DIYer’s Guide; Top 5 attachment for Angle Grinder. Sander wheel for grinder

DIYer’s Guide; Top 5 attachment for Angle Grinder

Before diving into the different options of attachment for angle grinder and their uses, it’s a good idea to understand what an angle grinder is and what it does.

Angle grinders are a multipurpose power tool with a fast-revolving disc that can cut, grind, polish, sharpen, and clean a range of tough materials such as iron, copper, brass, brick, tile, stone, or mortar. The tool rotates the discs at a high torque and an average working speed of around 12,000 revolutions per minute (rpm), with some models having variable speeds as low as 2,800 rpm. You may alternate between grinding through metal and polishing metal by adjusting the speed and disc, so make sure the angle grinder is properly equipped for each project’s aim before getting started. The angle grinder is the power tool you need if your profession or pastime includes any sort of material production or surface polishing. Aside from its most frequent usage as a grinder, this power tool comes with a number of abrasive attachments that may be used for a range of chores and purposes. Depending on the material you’re working with and the job you need to accomplish, you can select a proper attachment for angle grinder and get your job done.

A Vast Selection of Attachments for Angle Grinder

Of course, the applications for which you may use your grinder are limited by your choice of attachment for Angle Grinder and their availability. There are several viable alternatives at this stage. The purpose of the grinder is determined by the disc or wheel it is attached to, which can range from cutting wheels to polishing wheels, grinding discs to flap discs, wire wheels and cup brushes.

o Sanding Attachments for Angle Grinder

Because of its strong engine, accuracy, and high RPM, angle grinders are ideal power sanding equipment. Angle grinder sanding discs are usually circular discs with abrasive material incorporated in them. It’s widely used in the woodworking sector to level surfaces, carve and shape hard woods, and smooth them out, as well as in the metalworking business to remove rust and scratches. These are one of the most commonly used attachments for angle grinders.

o Buffing Polishing Attachments for Angle Grinder

While utilizing an angle grinder as a buffing tool is a wonderful idea, it’s better to use it with experienced hands since angle grinders are quite strong and can spin up to 13,000 RPM, therefore it’s ideal to use a variable speed grinder for buffing and polishing operations. Angle grinder buffing pads are composed of high-quality wool that is known for its wear resistance. The buffing wheel comes to the rescue when it comes to polishing and shining metal surfaces. The polishing wheel, these attachments for angle grinder are used for polishing metal, glass, ceramics, and wood.

o Wire Brush Attachments for Angle Grinder

Wire cup brushes, wire wheel brushes, and end brushes are among the various shapes, styles, and sizes available. Heavy-duty cleaning, deburring, edge blending, and paint peeling are all possible with wire brush angle grinder attachments. For dealing with hard metal surfaces like iron and stainless steel, wire wheel brush attachments with knotted and crimped wires are utilized.

o Attachments for Angle Grinder to Clean Metal

An angle grinder may be used to remove paint, corrosion, and lacquer from metal surfaces. To remove chipped and peeling layers without harming the metal below, use a plastic stripping disc or a metal cleaning wheel. Plastic stripping discs are a suitable choice for removing paint, lacquer, and other non-fused coatings from metal. These discs are composed of nylon webbed material and silicon carbide to give adequate abrasion to remove the coatings off the metal.

A metal cleaning wheel is a superior alternative if you need to remove rust. Metal cleaning wheels are created by twisting together a number of metal wires to make an efficient rust-removal wheel. When this wheel comes into touch with a metal surface while rotating quickly, it scrapes away surface rust to reveal the clean metal beneath. Because these wheels might occasionally discharge tiny bits of broken wire, always use the proper PPE and attachment for Angle Grinder.

