Angle grinders -- oh yeah!

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I've never had or used an angle grinder before. Got one with my welder that had a cutting wheel but no guard. I was too paranoid to use it until the guard I ordered came in -- heard/read horror stories. Bought a knotted wire wheel for it a couple of days ago and decided to install the guard, the wire wheel, put on my new face shield, and take it for a spin on the flux-core welds I've been playing with.I'd been cleaning the welds with a wire brush and thought I was doing good. A quick touch with the wire wheel in the grinder and WOW! Nice clean shiny looking welds. Even my initial wrong settings chicken poop looking welds looked nicer. No more wire brush for me!I can see why you like your angle grinders and own several of them. Now I can't wait to try cutting with it. I see a few more in my future. Warning: I have been wrong before!New small workshop, small MIG, oxyacetylene set with a DHC-2000 that I'm learning to use and really like. Life is good!Typos are there for those that look for them. I try to do something for everybody.
Reply:Word of advice for you specially when using the wire cup..... be extremely careful when the cup is spinning near your clothing. If the wire brushes happen to catch a lose piece of your clothes, like an open over shirt, it will tangle up something fierce. It can actually hit you pretty good so be warned._________________Chris
Reply:If you plan on doing any metal work at all the the angle grinder is your friend. respect it and it will work very well for you. i have 3 at work. we make hand rails  and gates and doors at a metal shop. when im at home working on the truck or things, i have 2 one with the cut off wheel and the grinding wheel on the other so i dont have to change them all the time. once you learn what you can do with the grinder it wont leave your side. also pick up a few flap wheels and you can get a real smoth surfse that your hand can run down and not cut you at all...just my two cents....
Reply:Originally Posted by lorenzoWord of advice for you specially when using the wire cup..... be extremely careful when the cup is spinning near your clothing. If the wire brushes happen to catch a lose piece of your clothes, like an open over shirt, it will tangle up something fierce. It can actually hit you pretty good so be warned.
Reply:Originally Posted by Weldingyota92If you plan on doing any metal work at all the the angle grinder is your friend. respect it and it will work very well for you. i have 3 at work. we make hand rails  and gates and doors at a metal shop. when im at home working on the truck or things, i have 2 one with the cut off wheel and the grinding wheel on the other so i dont have to change them all the time. once you learn what you can do with the grinder it wont leave your side. also pick up a few flap wheels and you can get a real smoth surfse that your hand can run down and not cut you at all...just my two cents....
Reply:I recently had a MRI done. The prescreening list of questions included if I welded or if I used a grinder.  Even a small imbedded piece of steel can be a problem when you are inside of a powerful magnet.RonL
Reply:While the angle grinders are  great tools , incorrectly used they can cause serious injuries. Guess which tool causes the greatest amount of admissions to the emergency rooms.Eye injuries followed by hand injuries top the lists.The tools come with handles and guards ,but see how many of us ,just plain know better and take them off.Many do not under stand that some discs are made to grind on their face and other discs are designed to cut only on their edge.Discs need mounting to the angle grinder spindle in the correct way with the lock nut set in the  proper orientation .I don,t mean to scare you off, but please do  read the instructions that come with them.So many people don,tTake care and good luckGrahame
Reply:When I had an MRI done, and they found out what I did for a living, they had to do xrays of my eyes first to check for any metal particles.
Reply:I'm paranoid, seriously safe and RTFM. Still, I'm not going to go live in a bubble either -- you can suffocate in bubbles.  Lets assume we're intelligent adults and follow safe practices and not turn this into a thread on all the bad things that can happen with our tools. I'm jazzed about this new to me tool discovery and would rather hear of cool (and safe) add-ons and uses as opposed to piles of horror stories. K? Warning: I have been wrong before!New small workshop, small MIG, oxyacetylene set with a DHC-2000 that I'm learning to use and really like. Life is good!Typos are there for those that look for them. I try to do something for everybody.
Reply:I'm a big fan of grinders, both 4 1/2" and 7 1/2". I usually try to order several wheels for each: cup brushes, knotted end radial brushes, 1/8" pipeline grinding disks, type 28 grinding disks, flap wheels and cut-off wheels. I don't know what most people feel regarding disks with arbors and less expensive disks without arbors, but I order them with arbors.
Reply:Aww hell, just use some common sense and follow the directions and have fun.  Remember that Grinding on aluminum and brass/bronze can be dangerous.  Thats when I had a disc explode.  It puched a hole in my brazing flux can.  Ill admit I was ignorant, and didnt follow the directions...  Havent had it happen since.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:I'm as guilty as anyone when it comes to discarded guards..But with what i do the guards are only in the way anyways.. I've been hit by sanding disc fragments a time or two.. common sence should tell you what you can and can't do with these..but in the long run?...NEVER USE THE TRIGGER LOCK IF SO EQUIPPED!!thats when the real fun starts when things "get outta hand"  ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:I have one of the guards from Harbor Freight for cutting disks and it really works well.  For 5 bucks you cant beat it.  It will allow you to make good straight cuts using a guide.  It is one of those things you occasionally find at HF that is actually worth more than what they charge for it.
