4.50 cut off wheel

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Hello all, today I cut into 21 welds to save some angle iron that my buddy gave me to turn into a welding table structure(save $, $pending a lot practicing this welding). I did this w/ a 3'' air cut off wheel to slice the 1st weld, followed w/HF 4.5 cut off wheel to cut the posts away. Went through 7 cut off wheels b/c these HF replacements suck & would brake loose almost immediately, scary!!! Got through it all but don't wanna play w/those again.  Anybody got recommendations on good cut off wheels? Dewalt or any other recommendations b/c I don't think I would go grab these kind again. ( the grinding wheels & flap discs seem ok, then again I'm new @ this)  I also have HF 14'' chop saw (the better model) I believe those are made by the same company, are those safe? I know HF are cheaper tools but I don't wanna cause damage to myself or anything around me b/c of some sort of failure saving a few dollar$. Let me know your thoughts, thanks.  How tall would you make your table height? I have researched 36-42'' in height, so around there? I'm thinking lower for heavier items?Millermatic 211 auto-set w/spool gun Diversion 165375 XtremeDigital elite
Reply:I modded my guard to take 6" cutting wheels because the additional life and greater edge speed per RPM are well worth it.Radnor cheepies work very well, as good as Pferd which surprised me. They make a variety of sizes.
Reply:I would not use them cut off type wheels. Go up to the grinder wheels. Get them at HF 10 in a box for like $9.99 on sale maybe half that, I buy a ton on sale. Get a lot more done with one before you change it. Just did it cutting angles off a old metal stairway. Ain't really cutting, more grinding not trying to damage the beam. Used like 2 grinding wheels for 13 steps. Cut the handrails off with them too.I got an old HF 14 chop saw, no problems. There is differences in the older HF equipment and some of this new crap. Got an old HF 4.5 grinder that was great can't really get the brushes out of it. Used it for like 20 years, the new HF junk grinders I would never buy. Sort of like the Black and Decker for a cheap grinder.Today you just about don't get a set of replacement brushes with anything HF. Always did in the past. Finding the right brushes can be a pain. Some of the older stuff was great, got a miter saw I beat around forever.
Reply:i use all dewalt (both cut-off and thick grind) for my 4 1/2 grinder [yet to have probs with them ]  use the thin 14 " in the big cut-off saw  never will buy wheels from HFidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Originally Posted by CosmicRamblerthe new HF junk grinders I would never buy. Sort of like the Black and Decker for a cheap grinder.Today you just about don't get a set of replacement brushes with anything HF. Always did in the past. Finding the right brushes can be a pain. Some of the older stuff was great, got a miter saw I beat around forever.
Reply:Originally Posted by papaharley03I've bought some HF tools lately, and I got replacement brushes with all of them. I have two of the 4.5 paddle switch grinders(the only ones I will buy) and the 1/2 low rpm drill. They are doing fine.
Reply:Don't mess with cheap cut-off wheels.Walter Zip wheels or Metabo slicers.A arc gouge works best Semper FiJesus may have been a Carpenter, but his dad was a Millwright" A grinder and a can of paint, will make a welder what he aint' "I've done so much, with so little, for so long, that now I can do anything with nothing!
Reply:Thanks guys, it seems as if the cut off wheels retainer ring that hooks into place kept ripping out so my cut off wheel was flopping around & one flew off! Grinder worked just felt the vibration.Millermatic 211 auto-set w/spool gun Diversion 165375 XtremeDigital elite
Reply:were you by chance spinning them raster than their rated speed?
Reply:Higher class wheels cut better and last longer but they cost more too. In todays environment no matter what method you use it will boil down to cents or dollars per cut. That's why I've started giving so-called free scrap a pretty long and hard look anymore. Even paint and rust will equate to dollars plus time to clean up. My updated phylosophy is that unless it is pretty clean and uncluttered, or unless it just simply falls right into your lap or unless it is a fairly expensive piece, I'll save my pennies and buy a piece of new. More on topic if I was cutting stuff up for practice and play a torch would be by far the quickest and easiest. Sometimes folks don't think they can afford several means of cutting. But really you can't afford not to. By the time you figure the bucks per cut-off wheel and the number of wheels you can go through, cut-off wheels are far from the cheepest."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyHigher class wheels cut better and last longer but they cost more too. In todays environment no matter what method you use it will boil down to cents or dollars per cut. That's why I've started giving so-called free scrap a pretty long and hard look anymore. Even paint and rust will equate to dollars plus time to clean up. My updated phylosophy is that unless it is pretty clean and uncluttered, or unless it just simply falls right into your lap or unless it is a fairly expensive piece, I'll save my pennies and buy a piece of new. More on topic if I was cutting stuff up for practice and play a torch would be by far the quickest and easiest. Sometimes folks don't think they can afford several means of cutting. But really you can't afford not to. By the time you figure the bucks per cut-off wheel and the number of wheels you can go through, cut-off wheels are far from the cheepest.
Reply:Recently certain Home Depot stores have started carrying Hilti cutoff discs in 4.5 and 5" sizes. I tried some and they were great, but I can only compare them to Norton and HF as those are the only others I have ever used. The HF suck, they are thick and soft and disintegrate quickly into the air and all over the place. I still have a bunch, can't wait till they're gone.Anyone else tried the Hilti ones?Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:Pearl Abrasives Redline grinding discs and cutoff wheels are nice.  They can remove alot of material fast.  We recently switched from the crappy Radnor discs that load up, get hot, and don't remove metal to the Redlines and it is a night and day difference.
Reply:Bosch, Norton or Metabo in the 14" & Dewalt red, Metabo,  or Norton in the 4.5". Only ones that never gave me one problem so I've stuck with them, & there easier to come by around me.Millermatic 211 Lincoln Idealarc 250-250, ~500lb water cooled tig
Reply:Great info guys I really appreciate it! Millermatic 211 auto-set w/spool gun Diversion 165375 XtremeDigital elite
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallI modded my guard to take 6" cutting wheels because the additional life and greater edge speed per RPM are well worth it.
Reply:save time and money..learn to use a cutting torch..not as noisy, dangerous or dirty too
Reply:Hey guys,I use strictly Sait 4.5"(.045) cutoff discs & have never had a failure. I was very fortunate to get (10) boxes(50 per box) from the boss when the company closed. He gave me boxes of Sait 4.5" grinding wheels also & just said: "You'll still be doing work for me, so take them." No quibble there.....DennyComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."