Wire wheels easily remove corrosion and peeling paint. Angle grinder attachments with wire wheels and brushes are designed for different sorts of stripping, cleaning, and deburring jobs. Stripping paint or rust off broad, flat surfaces is best done with wire cup brushes. Wire wheels are easier to fit into gaps and corners. Wheel and brush attachments are available in a range of designs. Look through the package to pick one that will work for your needs. Also, check sure the threads on your grinder match the spindle threads. Although the majority of angle grinders feature 5/8-in. spindle threads, there are a few exceptions.

o Attachments for Angle Grinder to Restore Cutting Edges

Angle grinders can also be used to sharpen other instruments, such as lawn mower blades, axes, and chisels, to restore their edge. Equip the angle grinder with an abrasive grinding disc and put the blade of the tool in a vice so you can concentrate on regulating and steadying the grinder’s action. It’s critical to align the grinding disc with the angle on the blade when sharpening tools using a grinder so that the sharpened blade has the same angled cut. Changing the cutting angle might diminish the tool’s efficiency and perhaps cause the blade to break. A grinder is great for swiftly sharpening your tools, but before putting them away, use a sharpening stone to provide a more accurate edge to the blade.

Our 3 Picks of Angle Grinder for Your DIY Projects

Now that you Know there is no limit to do creative projects with the right attachment for angle grinder, it’s only fair to say that all you need to know now is which angle grinder to choose and you are set. Having the best angle grinder means you’ll have a powerful instrument that you can use to handle a wide range of landscaping jobs. Because of their flexibility, weekend warriors and contractors use the best angle grinders all of the time, and they don’t have to be expensive. With picking the suitable attachment for angle grinder, they are capable of a wide range of operations, including grinding, polishing, and cutting. It’s a tiny, portable, handheld power tool that’s easy to pack and move from one job to the next, and it’s available in corded or electric versions. However, with so many possibilities, choosing the ideal one for your desires and needs may be difficult. Here is a short list of 3 angle grinders that would make decision making an easy job for you.

It’s an excellent option for DIYers of any skill level, take this tool, chose the right attachment for Angle Grinder and do whatever DIY project you want to do. It has a peak speed of 9,000 RPMs, a 20-volt lithium-ion battery, and each purchase comes with a fully equipped kit. Each purchase includes 4.5-inch cutting, grinding, and sanding discs, as well as everything else you’ll need to get started on grinding jobs around the house. This product’s cordless design is another big plus because it allows you to operate in small locations without being connected to an outlet or having to worry about tripping over a cable. This angle grinder has a great delayed start mechanism that assures professional-grade results every time you use it. It comes at a very reasonable price, especially when you consider the accessories and kit that come with it. It can cut tile, grind metal, concrete, and rebar without causing harm, and it has a rubberized, ergonomic handle with two settings to keep you comfortable throughout long jobs. The brushless motor provides 53.5 percent greater runtime per charge and is backed by 25 years of expert knowledge.

This angle grinder has a great delayed start mechanism that assures professional-grade results every time you use it. It comes at a very reasonable price, especially when you consider the accessories and kit and attachment for Angle Grinder that come with it. It can cut tile, grind metal, concrete, and rebar without causing harm, and it has a rubberized, ergonomic handle with two settings to keep you comfortable throughout long jobs. The brushless motor provides 53.5 percent greater runtime per charge and is backed by 25 years of expert knowledge. As an added bonus, you’ll receive a slew of features that give you far more control and power than other angle grinders. You’ll receive a two-position handle, for example, to regulate vibrations and keep you comfortable, as well as a direct airflow to blow dust away from any essential sections of the tool, allowing it to last much longer. It also comes with two extra amps than prior models, making it more flexible. The paddle-style switch allows for a variety of grip settings, and the carbon brushes are extremely long-lasting. To protect it from overheating or being overwhelmed with difficult jobs, it has direct motor cooling capabilities.

• Ronix 3221 Angle Grinder, 2400W, 230mm

The last but surely not the least pick is Ronix 3221 Angle Grinder, 2400W, 230mm. It’s a perfect tool for any DIYer enthusiast just with the right choice of attachment for angle grinder. Its professional 2400W powerful motor enables the tool to work with high performance. It’s one of the most versatile tools among the Ronix tools. Its robust motor allows you to cut, grind or polish all kinds of materials. Ronix 3221 has Ball bearings that are designed to reduce friction, protect the motor against dust, and ensure a long lifetime for the motor and make it work more smoothly. If the motor works under an unusual load, it will be warm and overheated. This angle grinder with its anti-dust switch reduces dust penetration, especially in masonry working conditions. Ronix 3221 has a new locking pin system for easy and fast disc changing and safety mechanism.

