Metal cutting - oxyfuel cutting, plasma cutting, machining, grinding, and other preparatory work.
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Slightly off topic but here goes, this might be useful to someone:

Best grinding lesson I've learned I picked up from a magazine years ago. There was a feature on a home workshop. The guy had four angle grinders hanging up. His advice? "Grinders are cheap. Rather than endlessly swapping discs during a job, I just have a grinder for each job. Cutting, grinding, wire wheel, flap disc."

I've never regretted buying an extra grinder. Put one down, pick up the other, keep moving.



Kym
Stick_Welder_Steve
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AKweldshop wrote:Norton, Dewalt and Metabo for me.
Can Norton brand discs be found in local big box stores like home depot or do they have to be ordered online?
Stick_Welder_Steve
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LtBadd wrote:
Stick_Welder_Steve wrote:I currently use a hitachi 4 1/2 inch grinder with dewalt discs. Not the best brand, 1 disc only lasted me about a week. Any good brands that last a decent long time would be much appreciated!
Brand names aside, having the right disc for the material (stainless, aluminum?) is the real issue here, find a brand that's good, (many mention above) and ask your LWS or call the manufacturer to know which is the best for the material you'll be grinding.

Richard
I go to a trade school so we dont do much as far as exotic metals go mostly just carbon steel, aluminum, and stainless.
hey_allen
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MosquitoMoto wrote:His advice? "Grinders are cheap. Rather than endlessly swapping discs during a job, I just have a grinder for each job. Cutting, grinding, wire wheel, flap disc."

I've never regretted buying an extra grinder. Put one down, pick up the other, keep moving.

Kym
I have been doing the same thing for years. I found a grinder at a hardware store on sale, since it had been the floor demo model and some sticky fingered idiot had pocketed the grinding disk locking nut and washer. Makes a great wire wheel mount!
-Josh
Greasy fingered tinkerer.
nickn372
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I too buy what the LWS has. I also will watch for deals on brand names like Dewalt at tractor supply and rural king. Sometimes you find really good deals on old stock cutting wheels etc... for real cheap in their bargain bins. One brand I really like that is mostly available only through the Internet is Klingspor.
Be the monkey....
Stick_Welder_Steve
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MosquitoMoto wrote:Slightly off topic but here goes, this might be useful to someone:

Best grinding lesson I've learned I picked up from a magazine years ago. There was a feature on a home workshop. The guy had four angle grinders hanging up. His advice? "Grinders are cheap. Rather than endlessly swapping discs during a job, I just have a grinder for each job. Cutting, grinding, wire wheel, flap disc."

I've never regretted buying an extra grinder. Put one down, pick up the other, keep moving.



Kym
I remember my instructor notifying me of the small trick and I have never regretted it once, the ability to quickly switch between different discs quickly is amazing
ex framie
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MosquitoMoto wrote:Slightly off topic but here goes, this might be useful to someone:

Best grinding lesson I've learned I picked up from a magazine years ago. There was a feature on a home workshop. The guy had four angle grinders hanging up. His advice? "Grinders are cheap. Rather than endlessly swapping discs during a job, I just have a grinder for each job. Cutting, grinding, wire wheel, flap disc."

I've never regretted buying an extra grinder. Put one down, pick up the other, keep moving.

Kym
Not long ago my 26 yr old hitachi grinder died, if I had been smart enough to have checked the brushes and changed them it would still be running.
Anyway down to the hardware store for a replacement, same make, same size, same output grinder was on special for $50, I bought 2 (the original was $85, in 1989).
Several weeks later during a project, I was getting sick of having to change discs/brushes, back to the hardware store, bought 2 more hitachi grinders, same size with higher output for less than $60 each, so I now have 4 100mm + 1 7 1/2 inch for bigger jobs.
Yep all the new ones are made in china, but they seem well made.
Saves a lot of stuffing around changing disc types.
Now just have to build a mount to keep them on.
Pete

God gave man 2 heads and only enough blood to run 1 at a time. Who said God didn't have a sense of humour.....
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Stick_Welder_Steve wrote:
AKweldshop wrote:Norton, Dewalt and Metabo for me.
Can Norton brand discs be found in local big box stores like home depot or do they have to be ordered online?

Not sure. I got mine off eBay.
Just a couple welders and a couple of big hammers and torches.

Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it.
Trump/Carson 2016-2024
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[/quote]

Not long ago my 26 yr old hitachi grinder died, if I had been smart enough to have checked the brushes and changed them it would still be running.
Anyway down to the hardware store for a replacement, same make, same size, same output grinder was on special for $50, I bought 2 (the original was $85, in 1989).
Several weeks later during a project, I was getting sick of having to change discs/brushes, back to the hardware store, bought 2 more hitachi grinders, same size with higher output for less than $60 each, so I now have 4 100mm + 1 7 1/2 inch for bigger jobs.
Yep all the new ones are made in china, but they seem well made.
Saves a lot of stuffing around changing disc types.
Now just have to build a mount to keep them on.[/quote]

Another benefit of this approach is that even if you are buying 'budget priced' grinders, because you have 3 or 4 grinders sharing the work, they tend to last okay.

