4 1/2 angle grinder 1/8" cutoff/grinding wheels

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http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=enI have been using these 4 1/2" x  1/8" depressed center wheels as cutoff discs on 1/8" and 1/4" x 2" angle iron. The product description says "cutting or grinding" so I assume they are safe to use for both. Should I be concerned about them breaking apart? Cutting is a little slower than a thin cutoff disc but they feel much safer.ThanksLast edited by martik777; 02-26-2011 at 07:52 AM.Reason: typo
Reply:The thicker discs will take more abuse.  Cutting discs can shatter if the operator twists or catches the disc in the kerf as he is cutting.  I personally prefer the thin cutting discs.  They use less power and cut faster.  That being said I am super careful with zip discs because they are so fragile.  That means gloves and eye protection.  If I am doing something tricky I use a face shield and keep my body out of the plane of that cutting disc.  If it shatters you do not want to be in line this the pieces.   Also a weak grinder that is low on power is sometimes better.  Walter brand actually marketed a unit that would stall and shut down if the disc jammed and the machine was overloaded.
Reply:Buy .045" or 1/16" zip wheels for cutting and keep the 1/8" or 1/4" for grinding. There really isn't a wheel designed to do both..Vinnie
Reply:1/8 blades take twice as long for cutting because you are trying to remove so much material. As the others stated, go with .045 cut off dicsFire!, Fire! Oh wait, that's my torch...Lincoln PT-225 TIGLincoln 175 MIG
Reply:A sawzall or portaband is a lot faster for cutting that material. Thinner kerf so you lose/waste less material. Blades are much less expensive than grinding/cutoff disks. Blades are much safer too. Use the proper tool.
Reply:Originally Posted by A/C GuyA sawzall or portaband is a lot faster for cutting that material.
Reply:I use a milwaukee electric die grinder with 1/16" 4" cutting wheel. The electric grinder has a lot more power then a pneumatic so it doesn't slow down when you start cutting. If you dont have a bandsaw Id suggest getting one. They are well worth the money. I work on a lot of farm equipment and have a gas engine powered 14" saw. I use a 14" abrasive wheel for a chop saw in it. Its nice because you can take it anywhere and cut just about anything.
Reply:Originally Posted by martik777http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=enI have been using these 4 1/2" x  1/8" depressed center wheels as cutoff discs on 1/8" and 1/4" x 2" angle iron. The product description says "cutting or grinding" so I assume they are safe to use for both. Should I be concerned about them breaking apart? Cutting is a little slower than a thin cutoff disc but they feel much safer.Thanks
Reply:Exactly, Oldiron2.No matter what you're cutting steel with, wear a bionic face shield.  Avoid going blind.  Better to look a little silly now than to feel like a total idiot (with one dead eye) the rest of your life.  It flips up easy.  Flips down easy too.  $29 at Amazon, which is cheaper than the weird glasses you'll have to wear after you tear a piece out of your eye.  Edit: ONLY $12, HERE, although their shipping cost is high.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Originally Posted by Oldiron2Particularly if you use the thinner cut-off wheels, remember that these tools need the guards installed on them to protect the operator when (not if) one of the wheels explodes. Even with the thicker wheels, the "when" still applies.Accidents that can cause serious disabilities like loss of sight won't usually kill you, but will make you wonder if that alternative might have been better.
Reply:Thanks for all the replies. I tried the sawzall and it did work quite well with the right blade. Coarse teeth worked faster. I will be on the lookout for one of those bionic face shields!
Reply:WE have changed all of our shields at work to the bionics. Everyone loves them over the other brands we have had.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jack OlsenExactly, Oldiron2.No matter what you're cutting steel with, wear a bionic face shield.  Avoid going blind.  Better to look a little silly now than to feel like a total idiot (with one dead eye) the rest of your life.  It flips up easy.  Flips down easy too.  $29 at Amazon, which is cheaper than the weird glasses you'll have to wear after you tear a piece out of your eye.
Reply:The face shield I have its about $8 to replace the shield, there are cheaper units around $4, maybe a little less but the plastic is thinner.
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyNot to highkack the OP but does that face shield have a decent scratch resistant face shield? Can you get replacements? Latest problem Im dealing with isn't the eyes, it's the expensive darn glasses. The anti-glare coating. I used to just let the grinding fragments, sparks and tailings just bounce off my glasses and face, but this last go around the sparks hit that coating and it opens right up. Larger fragments put scarfs in the plastic lenses too. Next thing ya know a brand new pair of glasses are toast. I've been wearing my old ones out in the shop but they are so pitted I get headaches. Need something.