Reply:Originally Posted by VisorblueI don't have a wheel cup. Should I get one? The power of this sucker surprised me.
Reply:I have two and don't think I could work (play) without them. I try to always use the guards and use knotted wire wheels. They do not throw wire near as much. I have use a wire wheel in a grinder for many years cleaning up old parts for painting. If you use your head they are pretty safe tools. I have been interested in the new Dewalt cordless. It would be nice not to have cords wrapped around your legs, the welding table, and what ever you are working on. Has anyone tried this grinder? Does it have enough soup?He who dies with the most tools wins
Reply:Originally Posted by Rich59I have one of the guards from Harbor Freight for cutting disks and it really works well.  For 5 bucks you cant beat it.  It will allow you to make good straight cuts using a guide.  It is one of those things you occasionally find at HF that is actually worth more than what they charge for it.
Reply:Originally Posted by stickI like that idea. Too bad we don't have harbor freight up here in nanookland!
Reply:Originally Posted by Rich59I have one of the guards from Harbor Freight for cutting disks and it really works well.  For 5 bucks you cant beat it.  It will allow you to make good straight cuts using a guide.  It is one of those things you occasionally find at HF that is actually worth more than what they charge for it.
Reply:I use a Metabo 7 1/2 every day at work. I really have to get myself a 4 1/2 though. A grinding disk is a quick and easy way to take off paint, rust, corrosion, or whatever.
Reply:The reason discs explode after grinding alum. is that the wrong disc was used in the first place... Use only alum designated discs for alum, they are made softer than steel ones in order to shed the alum. particles that get embedded quickly.  the steel ones are harder, and do not wear down as fast, and when the alum gets embedded into it, dangerous out-of-balance quickly occurs and BANG off she goes... you want to be wearing leathers when it happens , trust me.
Reply:I don't have a wheel cup. Should I get one? The power of this sucker surprised me. I'd heard of someone getting internal bleeding from using wire wheels...but I'm going to take that with a grain of salt as supposedly the guy was wearing a leather welding jacket and the wire still got to his internal organs. However, that story got me to not use the thing until I got a replacement guard, which is probably a good thing.
Reply:I'd never given angle grinders much thought and never considered the power or usefulness of them unit I went to the Dewalt site to get a manual for mine and saw the two pictures of them in use: Those gave me an idea of the power of the things, wouldn't have thought that they could do that kind of work. My small jobs should be child's play for them. I'll add a grinding wheel next. That will give me a cutting wheel, knotted wire wheel, and a grinding wheel.Warning: I have been wrong before!New small workshop, small MIG, oxyacetylene set with a DHC-2000 that I'm learning to use and really like. Life is good!Typos are there for those that look for them. I try to do something for everybody.
Reply:My skills at welding over all are lacking. I have spent some time with die grinders & angle grinders. What gets me is what we see on TV with the folks building bikes  or what ever & using grinders & no gloves.
Reply:Originally Posted by RIVERRATMy skills at welding over all are lacking. I have spent some time with die grinders & angle grinders. What gets me is what we see on TV with the folks building bikes  or what ever & using grinders & no gloves.
Reply:Originally Posted by RIVERRATMy skills at welding over all are lacking. I have spent some time with die grinders & angle grinders. What gets me is what we see on TV with the folks building bikes  or what ever & using grinders & no gloves.Angle grinders are larger and typically electric. Die grinders are small air powered tools, although there are some electric ones. You can get little cut-off wheels for die grinders, as well as carbide burrs and other tools.
Reply:me37, has it right. I am an arborist by trade {tree monkey} but I love working with steel. Safety in all trades, that use   power tools is just a smart thing..... We get a lot of the "he man" type mentality in my vocation. But the gene pool is some what self cleansing when it comes to running a saw in a tree while you are supported by a 1/2" rope......This is a good sight with great  people that love what they do!!!Last edited by RIVERRAT; 12-30-2006 at 10:05 PM.
Reply:Have any of you ever heard of Angle Grinder Man?  He's a real life superhero of sorts in the UK.  Over there, instead of getting parking tickets like we do, they get big clamps put on their wheels so they can't drive away until their fine is paid!  This guy has a superhero outfit and everything with blue spandex, gold undies and a cape.  They call him and he shows up with a giant gas powered angle grinder and cuts the clamp off their wheels!  HA!  It's great!  Check out the article at:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3112670.stmMatt in OKCLincoln 175HD