Ronix’s ability to change the disc guard quickly, allows the user to place the guard in different working positions. Additionally, this tool has a soft start switch system that ensures the safety of the operation.

FAQ:

• What can you attach to an angle grinder?Angle grinders are multi-purpose tools that can sand, polish, and sharpen metal, as well as cut tile, stucco, and pavers, carve out mortar, and sand, polish, and sharpen.

• Is it possible to use a wood blade on an angle grinder?An angle grinder’s blade is a grindstone for polishing or sharpening metal and stone; it cannot be used to cut wood.

• Is it possible to use an angle grinder as a sander?Yes, converting your angle grinder into a sander is the easiest and most cost-effective way to remove or sand a large amount of surface wood.

Conclusion:

Angle grinders come with a variety of capabilities and are available in both cordless and corded variants. Aside from its most frequent usage as a grinder, this power tool comes with a number of abrasive attachments that may be used for a range of chores and purposes. Depending on the material you’re working with and the job you need to conduct, you can select an attachment. Choosing the best attachment for Angle Grinder may be a pleasurable experience when you know what to look for and have examples of what is achievable by good use of them. You may also check through the different buying guides to learn what to look for when you’re out shopping.

Grinding Wheel Safety: Respect The Maximum Speed

One potential source of serious injury in grinding comes from an oversight that is easy to make: operating the wheel in an over-speed condition.

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One potential source of serious injury in grinding comes from an oversight that is easy to make: operating the wheel in an over-speed condition. While a wheel that is run far enough in excess of its rated maximum speed may shatter within minutes of operation, danger may also result from a wheel run just slightly faster than its rated speed. This less severe over-speed condition can cause the wheel to be damaged, and the damage may result in breakage after further use. For example, operating a reinforced, 9-inch diameter, Type 27 wheel rated for a maximum speed of 6,600 rpm on a 7-inch angle grinder with a speed of 7,700 rpm can cause the wheel to crack. This cracking can lead to breakage later.

What other actions lead to an over-speed condition?

The following actions—all of which are not recommended—can also lead to an over-speed condition:

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• Mounting the grinding wheel on a sander, such as a “pistol grip” air sander
• Mounting the wheel directly on an electric motor
• Mounting the wheel on the wrong machine size for that wheel
• Failing to properly maintain machine components, particularly governors on pneumatic machines and linkages on floorstand machines
• Using the incorrect air, hydraulic or electric power supply
• Using an improper speed setting on the machine

Any of these actions sets up a disastrous scenario that could lead to an accident involving serious injury or death.

The hazard of running in an over-speed condition comes from centrifugal force. A result of rotary motion, centrifugal force is what causes a weight on the end of a string to pull the string taught when the weight is swung in a circle. This same force causes the mass of the grinding wheel to be pulled outward from the center of rotation as the wheel is spinning.

Danger comes from the fact that centrifugal force does not increase in direct proportion to an increase in speed, but instead it increases as the square of that speed increase. When rotational speed doubles, centrifugal force quadruples. This effect means that relatively small changes in speed can produce significant increases in force. In the example mentioned, changing from 6,600 rpm to 7,700 rpm multiplies the speed by 1.167. However, the corresponding centrifugal force would multiply by a factor of 1.167 × 1.167, or 1.36.

To take a more extreme example, consider the same wheel with a maximum safe operating speed of 6,600 rpm run on a 5-inch right angle grinder at 10,000 rpm. This represents an over-speed of about 1.5 times the wheel’s designed speed. But the corresponding centrifugal force—and the corresponding rotational stress on the wheel—would be about 2.3 times as much as the maximum allowed.

Grinding Wheel vs Flap Disc vs Sanding Disc: What Is the Difference?

When you are using your angle grinder for DIY projects, one of the most important considerations is which type of attachment you are going to use. Grinding wheels, flap discs and sanding discs are among the most common grinder attachments yet they are used for very different types of projects.

Typical uses of a grinding wheel include removal of material while a flap disc is the first choice for abrading metal. If you need to sand wood or other material with your angle grinder, a sanding disc is the right attachment to use, although the results would mostly be second to those of an actual sander.

