Cut-off Tool Suggestions

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Folks,Looking for a cut-off tool, electric. What would you folks suggest? Also, what type of discs do you get? I'm new..........
Reply:Originally Posted by dforeidFolks,Looking for a cut-off tool, electric. What would you folks suggest? Also, what type of discs do you get? I'm new..........
Reply:Originally Posted by stroker_daveBottom line: a cheap angle grinder and a cutoff wheel make for a fairly inexpensive cutting tool.Dave
Reply:Like Dave, I have two 4.5 inch angle grinders ready to use - one with a grinding wheel, the second with a cut-off wheel.  I actually own 4 of these grinders - two still in their boxes.What to buy?In my case, I considered cheapies - like $22 for Chinese 'no name' units from Princess Auto but went for better units - at the same $.  What happends is that every once in a while, Canadian Tire puts their Mastercraft brand $60 (3 year warrantee) 4.5 inch angle grinders on sale for about $22, I can't resist buying one.  Another super sale = another grinder!  Hey, four good quality grinders for $88 is not too bad.  To me, it just didn't make much sense to pay $100 plus for a DeWalt, Porter Cable, Hitachi, Freud, etc.As for cut-off wheels, I buy only depressed centre cut-off wheels and only the thinest ones - like 0.045 (3/64) inch (1.2 mm) thick.  Why super thin?  The thicker wheels just turn more good metal into grinding dust - a waste.The best buys have been:Walter Zipcut 11-T 142: depressed centre, 4.5 x 3/64 x 7/8 inch arbor.$3.19 at BOC welding distributor - yes cheaper there than elsewhere.Porter Cable PC8424: depressed centre, 4.5 x 0.045 x 7/8 inch arbor.Were on sale at Princess Auto for $1.99 each, regular about $3.30These wheels are ideal for cut cutting apart welds!  I got an opportunity to grab a stand made up of several pieces of 1/4 inch x 2 inch mild steel - the cutting wheel let me cut the welds apart in no time and whala - I had several useful lengths of mild steel.Depending upon what I am cutting, I often still use manual hacksaw with a cobalt blade for mild steel. When it comes to hardened steel or stainless, the cut off wheels shine - unlike a hacksaw blade, the grit wheels don't seem to notice the difference in toughness/hardness.As for grinding wheels; these run about $5 but... Princess Auto had 4.5 inch x 1/4 thick x 7/8 inch arbor (Chinese) on sale for $0.88 each; I picked up 10 and am now set for a long time!I hope that helps,Rick VLast edited by Rick V; 10-08-2006 at 09:19 PM.
Reply:Does anyone use a RECIP SAW?I am thinking of getting either a Recip Saw or a Portable band saw.
Reply:yep hand grinder super handy then cut-off for the bigger  (portable band saw another handy item)   a RECIP. saw it bounces way to much and blades bend easybut i would look into hand grinder and or chop saw
Reply:Every cut-off tool or device I have is pretty precious to me. They all get used. Some a lot, some seldom. The recipricating saw sets on the shelf more than the rest. I use a hacksaw more than the recip. If I had to choose just one I couldn't do it now. Since you really need a grinder anyway, cut-off wheels are a natural to have around no matter what your primary method is. As always, bigger and more is better, but you start with what you can afford and work your way up.
Reply:What to buy?What happens is that every once in a while, Canadian Tire puts their .... 4.5 inch angle grinders on sale for about $22, I can't resist buying one.
Reply:I'd love to know how you grinder guys can keep the cutoff wheels tight in the grinder.  I have the Dewalt 4.5 in grinder and I put one of their 4.5 inch cutoff disks on it to cut with and it doesn't cinch up tight.  The wheel stops spinnning when it bites into the metal.  Is there a specific type of cutoff wheel I should be using.  The ones I bought were about 1/8 to 3/16 thick, maybe they were too thin.  The lockdown nut just doesn't pull up tight enough to the wheel when tightened all the way.
Reply:383bigblock: I'd love to know how you grinder guys can keep the cutoff wheels tight in the grinder....  The lockdown nut just doesn't pull up tight enough to the wheel when tightened all the way.
Reply:I'd love to know how you grinder guys can keep the cutoff wheels tight in the grinder. I have the Dewalt 4.5 in grinder and I put one of their 4.5 inch cutoff disks on it to cut with and it doesn't cinch up tight.
Reply:Originally Posted by 383bigblockI'd love to know how you grinder guys can keep the cutoff wheels tight in the grinder.  I have the Dewalt 4.5 in grinder and I put one of their 4.5 inch cutoff disks on it to cut with and it doesn't cinch up tight.  The wheel stops spinnning when it bites into the metal.  Is there a specific type of cutoff wheel I should be using.  The ones I bought were about 1/8 to 3/16 thick, maybe they were too thin.  The lockdown nut just doesn't pull up tight enough to the wheel when tightened all the way.
Reply:Originally Posted by harcosparkyDoes anyone use a RECIP SAW?I am thinking of getting either a Recip Saw or a Portable band saw.
Reply:Well today was a good day for me.Armed with $325 to go buy a new porta-band saw, I went hunting at flea markets and yard sales.Picked up a slighty used Milwaukee portable band saw for a giveaway price of $100. Dealer said he had 4 of them and had not sold on in 4 weeks.I then proceed on to Lowes and picked up two more DeWalt Grinders and a bunch of cutoff wheels.So for about $325 - the saw and two new grinders.I think I am set for now in the cutoff department.No more excuses, time to start building something with all these 12 foot long pieces of steel laying under the shed.Cutoff Wheels LOOSE????DeWalt says - FLIP THE NUT OVER - ( for the thinner cutoff wheels )Actually I saw the how the nut was made, flipped it over myself and then read the manual.
