6 Angle Grinder Uses All DIYers Should Know. Grinder machine for metal

Get started on your next project with a versatile angle grinder that can be used for grinding, polishing, sharpening, cutting, and more.

By Timothy Dale | Published May 14, 2021 5:31 PM

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Angle grinders are a versatile power tool with a rapidly rotating disc that cuts, grinds, polishes, sharpens, and cleans a wide variety of difficult materials, including iron, copper, brass, brick, tile, stone, or mortar. The tool rotates the discs with a high amount of torque and an average operating speed of about 12,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), and some have variable speeds that can operate as low as 2,800 rpm. By changing the speed and the disc, you can alternate between grinding through metal and polishing metal, so it’s important to make sure the angle grinder is appropriately equipped for each project’s goal before starting.

These tools can operate on a battery or they can be directly connected through a power cord to provide a constant supply of electricity to the motor. Cordless grinders are a great option for short projects or specific cutting or grinding tasks. If you need to use the grinder for more than an hour, it may be better to invest in a corded angle grinder. Whichever type is chosen, users should always make sure they are wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) including a mask, safety glasses, work gloves, and earplugs.

Grinding and Polishing Metal

The primary purpose of an angle grinder is to grind metal. It achieves this with the use of abrasive grinding discs that come in a range of materials, like aluminum, carbide, and diamond-tipped discs. Attach a grinding disc and turn on the grinder to start the disc spinning rapidly. Press the abrasive disc to the target metal to flatten, smooth, or completely remove pieces from the metal.

At a lower speed setting, a smoothing or polishing wheel can improve the finish of the metal and enhance the color. Smoothing involves removing a fine layer from the metal to leaving a clean finish behind. Polishing wheels are made of soft materials, like cotton, and they actually add a layer of polish to get a mirror-like finish on smooth metal surfaces. If the speed isn’t adjustable, then a smoothing or polishing wheel may remove too much of the surface. Also, keep in mind that both smoothing and polishing take more time and patience than grinding.

Cutting Metal

The rapidly rotating disc on an angle grinder doesn’t just smooth, polish, and grind away metal, it can also be used for cutting through metal. This is a common use for plumbers who are working with galvanized iron or lead pipes. Welders frequently cut pieces of metal to clean up projects or prepare a piece of metal to serve as a match.

Change out the abrasive grinding disc for a cut-off disc. Cut-off discs come in different thicknesses, but they are thinner than grinding discs. The thin size makes it easier for the spinning disc to cut through metal because it needs to remove less material than if you were using a thicker grinding disc. However, the thin size also means that cutting discs are more vulnerable to bending and breaking. Avoid breaking the cut-off disc by allowing the grinder to cut through the metal at a moderate pace instead of trying to force it through at a faster speed.

Cleaning Metal

Remove paint, rust, and lacquer from metal surfaces with the help of an angle grinder. Equip a plastic stripping disc or a metal cleaning wheel to take off chipped and peeling layers without damaging the metal underneath. Plastic stripping discs are a good option for removing paint, lacquer, and similar coatings that aren’t fused to the metal. These discs are made with nylon webbed material and silicon carbide to provide enough abrasion to lift these coatings away from the metal.

If you need to take off rust, then a metal cleaning wheel is a better choice. Metal cleaning wheels are made with a series of metal wires twisted through each other to create an effective rust-removal wheel. When this wheel is rapidly spinning and it comes in contact with the metal surface, it scrapes away surface rust to expose the clean metal. These wheels can sometimes shoot small pieces of broken wire, so always wear appropriate PPE.

Sharpening Tools

Angle grinders also can be used to sharpen other tools, like restoring the edge to lawn mower blades, axes, or chisels. Equip the angle grinder with an abrasive grinding disc and ensure that the blade of the tool is properly secured in a vise so that you can FOCUS on controlling and steadying the movement of the grinder.

When sharpening tools with a grinder, it’s important to orient the grinding disc with the angle on the blade so that the sharpened blade has the same angled cut. Altering the cutting angle can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the tool and may actually ruin the blade. A grinder is good for quickly sharpening your tools, but consider using a sharpening stone afterward to add a more precise edge to the blade before putting the tools away.

Cutting Tile, Stone, Other Masonry Materials

While angle grinders are primarily used when working with copper, iron, steel, lead, and other metals, they also can be used to cut through tough masonry materials, including tile, stone, and brick. Switch out the metal cut-off disc for a masonry cutting wheel and cut straight through these difficult materials. The precision of an angle grinder makes it useful for cutting custom angles in tile to help with bathroom shower repairs, making a garden pathway from brick or stone, or replacing broken pieces of a backyard fire pit.

These cutting wheels are made to withstand a significant amount of strain, so they aren’t as fragile as metal cutting discs. However, they are still susceptible to chipping or breaking when the grinder is forced through the material. The risk of chipping and breaking increases with older used cutting wheels, so be sure to regularly replace the masonry cutting wheel for smooth clean cuts.

Removing Mortar

Leaks, drafts, and recurring insect infestations can be fixed by replacing the mortar on the exterior of a home. However, getting the mortar out without damaging the bricks isn’t easy without the use of an angle grinder. Get a thick abrasive grinding disc that can handle soft masonry work or use a masonry cutting wheel to begin chipping away at the lines of mortar between the bricks.

The narrow disc doesn’t have any issue fitting in these gaps and with careful control, most of the mortar can be completely removed without touching the brick. Then you just need to fill the mortar joints with new mortar to significantly reduce heat loss and potentially reduce your energy bills. Just be sure to have a face shield or safety glasses and other suitable PPE to keep yourself safe while you work.

ANGLE GRINDER

ANGLE GRINDER

WHAT ARE ANGLE GRINDER

An angle grinder is a handheld power tool that can be used for a variety of metal fabrication jobs that include cutting, grinding, deburring, finishing and polishing. The most common types of angle grinders are powered by electricity; either corded or battery powered.

As the name suggests, angle grinders have a cutting head at an angled position on the drive shaft. This allows the tool to be used for sharpening, polishing, and cutting. Depending on the model you get, they can come in many sizes or be corded or cordless.

BEST ANGLE GRINDER

Bosch Angle grinder are the best ever it comes with powerful tool with the lowest weight

Types of Bosch ANGLE GRINDER

Reliable and durable, Less maintenance. High removal rate even under under overload. Efficient motor cooling for continuous work, Comfortable handling and easy control.

ANGLE GWS 9-115 P

Powerful 900 watt motor for fast work progress, high work efficiency due to long lifetime and carbon brush lifetime. Ergonomic shape for maximum control in various grip positions

GWS 9-125 | THE MOST DURABLE TOOL IN ITS CLASS

Powerful 900 watt motor for fast work progress, high work efficiency due to long lifetime and carbon brush lifetime. Ergonomic shape for maximum control in various grip positions

GWS 17-125 CIE

GWS 9-115 P | 900w paddle switch SAG delivers and increadible great on safety and power

USES OF ANGLE GRINDER

The primary purpose of an angle grinder is to grind metal. It achieves this with the use of abrasive grinding discs that come in a range of materials, like aluminum, carbide, and diamond-tipped discs. Attach a grinding disc and turn on the grinder to start the disc spinning rapidly. Press the abrasive disc to the target metal to flatten, smooth, or completely remove pieces from the metal.

Cutting Metal

The rapidly rotating disc on an angle grinder doesn’t just smooth, polish, and grind away metal, it can also be used for cutting through metal. This is a common use for plumbers who are working with galvanized iron or lead pipes. Welders frequently cut pieces of metal to clean up projects or prepare a piece of metal to serve as a match.

Cleaning Metal

Remove paint, rust and lacquer from metal surfaces with the help of an angle grinder. Equip a plastic stripping disc or a metal cleaning wheel to take off chipped and peeling layers without damaging the metal underneath. Plastic stripping discs are a good option for removing paint, lacquer, and similar coatings that aren’t fused to the metal. These discs are made with nylon webbed material and silicon carbide to provide enough abrasion to lift these coatings away from the metal.

Sharpening Tools

Angle grinders also can be used to sharpen other tools, like restoring the edge to lawn mower blades, axes, or chisels. Equip the angle grinder with an abrasive grinding disc and ensure that the blade of the tool is properly secured in a vise so that you can FOCUS on controlling and steadying the movement of the grinder.

What is most common angle grinder size?

Almost angle grinders come in many different sizes, the most common size sold in the UK is 115mm. This sized model is light, precise and generally very easy-to-use; making it a great choice for the beginner and professional alike.

Magical Grinders; The Best Angle Grinders in 2023

Using Angle Grinders to Cut Metal is one the most convenient ways of metal fabrication as angle grinders are a metalworker’s right hand; You can tackle a wide range of metalworking operations with the right angle grinder equipment and accessories while staying safe on the job. An angle grinder is a versatile tool that may be used to work with a number of materials and applications.

Can You Use Angle Grinder to Cut Metal?

“Can you use an angleAngle Grinders to Cut Metal?” is a question that pops up frequently on the appropriate message boards. What’s the quick and easy answer? Absolutely! Indeed, among the many hand-held equipment available, the angle grinder appears to be the most flexible of metalworking power tools. That’s why it’s no surprise that this specific item is utilized by a variety of crafts, including those in the automotive sector, HVAC, plumbing, and a variety of others.

Grinders are often used for refurbishing and polishing metal materials, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that you can use them on stainless steel surfaces if you have the correct disc.

You shouldn’t, however, go into the process without taking any safeguards. That’s why, throughout the post, we’ve included a few safety guidelines to assist you learn how to use angle grinder to cut metal in the most efficient and effective way possible.

How to Use an Angle Grinder to Cut Metal

Now that we’ve established the notion of using an Angle Grinders to Cut Metal, let’s examine what the optimum way of operating an angle grinder to cut metal. We must point out that the method is not always the same because different angle grinder models work in different ways. Even yet, the safety measures you must follow while cutting metal or steel are very similar.

What is the maximum thickness of steel when operating an angle grinder to cut metal?

It truly relies on the angle grinder’s cutting capacity as well as the size and type of disc you’re using. Apart from that, the thickness of the material you’ll be cutting is a determinant in determining the steel’s possible cutting depth.

Not only that, but cutting discs come in a variety of thicknesses, so you’ll need to pick the proper one.

But let’s pretend you’re using a 4-1/2-inch grinder with a flat diamond cutoff blade to cut stainless or mild steel, as most people do. A 1mm or 1.6mm iron-free disc should be used to cut the stainless steel.

When cutting thin metal materials like sheet metal, a 1.0mm or 0.8mm cutting disc is recommended. Due to the reduced blade thickness that results in less heat transmission, any of these discs will provide a cleaner appearing cut and minimize any potential discoloration.

When cutting or buffing metal or aluminum with an angle grinder, using a type saw lubrication will extend the disc’s life and prevent the risk of chipping.

CAN ANGLE GRINDERS CUT WOOD?? (Tricks TipsCutting Wood With Grinders)

If you’re going to chop thicker, heavier steel like rebar or structural steel like angle iron, you’ll need a cutting disc with a thickness of 1.6mm or 2.5mm. Using a bigger blade, such as a 2.5mm cutting disc, to cut through dense steel has certain disadvantages.

Due to the slower blade speed of the bigger disc-equipped, the completed cut of your steel workpiece may show evidence of discoloration. What is the reason behind this? Because of the increase in friction, essentially.

How Does a Welder Use a Grinder? Tips for beginner welders

You could always use another power tool to cut metal, depending on how thick the material is and how clean of a cut you want.

While accuracy and elegance are required when cutting thick, dense steel, a metal cutting circular saw or a metal chop saw are two of the most common suspects. Break out the trusty grinder if all you want to do is make short cuts when accuracy and overall aesthetics are secondary concerns. Simply use the suggested CDs whenever possible.

The Best Angle Grinder for Metal Work

If you’re looking for a high-quality, easy-to-useAngle Grinders to Cut Metal with, here we present you some of the best tools in the market today.

Bosch 4-1/2-Inch Angle Grinder

The Bosch 4-1/2-inch angle grinder has a powerful 6.0amp motor that produces 11,000 no load rpm for professional cutting and grinding. Its Efficient motor has a very tiny field diameter, allowing the operator to grind or cut with minimal effort. This item is lightweight, with a small size and shape that makes it suitable for metal craftsmen. Vehicle fabricators, plumbers, and other professions who utilize grinders on a regular basis, such as home builders, are among those who employ them.

Ronix 3212 Angle Grinder, 2350W, 230mm

Having a strong an Angle Grinders to Cut Metal and other difficult materials is a huge benefit for a professional metal worker who conducts a lot of grinding and metal fabrication operations. The Ronix 3212 Angle Grinder is a powerful power tool that can tackle a wide range of industrial and heavy-duty tasks. You can confidently operate this angle grinder to cut metal any time.

Makita 9557PBX1 4-1/2″ Cut-Off/Angle Grinder

Makita’s angle grinder is a high-quality tool for metalworkers. A powerful 7.5 AMP motor provides high output power in a smaller, lighter tool. You may carry this device anyplace and cut metal with ease by using both hands to control it.

The ‘tool-less wheel guard adjustment allows effortless clamping, and it also offers a grinder with an AC/DC switch for use with various power sources, which is a nice feature of this Makita angle grinder.

Safety Tips When Operating an Angle Grinder to Cut Metal

When you use Angle Grinders to Cut Metal or grind it, small chips or shards of metal fly all over the place. They can also be fiery and abrasive. Follow these guidelines to avoid eye injuries, wounds, burns, and other problems when cutting metal: Read and follow all safety warnings on metal-cutting discs and blades. Protect your eyes and ears with safety glasses, a face shield, and hearing protection. Wear gloves, a long-sleeve shirt, and slacks to protect any exposed skin.

Let newly cut metal cool completely before handling it.

When working with metal that may have sharp edges, use gloves.

Before cutting metal, secure it with a clamp. If you’re use angle grinder to cut metal, don’t let anyone close you unless they’re wearing hearing and eye protection.

Suggested disc types.

You can use angle grinder to cut metal and all types of it, including bolts, angle iron, rebar, and even sheet metal, when it’s equipped with an abrasive metal-cutting disc. However, as you use the discs, they wear down fast, cut slowly, and reduce in diameter. Instead, we recommend utilizing a diamond blade with a ferrous metal cutting rating. These will last far longer than abrasive discs, cut quicker and cleaner, and wear down much slower.

The Disc Type	Application	Consideration
Metal cutting disc / cut off disc	Most metals can be cut. It can’t be used to grind anything. Present at a 90-degree angle to the workpiece	Aluminium Oxide is used to make the cutting edge
Grinding disc	Metals, both ferrous and non-ferrous, are ground. Present at a 45-degree angle to the workpiece.	Aluminium Oxide is used to make the cutting edge.
Multi-cut cutting disc	Metals, both ferrous and non-ferrous, are cut through (including stainless steel). For more sophisticated cutting needs, it will also cut through brick, stone, contemporary composites, and tiles.
Stainless steel cutting disc	Steel and stainless steel are cut through. It’s especially handy for cross-sections with tiny cross-sections.
All cut diamond blade	Cast iron, various ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and most building materials are all cuttable.	Cutting edge with diamond grains attached to it.
Abrasive grit mop disc	Metal grinding in general, especially for edge grinding jobs like deburring, sharpening, and surface finishing.	Grinding flaps in a fan-shaped radial pattern.
Slitting disc / thin cutting disc	Pipes and profiles with thin walls are cut. This tool creates a fine cut line. Use on ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as stainless steel.	Thin cutting discs produce less heat during operation, cause less tool vibration, finish cuts faster, and waste less metal in each cut, saving up to 2 mm each cut.

FAQ1. What tools do I need to cut metal with an angle grinder?the necessary tools when it comes to metal cutting with angle grinder are: angle grinder, metal disc, c-clamp, power outlet/source, earmuff and the metal material you plan to use.