Read on to learn the details of each of these grinder attachments. Read this article on how to use a grinder to learn more about cutting tiles and sanding wood or steel.

What Are the Different Uses of Grinding Wheels, Flap Discs and Sanding Discs?

Although all these types of attachment are for use with an angle grinder, the outcomes and the materials they can deal with are different. The following table summarizes the differences in their use.

Grinding wheel	Flap disc	Sanding disc
Processing and results	Surface removal, trimming and cleaning; Saw-type wheels produce cuts on different material	Abrasion and Finishing of surfaces	Sanding and finishing surfaces
Material	Removing metal fast; MIG welding; wood; stone and concrete	Metal	Wood; metal; concrete, stone and other material (special discs needed)
Typical uses	Trimming surfaces quickly; Cutting workpieces (saw-type wheels)	Shaping metal; A slower, less spark-producing alternative to grinding wheels for weld deposits and slag removal	Sanding and finishing surfaces if no advanced smoothness is required (otherwise, a sander would be the better choice)
Price level (per piece)	Check on Amazon	Check on Amazon	Check on Amazon

Move forward to the next sections to learn more about the characteristics of each of these attachment types as well as practical tips for their uses.

Grinding Wheels

Grinding Wheels come in a variety of sizes and thicknesses. Make sure the wheels you purchase are the correct size so they fit into your angle grinder’s guard. They should also be about a quarter of an inch thick. Any thinner than this and you may be looking at a cutting disk instead of a grinding disk.

What Are Grinding Wheels Used For?

A standard grinding wheel is designed for quickly removing metal. Use it for preparing metal for MIG welding, clean and trim down old welds and removing welding slag. They are available in different sized Grits just like sandpaper. Lower numbered grits are coarser and remove metal quicker while higher grits are for finishing work, cleaning and polishing. A higher grit grinding wheel may take a bit longer to finish the job than a lower sized one but it will be safer and more comfortable as fewer large sparks will be produced.

Low grit grinding wheels produce large and very hot sparks. If these land on your skin, they are mildly uncomfortable, rather like a small bee sting. However, they are hot enough to melt some clothing, especially man-made fibers and, if landing on glass, they can embed into the glass. Eye protection or a face shield should always be used.

Over time, grinding disks will gradually wear down in size and they should be replaced appropriately. If a disk is misused or jumps during use, it may become damaged and should be immediately replaced for safety. Cheaper disks can become damaged then fail completely spreading flying pieces of disc into the air. This can cause damage and be very dangerous if safety equipment is not being worn.

Special grinder disks with chain saw type blades are available for specifically cutting and shaping of wood. There are also available grinder disks with teeth on the outer edge which are also intended for woodworking.

Flap Discs

Flap Disks are abrasive disks made from small flaps of overlapping abrasive covered cloth formed in the shape of a wheel. Flap disks are more efficient in their use than using a flat abrasive paper in that flap disks wear from the outside edge in distributing the wear evenly across the entire disk. The length of each flap can be worn down completely before the disk needs to be replaced so the wheel is useful as the flaps erode, unlike a flat abrasive sheet which must be discarded even if only a small part of the sheet is eroded away. Flap disks last up to 25 times longer than fiber disks

The advantages of flap disks during use are that each separate flap attacks the workpiece at a very slightly different angle which also varies with the angle of the grinder. This avoids the common issues with flat abrasive paper that can easily produce identical repeated scratches in the work.

What Are Flap Discs Used For?

They are used to shape and contour metal and can be used as an alternative to grinding wheels for removing weld deposits and slag. They remove metal slower and produce smaller sparks than grinding wheels. Flap disks are less robust than grinding wheels and can be damaged easily if care is not taken. Because they consist of only pieces of abrasive covered fabric glued to a solid backing by resin, there are fewer pieces that may become damaged and fly off so are generally safer than grinding wheels. They are lighter than grinding wheels so produce less vibration and are easier to operate.

Sanding Discs

Sanding discs with different grits.Check on Amazon.

