Siding on a 2568 sq ft house this past summer and used the Chicago Electric grinder with a diamond blade to cut and trim all the planks and it is still working great!
The Hardie dust is deadly because it is so fine and you can't breath it. I blew out the dust from the grinder from time to time with compressed air.
I own half dozen others and they are still working great.

I trimmed some Silestone countertops with that setup to fit some new appliances. Man, talk about dust, I didn't know there was going to be so much of it. It filled the entire house in short order and was my wife ever POd at me.

 

[Shaneard]

I just happen to be using the Milwaukee today with a cut off wheel to cut some 3/4" thick X 4" wide hot rolled. The angle is to long to cut with the saw, I have 4 pieces to cut. The actual cut is 11 1/2" long. I don't think a HF grinder could stand up to this challenge.