Wire Brushes for Rt Angle Grinder

[Gordon Gould]

I like to use a coarse wire brush on my 4 1/2" grinder to remove slag. I have used Forney and DeWalt brushes which are easy to come by locally. They both seem to throw a lot of wires, at least to me. It never bothered me much until I got flat tires on both the one ton and another on a self powered bush hog. They were both from wires. Now I run around the garage with a magnet after doing some welding. Kind of a pain. Are there any brands that are better at holding the wires or is it just the nature of the beast ? Thanks

gg

 

[mrmikey]

Are there any brands that are better at holding the wires or is it just the nature of the beast

Personally, I don't think so. Mind you there are real cheap ones that are like fighting with a porcupine but my experience has been the brand name ones are pretty much the same. As long as you don't bear down super hard, the breakage is not soo bad, use the ends of the wire ......Mike

 

[Oldoak]

I have always used chipping hammer and/or an air powered needle gun for removing welding slag, both on the job and at home.

 

[k0ua]

In my experience the knotted brush throws much less wires than the kind with wires sticking out of the rim.

 

[gimmodog]

the 4" twisted wire brushes do not through as many bristles and really bite

 

[groundcover]

Years ago I was cleaning off mower blades with one of them when it spit a wire into my knee. Hot day, before lunch but I finished up sharpening and balancing the blades. Put them back on the mower and my knee blew up. Stopped by the Doctors office in town and showed the receptionist the grinder. I told her that one of these wires is in my knee. She brought me into his office where he started to dig it out. Next thing I remember is the Doctor saying your all right, your in the Doctor’s office. Passed out cold ! Guess being dehydrated didn’t help .

 

[TractorGuy]

I bought some from Harbor Freight a while back and was amazed at how few wires came loose.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I bought some from Harbor Freight a while back and was amazed at how few wires came loose.

I use the HF knotted ones (heavy wire) and have never had a wire loose in the air. I do not find much use for the finer wire ones.

Ron

 

[dragoneggs]

I use the HF knotted ones (heavy wire) and have never had a wire loose in the air. I do not find much use for the finer wire ones.

Ron

Never used to much care for them but I have grown to like the knotted ones too. HF or otherwise.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Thanks all. I use the knotted heavy wire ones too. Maybe I use to much pressure trying to get into every crevice - which can be many on my beads, or removing scale because I am to lazy to change to the grinding wheel. Been thinking about a second grinder for a long time. I should just go ahead and get it. This is the type in this pic



gg

 

[dragoneggs]

Thanks all. I use the knotted heavy wire ones too. Maybe I use to much pressure trying to get into every crevice - which can be many on my beads, or removing scale because I am to lazy to change to the grinding wheel. Been thinking about a second grinder for a long time. I should just go ahead and get it. This is the type in this pic

View attachment 577708

gg

Gordon, what are you thinking... no man should only have one grinder! :duh:

 

[KennyG]

Gordon, what are you thinking... no man should only have one grinder! :duh:

I just had one of my older HF grinders fail and replaced it with another $9.99 special, bringing me back up to my quota of 5. :thumbsup:

 

[TomIre]

I just had one of my older HF grinders fail and replaced it with another $9.99 special, bringing me back up to my quota of 5. :thumbsup:

I'm planning on getting a 4 1/2 inch cordless angle grinder this week at HF. Surely that isn't the $9.99 on you're talking about?

 

[dragoneggs]

I just had one of my older HF grinders fail and replaced it with another $9.99 special, bringing me back up to my quota of 5. :thumbsup:

Yeah I am in that range. Do yourself a favor and open up the head and swab out the vasoline and repack with decent grease.

I'm planning on getting a 4 1/2 inch cordless angle grinder this week at HF. Surely that isn't the $9.99 on you're talking about?

No, the $9.99 are the cheap corded ones, but you can own a fleet. No time wasted swapping out wheels. I was surprised at the increased efficiency when able to grab which ever grinder I needed through out a project.

Now a fleet of cordless... now you are talking!

 

[Gordon Gould]

Gordon, what are you thinking... no man should only have one grinder! :duh:

Now that you put it that way - I can see the light ! :laughing:

gg

 

[metalbender]

Highly doubt that the average cordless grinder would handle welding slag. I use a Makita 18v for small cutting jobs with ultra thin wheels. Works ok for small stuff, push it a little and it dies pretty quick.

 

[BukitCase]

Til my "ship comes in" (and strangely enough, it hasn't completely SUNK yet ) I tend to do welding in a few different places depending on the project - so this

tends to make things a bit easier - old hard rubber tired hand truck, piece of 1/8" FB clamped across for hanging - added a power strip 'cause I got tired of plugging/unplugging 5 (sometimes 7) grinders every time I moved it

Added advantage of the cart - a few less things cluttering up the weld table :laughing:...Steve

 

[TractorGuy]

No more HF grinders for this guy. The $9.99 unit is a gutless wonder. The paddle switch grinder is a little better but also burned up in short order. I miss my old Craftsman grinder that gave up the ghost after 30 years but alas nothing comparable at Sears. Picked up a Dewalt on sale at TS and it has performed fairly well but has the safety lock. I guess I could disable that thing but haven't done it so far.

 

[GLyford]

Check your pawn shops and used tool stores for grinders, found a couple with no washer/nut/wrench that work just fine for use with a wheel.

 

[k0ua]

Thanks all. I use the knotted heavy wire ones too. Maybe I use to much pressure trying to get into every crevice - which can be many on my beads, or removing scale because I am to lazy to change to the grinding wheel. Been thinking about a second grinder for a long time. I should just go ahead and get it. This is the type in this pic

View attachment 577708

gg

you only have one? I have four. You need multiple angle grinders to keep from having to stop and constantly change the tools on them. You often need grinder wheel, slitting/cutting wheel, and knotted brush, but I also like to keep a flap wheel handy too. I need 4 on many jobs. I can't see just having one.