Angle grinders can be used for sanding both wood and metal but also other types of material. When you need to sand a lot of wood away, a sanding disk attachment is ideal. However, for wood, angle grinder rotary sanding does not produce such a good finish as is obtained with a random orbital sander or an orbital sander for wood but it is usually acceptable for many DIY jobs. To sand rough wood smooth, start with a low grit sandpaper and work your way up gently stroking the angle grinder over the wood’s surface each time.

How Can You Use Sanding Discs?

The general method of attaching sanding disks to angle grinders is by use of a soft foam pad with Velcro backing. The pad has an attachment that screws onto the angle grinder screw and Velcro-backed sanding disks attach to the front plate. When the sanding disks are used up and you need to change them, it is just a simple task of pulling the two Velcro surfaces apart and attaching a new one.

Sanding disks are available in all grit sizes you could think of. They are meant for use during the end of a task or project for finishing off prior to polishing. However, they are not ideal for heavy use or for removal of a lot of metal.

Using sanding disks is generally the safest type of angle grinder attachment because in the case of a failure of the disk, only paper will be ejected. However, sanding disks used on steel can still produce a lot of sparks especially if a low grit is used. Safety precautions should still be followed including eye protection, a face shield and protective gloves.

Sanding disks are not recommended to tidy welds or remove slag as this may damage the disk quickly. They are designed for use on flat surfaces for polishing, removal of rust and paint and for finishing, not only for metal but also for plastics, ceramics and glass. With glass, extra care and safety precautions should be made to avoid injury.

Note that harder materials, such as steel, glass or concrete, require special sanding discs. They come with harder and more durable abrasives, e.g. of diamond tool.

Conclusion

An angle grinder is probably one of the most versatile handheld tools if you use it with attachments that fit for the particular purpose. If you need to remove and trim material, you will want to go for grinding wheels. Flap discs are ideal for grinding metal surfaces, and they also produce less sparks than grinding wheels. Sanding discs are available for a variety of materials and they are generally used for sanding and finishing.

Make sure you read our article on how to use a grinder before you start

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Sanding With Grinder (Angle Grinder as Sander)

Preparing wood for your next project often requires taking away mill marks or sanding the surface to smooth out any rough edges. And while the angle grinder may not be the first tool you think of for sanding wood, it is a versatile device that can do many things in your workshop.

Can I Use an Angle Grinder for Sanding?

Yes, you can use an angle grinder for sanding. By attaching an abrasive flap disc you can turn the angle grinder into a sander and use it for sanding wood, metal, welded joints etc. The drawback is that, you cannot use it to flatten an uneven surface like a belt sander. While it is not a method to produce accurate results, it works well to remove material fast.

There are two methods you can apply to use your angle grinder to sand.

The first and the most common method is by using the flap disc. The second method is to utilize an orbital sander attachment. While the second option is more complex and require more investment, it offers best results in terms of surface quality.

Let’s start with the first method. While this technique is commonly used in metalworking, it can also be used for sanding wood. Of course, you will need the right type of disc when using the angle grinder for snading. This is where the flap disc comes in. This is a common sanding pad used for the angle grinder which makes removing the top layer of materials much easier to accomplish.

woodworking sand paper with angle grinder disc

Sanding with Angle Grinder

Keep in mind that you can use the angle grinder for sanding a wide variety of materials from wood and wooden floors to decking, metal, concrete, fiberglass, and more. Another popular use of the angle grinder is to strip away the paint from surfaces such as wood and metal.

Method #1: Use a Flap Disc

The flap disc is a sanding disc that consists of overlapping sections or flaps that are spaced across the surface of the disc. When used on an angle grinder, the flaps can quickly sand large areas in a relatively short time. They are exceptionally well-suited for pallet or reclaimed wood as they can quickly smooth away the surface area.

Type of Flap Disc

You may have noticed there are two basic types of flap discs, flat and angled. The flat version is designed to sand at angles up to 15 degrees. As the name suggests, it is flat across the entire surface area. This is often called a Type 27 flap disc.

The Type 29 flap disc is flat in the center, but then angles downward towards the edges. This flap disc is perfect for sanding at 15 to 25-degree angles. The angle of the disc allows you to sand steeper areas easier and with more consistency compared to a Type 27.