I welded up hooks for my grinders. I have cable tie loops on each grinder and I just hang them from a shed rafter.


Kym
hey_allen
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ex framie wrote: Now just have to build a mount to keep them on.
I'm not affiliated with these guys at all, but had seen this a bit back over on one of the offroad wheeling forums.
Swag Offroad makes a few laser cut grinder hangers, and others have made similar things on a plasma table.

http://www.swagoffroad.com/Grinder-Wall ... _p_47.html
-Josh
Greasy fingered tinkerer.
Poland308
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OMG. for 60$ I can buy a lot of 1/8 x2 flat stock to weld on to every work bench and wall in my garage for hanging grinders.
I have more questions than answers

Josh
hey_allen
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Poland308 wrote:OMG. for 60$ I can buy a lot of 1/8 x2 flat stock to weld on to every work bench and wall in my garage for hanging grinders.
True, but now you have ideas for how to save money on it!

The pricing is part of why I have no personal interest in the company, I can't afford to be buying their toys!

As to my storage, they live hanging off of the front edge of my welding cart's shelf, all side by side.
-Josh
Greasy fingered tinkerer.
maschinen
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Two professional choices are

Pferd Germany
https://www.pferdusa.com

Bronco Germany
http://www.dronco.com/xist4c/web/Grindi ... 19586_.htm
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I buy my grinding disks from the local metal recyclers.
These guys know exactly what works, they use it every day.

I did the same thing with 'weed whacker' grass trimmers.
I stop and ask the road crews along the highways.
Most times, they give me healthy samples to try out.

Many years ago, I had trouble sharpening chainsaw blades.
So, I bought the rental shop guy lunch,
and he taught me all about chainsaw blades. Money well spent.
Stick_Welder_Steve
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WerkSpace wrote:I buy my grinding disks from the local metal recyclers.
These guys know exactly what works, they use it every day.

I did the same thing with 'weed whacker' grass trimmers.
I stop and ask the road crews along the highways.
Most times, they give me healthy samples to try out.

Many years ago, I had trouble sharpening chainsaw blades.
So, I bought the rental shop guy lunch,
and he taught me all about chainsaw blades. Money well spent.
Haha I never knew you could stop by road crews and start asking em questions about grass trimmers :lol:
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Stick_Welder_Steve wrote:
WerkSpace wrote:I buy my grinding disks from the local metal recyclers.
These guys know exactly what works, they use it every day.

I did the same thing with 'weed whacker' grass trimmers.
I stop and ask the road crews along the highways.
Most times, they give me healthy samples to try out.

Many years ago, I had trouble sharpening chainsaw blades.
So, I bought the rental shop guy lunch,
and he taught me all about chainsaw blades. Money well spent.
Haha I never knew you could stop by road crews and start asking em questions about grass trimmers :lol:
Just make sure they're not in stripes or orange jumpsuits... :lol:

Steve S
hey_allen
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Otto Nobedder wrote: Just make sure they're not in stripes or orange jumpsuits... :lol:

Steve S
Or in Oregon, wearing jeans and jean jackets, with letters stenciled down the arms and legs!

Good reminder though, go to the users or maintainers and get their opinion, rather than the vendors who are always ready and willing to hype their particular line of merchandise!
-Josh
Greasy fingered tinkerer.
Stick_Welder_Steve
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hey_allen wrote:
Otto Nobedder wrote: Just make sure they're not in stripes or orange jumpsuits... :lol:

Steve S
Or in Oregon, wearing jeans and jean jackets, with letters stenciled down the arms and legs!

Good reminder though, go to the users or maintainers and get their opinion, rather than the vendors who are always ready and willing to hype their particular line of merchandise!
Yeah Ive been thinking about it and Ill probably get norton or sait if I can get my hands on it but if I find anything else worth checking out I will be happy to do so!
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As the incumbent salesman says, wurth are apparently a good one. But that comes down to skill/quality of machines and the job being done.

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wickedone
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Stick_Welder_Steve wrote:I currently use a hitachi 4 1/2 inch grinder with dewalt discs. Not the best brand, 1 disc only lasted me about a week. Any good brands that last a decent long time would be much appreciated!
i use Klingspor and have for years they don't powder and work great hope this helps
zjtins
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http://heleta.com/

buy in bulk and they last as long as anyones.
WWShop
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DeWalt is readily available in my local hardware stores.
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Stick_Welder_Steve wrote:I currently use a hitachi 4 1/2 inch grinder with dewalt discs. Not the best brand, 1 disc only lasted me about a week. Any good brands that last a decent long time would be much appreciated!
I've used Dewalt, Walter, Diablo and others ...they do last a bit longer. What I find is that they all get kind of contaminated and messy. I've been using these really cheap ones off Ebay , Ebay item# 700867218616 , 10 pack comes to about $1.40 each and while they don't last quite as long , I can grab a clean disc more often because they are so cheap. They actually do hold up pretty well , just not quite as long as the more expensive ones.
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