What’s the difference between a cut-off tool and an angle grinder?A cut off tool is used to cut surfaces, as its name implies. The angle grinder, on the other hand, is a more flexible tool that can be used for a variety of activities such as sharpening and grinding.

Is it possible to cut steel with an angle grinder?Yes, if you have the appropriate disc. However, due to the steel’s hardness, they will wear out more quickly.

Is it possible to useAngle Grinders to Cut Metal. even a thick steel piece? Yes, it surely can. At the end of the day, cutting metal with an angle grinder may be very effective and incredibly safe if you have the proper equipment and safety gear.If you’ve never used a grinder before, you won’t need much practice to learn the skill of slicing and dicing materials properly. That is, as long as you use the suitable cutting disc with this powerful hand-held equipment.Because an angle grinder is designed to cut through stronger metals, as well as bricks and concrete, you won’t have to worry about its durability. In time, a decent grinder will become a need rather than a luxury.While the ordinary DIYer is unlikely to be hacking at dense steel on a regular basis, a good grinder is the one equipment you’ll want in the back of your truck or tool shop if you need to make Rapid cuts in metal.Finally, when using a grinder, make sure you are in complete control of the equipment and that you are wearing the proper protective safety eyewear. All that’s left to do now is select the appropriate cutting disc and material, and begin cutting metal with ease.

Slag Grinders

Timesavers slag grinders are designed for heavy dross removal created by plasma tables. The slag grinder is offered in different duty cycles. The 12 Series SG is available for a 1 shift operation while the 22 Series is more heavy-duty and would be used in a 1-2 shift operation. The 42 Series with a Hammerhead would be used in a 3 shift, 24/7 operation.

Slag Removal Equipment

During metal fabrication, small pieces of molten steel sometimes melt and adhere to the product when it cools. Metal fabricators refer to these melted pieces as slag or dross. Removing slag from the product is critical for a smooth coating and finishing process.

While some fabricators remove slag manually with a tool, some grinding equipment can remove it automatically, saving significant time in manufacturing.

Timesavers slag grinders are designed for heavy dross removal created by plasma tables. The slag grinder is offered in different duty cycles. The 12 Series SG is available for a one-shift operation while the 22 Series is more heavy-duty and could be used in a two-shift operation.

The 42 Series with a Hammerhead would be used in a three-shift, 24/7 operation.

Benefits and Features of Dross Removal Equipment From Timesavers

Slag grinders can be offered in different head configurations, including the hammerhead and high durometer drums designed to knock off slag. The hammerhead consists of replaceable, flexible pins to remove the slag/dross, replacing the hand labor of scraping, grinding, or hammering the dross off manually.

These machines deliver significant labor savings when compared to manual grinding. Our slag removal equipment also reduces dust inhalation and carpal tunnel symptoms in employees.

Some of the features of our slag removal equipment include:

• Multiple head types
• Main drive motor with a maximum of 20 horsepower
• 1-45 feet per minute (FPM) production rate
• Electronic photo tracking eyes for accurate abrasive belt tracking
• Machine opening from 0-5 inches
• Optional magnetic conveyor bed segment
• Multiple configurations are available based on customer applications

Contact Timesavers for Your Slag Removal Equipment Needs Today

Whether you’re looking for the light-duty performance of the 12 Series SG or the workhorse efficiency of the Hammerhead, Timesavers has the perfect slag removal machine to meet the requirements of your operation. Request a quote today for more details.

• Number of heads: 1-4
• Head types: hammerhead, drum, rotary brush
• Multiple configurations available based on customer applications
• Up to 20 HP Main drive motors
• 1-45 fpm throughput
• Electronic photo tracking eyes for accurate abrasive belt tracking
• 0-5″ opening
• Optional magnetic conveyor bed segment

Slag grinders can be offered in different head configurations including the hammerhead, and high durometer drums designed to knock off slag. The hammerhead consists of replaceable flexible pins to remove the slag/dross, replacing the hand-labor of scraping, grinding, or hammering the dross off manually.

• Great for labor savings
• Reduces dust inhalation and carpal tunnel in employees
• Different configurations depending on the user’s needs
• Dry operation