Reply:I have a few tools for cutting metal but the one I use the most for lengths of steel is a Makita 14" chop saw.  I have a couple DeWalt 4.5" angle grinders and a Makita 4", two with grinding wheels and the other with a wire wheel.   I hadn't thought of using one as a cut-off tool, didnt realize a cut-off wheel would fit in there.   I'll have to give that a try, sounds like a great idea!  Usually if I want to cut with something smaller than the chop saw I use the HTP air cut-off tool with 3" wheels.   It's quite handy.   The Makitas, DeWalts and HTP have held up to several years of use without problems.  They cost a little more than the off-brands, but I like to have tools that will last a long time.   Other tools that I dont use as often I can afford to spend a little less on but if I'm using it alot, I want the good stuff .I've also used all of these to cut steel--hacksaw, obviously!bandsaw, works goodelectric jigsaw, works but not the best choice air jigsaw, a little easier to manuever than the electric oneair straight die grinder, for trimming and shapingair angle die grinder, for trimmig and shapingDremel tool, for trimming and shaping Milwaukee Sawzall w/ metal cutting blade, works great but blades dont last very long...  circular framing saw with a fiber-metal blade, works ok radial-arm saw with a fiber-metal blade, works pretty goodcompound miter saw with a fiber-metal blade, great for angled cuts...and even a table saw on occasion, best for cutting along a lengthIf it rotates and will hold a cutting blade, I'll use it, if anything just to see how it works.
Reply:I have:horizontal/vertical bandsawPorter Cable portable bandsawChop sawFour angle grinders.I almost exclusively use the angle grinder for cutting. It is just faster and easier. I usually get bored waiting for the band saw and have to go outside the shop for the chop saw so I use the angle grinder.I haveone with a cut off wheel, one with sanding disk, one with grinding disk and one with a wire brush. All hanging under my welding table and already plugged in.
Reply:Thanks guys I should have just flipped it over and been done with it however the dam nut says "this side to wheel" or something like that.  I thought of using washers but couldn't put my hands on any.  Instead I put a 7 1/4 in steel cutoff wheel on my Porter Cable circular saw and cut the tank up with that (not pretty).  Before I give up on the grinder I will try the nut flip thingy.
Reply:Originally Posted by 383bigblockThanks guys I should have just flipped it over and been done with it however the dam nut says "this side to wheel" or something like that.  I thought of using washers but couldn't put my hands on any.  Instead I put a 7 1/4 in steel cutoff wheel on my Porter Cable circular saw and cut the tank up with that (not pretty).  Before I give up on the grinder I will try the nut flip thingy.
Reply:I have to flip the nut on my DeWALT grinder...one side is for the cut-off and the other side is for the regular grind wheel.Lincoln AC-225
Reply:Originally Posted by harcosparkyYeah it says the same thing on the Nuts on my grinders as well. The MANUAL told me to flip the nut over, actually it confirmed what I had already figured out!
Reply:i picked up a 14" chop saw cheap and it just keeps going, also have the 3" air cut off tool and use my saws-all a lot of the time as well. all my (5) 4.5" grinders have one type or another of wire wheels and flapdisks on them for the most part.supose i could try a cut off wheel for one, i also always have a leather aprin on in the shop just incase one of the aheels flys apart, not to mention the wire wheels shoot quils like a porkupine summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:Hi Guys,this Is My First Post,been Honoring The Site For Two Months Now.i Run My Own One Man Welding Shop Here In Red Wing,mn. For Twenty Years . Just Had To Let You Guys Know If You Want A Great Cuttoff Machine. I Use Nothing But A 6 Inch Metabo Grinder With Sait 045 Cuttoff Wheels.you Have Twice As Much Control Than You Do With The 4.5 Grinder. I Buy My Wheels From Ebay.i'm Not Sure Of The Web Site But Just Do A Search On Cuttoff Wheeels.with Shipping And All There Still Only About A 1.35 Each.the Metabos Are A Little More Pricy But I Have 8 Different Metabos And Have Only Had To Send In The Die Grinder For Repair.not Bad For Twenty Years.just Had To Tell You After I Seen How Much You Guys Were Paying For The 4.5 Wheels.just My Two Cents Worth.curly
Reply:curlywelcome to the site, good to have ya.i dont think i have ever hard anything bad about the Metabo Grinder except the $$ wow!! but as they say ya get what ya pay for, i just wish i could aford one. LOL my big splerg was on a portacable, realy nice grinder but some day i might find a deal on a metabo or just break down and get one. seems like the rigid is there lower $ version, nice but not as nice as the metabos from what i have herd. a litle cheaper bearing in the rigid but its still suposed to be a nice grinder. summer is here, plant a tree for mother earth. if you dont have time or space, sponcer some one else to plant one for you.feel free to shoot me a PM or e-mail me at [email][email protected] i got lots of time.
Reply:I have 3 4" angles (HF cheapies)1 w/grinder, 1 w/ sanding wheel, and the last with cut-off wheel or wire wheel.Plasma cutter14" 1 HP bandsaw w/ 6" riser block (20" total)Porta bandsawO/A torchSawsallScroll saw for hobby, light sheet metal stuff or woodChop sawHacksawsI have acquired all of these methods over the years as was needed for a particular project, and according to my financial condition. You need all of them at one time or another, and if I had a real shop instead of my half garage, I'd have more.   You can NEVER have enough tools!Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene