Best 4 1/2 inch metal-cutting discs

redrover

redrover

Well-Known Member
This is for Myrtle the Morris rather than the Rover, as I'm going through metal-cutting discs like nobody's business!
Was wondering what type/manufacturer of cutting discs people on here prefer. I have an angle grinder that can take 4 1/2 inch discs and have been using some cheapo carbide ones from Machine mart so far. I'm happy to spend a little more for a better quality product - ideally something that will last a bit longer than 5 bolt heads or 24 inches of 18 gauge steel!

Michael
 
The super thin ones actually tend to last longer (I know it doesn't seem to make any sense), but they cost more.

I get all mine from Toolstation http://www.toolstation.com Free next day delivery over £10

I either buy their cheapo standard cutting discs, about £4.20 for 10 http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Pow...Metal+Cutting+Disc+115x22mm/d80/sd1750/p88358

..or I get the more expensive thin jobbies, £12.94 for 10 http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Pow...utting+Discs+115+x+1+x+22mm/d80/sd1750/p13340 Now whether they last 3 times as long, I'm not sure ! :D
 
I've tried a few types on my 4.5" grinder. The 0.8-1.2mm discs are definitely the best for cutting steel. However, all the ones I have tried wear out just about as fast as yours. I've just accepted that they don't last long.

However, I did fairly recently replace my cheapo grinder with a half decent Bosch one and I suspect this has helped prolong the discs a little? I am guessing that the better engineered grinder has less run-out on the bearing and less vibration which is kinder to the discs?

If you have to pay £2 to cut through 24" of steel sheet that still seems like a good price to pay if the alternative is using a hacksaw :D .

I wonder what the diference is with smaller air-powered cut-off saws that pro's tend to use - do they last longer? If you have a compressor, you can buy quite cheap cut-off saws but I have no idea how much the discs cost or how long they last?
 
I use Klingspor ones, mainly because I nick them from work 8)

I only used three discs for all of the work I did on Sparky and now have the angle grinder at work where we modify pressure pots by cutting off 13mm steel bar. We have done 6 of them with no noticeable difference in diameter of the disc.

I have found that they last a lot longer if you don't put pressure on them, just let the discs do the work and not lean on them.

I'll get the spec on Monday

Richard
 
What are you cutting. by that I mean are you using the grinder to cut metal which you are using to make repair panels of just cutting out rot from the car.

As Richarad has said the very thin ones cut through the metal with ease although you can't abuse them, no grinding disc likes going through double layers of metal.

For cutting sheet metal I use a drill mounted nibbler which is superb and much neater (google "falcon nibbler). The nibblers do work on the car but it is sometimes access which is the problem. You can get them for and air compressor aswell.

I buy my discs from machine mart or bills tool store which is a local temple to all things tool.

Colin
 
quattro said:
I use Klingspor ones, mainly because I nick them from work 8)

I only used three discs for all of the work I did on Sparky and now have the angle grinder at work where we modify pressure pots by cutting off 13mm steel bar. We have done 6 of them with no noticeable difference in diameter of the disc.

I have found that they last a lot longer if you don't put pressure on them, just let the discs do the work and not lean on them.

I'll get the spec on Monday

Richard
Click to expand...

Yes please RIchard, wouldn't mind getting some more info on these.
 
Those Falcon nibblers are a good bit of kit, I'd recommend buying the spare anvil and punch with it too though. They can break.
If you're ever in a breakers yard with no power available hacking a bit of a repair panel out of a car, one of these nibblers with a battery drill saves you loads of time.
 
I've been on a mission to get metal cutting tools since I started working on cars, I've got a great selection now :LOL: Each has it's place.

Tin snips
Angle grinder (4", 4 1/2", 9" and 4" air powered)
Electric Jigsaw (don't use them often for steel, tend to burn out)
Air hack saw
Air cut off saw (just like an angle grinder really but discs are smaller)
Air nibbler (great but creates loads of razor sharp half-moon shards that stick in your knee)
Air Shears (excellent for cutting from a big sheet)
I bought a "Rage Evolution" sliding mitre saw that apparently cuts steel, but I daren't try it :LOL: Supposed to be good for tube and box section.
new toy - Plasma Cutter, cut into a home safe in about 30 seconds, can write your name in 18 guage sheet easily, brilliant, but you wouldn't want to use it near a car interior !
 
webmaster said:
I bought a "Rage Evolution" sliding mitre saw that apparently cuts steel, but I daren't try it :LOL: Supposed to be good for tube and box section.
Click to expand...
I bought the chop saw version for cutting firewood. Looking at a bit of old gatepost it had gone through, I was surprised to see a length of iron hinge that it had sliced through without any indication that it wasn't the same rotten wood. So it will cut steel easily, but as replacement blades cost a bomb I won't be using it much for that.

One of my favourite toys is a Makita reciprocating saw. It takes different blades for wood, steel, etc, and can often reach bolts where access is too restricted for an angle grinder. And blades are cheap enough not to worry about.
 
Thanks for all the replies, guys. Sorry I haven't been back onto this topic in a while, I've been away for a week or so!

arthuy said:
What are you cutting. by that I mean are you using the grinder to cut metal which you are using to make repair panels of just cutting out rot from the car.
Click to expand...

A bit of both really. At this stage, I'm cutting out totally rotten floor panels in the Minor. Most of it is like bran flakes, but there are some bits of good steel that I'm going through. I will be making repair panels in a few weeks.

As regards thickness, I'd say the ones I'm using are about 2mm or so. I recently got one 1.5mm disc for comparison, and it does seem to be a lot more robust.
I think I'll invest in some much thinner ones. I've been using the correct technique (placing less pressure than the weight of the grinder itself), and the speed of the cuts is not unreasonably slow, but I really do want some more longevity.

Richard (not that one... or that one.... or that one... :D but quattro Richard), what's the spec of those Klingspor ones you use? Even if they last half as long as yours, they will be infinitely better than what I have already!!

Cheers all,
Michael
 
This is probably totally irrelevant and overkill, but the 9" grinder is much better and the discs last much longer (plus you can use them on the 4 1/2 once you've worn them down enough), obviously you can't get into any remotely tight spaces with one, but they're good for long straight cuts etc.

I used to use the grinder for everything, but now use combination of grinder / airsaw / tinsnips etc depending on conditions.
 
I've got a reasonably cheap Clarke one (about £40 I think) and it has a slow start so you don't get that problem, I often moan that it takes too long to spin up :LOL:
 
Hi I use hundreds of 4.5 inch grinding & cutting discs as I have my own fabrication company the best discs I have used are called "Rapaflex" made by a company called Rappold .They appear expensive but out last anything else I have ever used by three or four times even on heavy stainless steel fabrications, hope this is of help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top