Disc Size

There two sizes to consider; one is the grit size of the abrasive and second is the actual size (diameter) of the disc. To use the flap disc, you will need to find one that is the right size for the job you want to accomplish without being too big or small to be attached to the angle grinder.

Grit Size:

A smaller grit size denotes course grain which removes material at a higher rate, but with a rough finish. For instance, a 30 – 40 grit wheel can be as effective as grinding. For wood, I recommend you start with a 60 or 80 grit wheel and work your way up to 120-grade disc for smoother finish. Be sure to purchase a flap disc that is best suited for your needs.

Step-1: Attach the Flap Disc

Now that you have the right flap disc for the job, attach it securely to the angle grinder. The flap disc operates essentially in the same manner as the grinding discs.

Step-2: Wear Safety Equipment

Be sure to take the proper safety precautions which includes wearing eye protection and ear protection. You may also want to use a pair of safety glove.

Step-3: Match the Angles

Switch on the grinder and gently apply the flap disc to match the angle of the flap disc to the surface. The grinding angle of Type-27 flap disc is approximately 5° to 15° whereas the Type-29 disc requires you to work at angle ranging from 15° to 35° on a relatively flat surface.

Step-4: Let the Disc Do the Work

Do not apply too much pressure on the workpiece. When working with metal, excessive pressure on the flap disc will result in tearing of the flaps. In woodworking this may cause gouging and burn marks which will be very difficult remove.

So, put light pressure and let the disc do the sanding. Then using back and forth motions sand off the top layer of the workpiece.

Step-5: Finish Sanding

Once you have removed the surplus material with the rough disc, switch to a higher grit flap disc to finish your work.

Method #2: Orbit Sander Attachment for Angle Grinder

For top-down sanding, an orbital sander is the preferred device to use. However, you can turn your angle grinder into an orbital sander with the proper attachment. This is an attachment that extends the working distance of the device, so you can create internal curves, profiles, and shells. While the attachment itself is rather small compared to a standard-size orbital sander, it does allow you to do most of the work for far less expense. The attachment is essentially an arm-extension of the angle grinder. It extends the sanding pad outward by enough distance so you can use it at any angle. This overcomes one of the issues with using an angle grinder in which the device itself gets in the way of making certain types of sanding possible. By extending the sanding pad away from the grinder, you put enough distance away from the device to make any type of sanding motion you want.

You can choose an orbit sander attachment that contains a flexible backing pad. This creates a smooth finish to your work. If your goal is to sand without scarring, blemishing, or scratching the wood, then this is the attachment to use.

The downside is that the device is still angled compared to the sanding pad. As a result, you have less control over the sanding action. This also means, you cannot press your weight into the pad as you would with a traditional orbital sander. Plus, the pad itself is relatively small, so it is best used on materials that are also small or have tight corners that would be tricky for a larger sanding pad to reach.

Pros Cons of Using Angle Grinder as a Sander

There are several advantages to using an angle grinder for your sanding needs.

Pros

The first and foremost is the design of the angle grinder itself which allows for quick sanding of surfaces. The open design allows you to work the flap discs at any angle, so you can quickly sand surfaces.

Another strong advantage is that flap discs are relatively inexpensive and will last for a considerable amount of time under normal use conditions. The design of the flap disc combined with its inherent strength means that you can use a single disc for a considerable time before having to change it out.

Changing out flap discs is another advantage of the angle grinder. Its easy access allows you to quickly remove and attach new discs securely in place. This means that you can increase your work productivity by spending less time attaching and detaching discs.

Cons

Of course, the angle grinder does have some limitations compared to traditional sanders. The most obvious is the inability to work on uneven surface to make it flat. You could use the angle grinder to sand the high points and to remove lot of material quickly. But if you are trying to achieve a smooth flat surface, get a real sander.

Another disadvantage is the relatively small size of the discs available. This limits the angle grinder to small and moderate-size pieces of wood for sanding purposes. If you are sanding larger surfaces, such as plywood or large planks, then a belt sander or a random orbital sander is a better tool for the job.

Finally, the design of the angle grinder itself makes it more likely to suffer damages or abrasions because of the lack of control as compared to orbital sanders and other devices.