Reply:Got to do somethin. Can't keep eating up glasses. "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 SandyGot to do somethin. Can't keep eating up glasses.
Reply:look for chemical face shields, they have them that are a stack of layers and you just peel of a layer when you need to.
Reply:Originally Posted by lars66Looks like the $29.00 face shield would be cheap enough to try, I tried googles after a spark bounce led to a cornea operation, but they are worthless because of fogging up.
Reply:On an angle grinder a cutting disc support from a Backing Flange not a backing support for a grinding wheel with the indented center is critical.  I exploded four discs trying to make it work so I wouldn't have to stop working and go buy a Backing Flange.  Life is to short.  Use the right tool.  Backing Flange is $2.97 from DeWalt or a generic I found was $5.75.  I found the electric grinders have significantly more torque than pneumatic units and the discs will explode when they bind before the disc stops turning.  On the pneumatic units binding stops the disc before it explodes.   Not sure if it is less torque or less RPM.  I use a full face mask but it is open around the edges.  Lets me use a breathing filter mask under it.  Thinking of using a paint rubbing compound on the clear face mask to take out small imperfections from debris.  Anyone tried rubbing compound or toothpaste?  How did it work?Last edited by ctkid343w; 02-28-2011 at 10:42 AM.
Reply:Coincidentally, a salesman from our gas supplier (Noble Gas) came by today with a rep from Walter.He gave me a couple of their new products to try out, including the "Combo ZIP" cutting and grinding discs. It says it's 5/64" (0.078) thick, so still pretty thin.Now that I look at it, it actually says "deburring" not grinding on the disc. Rep said grinding.  Oh well, not like we paid for them...But it seems pretty durable so far, none of the audible creaking and cracking like some of the other zip discs. I've been using them with my cordless Milwaukee grinder, been good so far. Cuts quick like a thin zip disc, and survived some light grinding without issue.Not going to stop wearing my leathers and shield however...Oh and BTW, spit is my personal favorite anti-fog, it's free and works just as well as the store bought stuff, been spitting in my dive masks for years. lol.
Reply:I don't bother with the 1/8" cutoff wheels - to large a kerf.I had a 0.045 wheel bind in the cut and explode a few days ago.  It jammed the locking nut so badly on my dewalt grinder that I destroyed the stop trying to get the nut off.  The cool thing is that Tractor SUpply had the grinder on sale for $10 off when I stopped in Sunday.I use the full face mask from Lowes - clear plastic but still breathes enough to not fog badly.Hobart LX235Victor 250 Oxy-Acetylene Rig (welding and cutting)Bobcat 773F-350, 1999, 4x4, 16' 10K# trailerOutdoor Wood Burner - 10 cords/year
Reply:Originally Posted by gwileyI don't bother with the 1/8" cutoff wheels - to large a kerf.I had a 0.045 wheel bind in the cut and explode a few days ago.  It jammed the locking nut so badly on my dewalt grinder that I destroyed the stop trying to get the nut off.  The cool thing is that Tractor SUpply had the grinder on sale for $10 off when I stopped in Sunday.I use the full face mask from Lowes - clear plastic but still breathes enough to not fog badly.
Reply:Originally Posted by Michaeljp86A dewalt grinder for 10 bucks?
Reply:Back to the original posters question.I agree with most that 1/8 discs are too thick for best cutting speed and too thin for heavy grinding.  However I use them sometimes for knocking off surface coatings, for example heavy paint coatings, galvanizing etc. which load up the disc so it no longer grinds properly.  I find the 1/8 disc wears away faster exposing more fresh abrasive rather than clogging up as fast as the 1/4 discs.  If I had a 1/8 disc on, I would use it to cut off a bolt or nut rather than change to a zip disc, but for a long cut or lots of cuts, I prefer the zip disc, which is much faster.As far as safety goes the 1/8 discs are safe either way, assuming proper PPE is worn which I would wear for any grinding which is gloves, safety glasses and a faceshield."The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25Originally Posted by noriteBack to the original posters question.I agree with most that 1/8 discs are too thick for best cutting speed and too thin for heavy grinding.  However I use them sometimes for knocking off surface coatings, for example heavy paint coatings, galvanizing etc. which load up the disc so it no longer grinds properly.  I find the 1/8 disc wears away faster exposing more fresh abrasive rather than clogging up as fast as the 1/4 discs.  If I had a 1/8 disc on, I would use it to cut off a bolt or nut rather than change to a zip disc, but for a long cut or lots of cuts, I prefer the zip disc, which is much faster.As far as safety goes the 1/8 discs are safe either way, assuming proper PPE is worn which I would wear for any grinding which is gloves, safety glasses and a faceshield.