17 replies to this topic

[OllyD]

Hey ho chaps.


Finally got cracking on my mini today and cut off the wing with my newly purchased angle grinder. Since it didn't come with any cutting discs, I bought a couple of thin screwfix ones off ebay, thinking that would do me. But having used one to take off the wing, by the time i'd finished it had shrunk down to about a quarter of it's original size! It only just pokes over the edge of the disc guard now, and i'll need to use a new one.


Is this the normal life span for a cutting disc? It was a pretty good quality one, so is it just to expected, or am I doing something wrong?

Also, is it possible to use those diamond blade things I've read about? Or are they only for stone?

Thanking you all!

[syholl]

Thats the way it is i'm afraid. One tip is to get some very thin cutting discs. Have a search on Ebay and you can get them 1mm in thickness or even 0.9mm. This is incredibly thin and they cut through stuff way quicker than the slightly thicker ones that places like screwfix sell...

I paid about £14 for 20 discs, which have lasted me ages...

They will still wear out fast when cutting through thick metal, but it should cope with car bodywork no problem at all....

[newmac78]

My diamond disc says suitable for "general building materials including concrete", so I guess thats NOT for metalwork then. Bugger! I better stop using it then

[pikey7]

I went through one disc just cutting out the floors. They don't last long.

[v8mini]

best to try a few differant brands, i have found some last longer than others, although still not too long
also use a local engineer supply company, loads cheaper than halfords, b&q ect

[OllyD]

Ahh bugger. I did wonder why they were all being sold in bulk on ebay. but i wasn't sharp enough to put 2 + 2 together, instead i was just tight and thought "Surely 2 will be enough!"

Ah well, thanks for the replies guys.

[advantage998]

I use some 1mm 'tryout classic' discs and they lasted really well, where as some others that i had would only cut 3 foot down one sill

[dklawson]

I use 3" (75mm) disks about 1mm thick on my air/die grinder to cut sheet metal. I've never bought similar disks for my angle grinder... maybe I should. The 3" disks I use with the die grinder last like people are describing above so they must be similar materials. I buy the disks in 10-packs from our cheapy source of industrial tools, Harbor Freight. I would expect your Machine Mart would sell similar products in bulk. Since these are consumable, you may find it's more cost effective to buy in bulk and just live with the fact they won't last too long.

[stormduck]

i used one metal cutting disc to remove the whole front end of my mini, using a 4.5" draper grinder and discs that cost £1 eash from my local tool shop, i'll find out the name of the discs if you like. The key to making discs last is to let the grinder do the work and don't use lots of force on the grinder

[ANDY J]

Hey ho chaps.


Finally got cracking on my mini today and cut off the wing with my newly purchased angle grinder. Since it didn't come with any cutting discs, I bought a couple of thin screwfix ones off ebay, thinking that would do me. But having used one to take off the wing, by the time i'd finished it had shrunk down to about a quarter of it's original size! It only just pokes over the edge of the disc guard now, and i'll need to use a new one.


Is this the normal life span for a cutting disc? It was a pretty good quality one, so is it just to expected, or am I doing something wrong?

Also, is it possible to use those diamond blade things I've read about? Or are they only for stone?

Thanking you all!

[Dan]

screwfix ones

pretty good quality

[Lomcevac]

The key to making discs last is to let the grinder do the work and don't use lots of force on the grinder

That's the answer, let the disk cut at its own rate, don't force it. Also make nice straight cuts so that you are not twisting the sides of the disk against the metal.

[ceejam]

Buy cutting discs form Machine Mart, if you buy more than 5 you get a reasonable discount, and I think they're only about 45p each!

[Steamo]

The key to making discs last is to let the grinder do the work and don't use lots of force on the grinder

That's the answer, let the disk cut at its own rate, don't force it. Also make nice straight cuts so that you are not twisting the sides of the disk against the metal.

I'll third these points makes a lot of difference.

Also try and ensure you cut the right way one way the grinder almost pulls its self along - if you do it the other way it tends to chatter against the metal - that wrecks discs mega fast.

[dan__wright]

halfords metal disks they come in a pack of 2 and are fairly cheap.
they are quite thick (couple of mm) but last ages and you can press v hard with them and they dont instantly shrink ive cut off sils, front inner wings rear valence batt box the lift goes on am im only just on my second one.