What discs do I need with an angle grinder?

chipperhead

chipperhead

chipperhead

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Just about to buy an angle grinder that's on offer at screwfix (Site SMA910/2 9" Angle Grinder 240V). I've got loads of jobs to do at home including cutting marble tiles, cutting Indian stone paving, cutting bricks and concrete and also metal bar.

Would a diamond blade be best for cutting tiles and stone paving or a stone cutting disc? These are what I'm looking at:

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/21955/Blades/Diamond-Blades/Medium-Hard-Materials/Titan-Diamond-Blade-230mm

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/20450/Abrasives/Stone-Cutting-Grinding/Stone-Cutting-Discs/Stone-Cutting-Disc-230mm

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/31940/Abrasives/Metal-Cutting-Grinding/Metal-Cutting-Discs/Metal-Cutting-Disc-230mm

Cheers :)
 
Read what it say's its best for.

I.e. top one is for concrete/bricks.

Find one which says good for tiles but tbh you're gonna snap them regardless due to not holding it straight, get a tile cutter tbh.

For the other things just get the appropriate disc.

KaHn
 
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If you don't wish to buy the items (some are quite pricey.....) depending on where you are look at companies like lordhire.co.uk or something similiar if you can plan on doing the work in a day or two.

KaHn
 
Wear safety goggles :)

Do not use "gauntlets" designed for welding etc, this is quite dangerous as the control and feel you have through these is limited but DO wear gloves.

Cutting stone/concrete/bricks with a grinder is fine but you might find it a little OTT for tiles.

If you're going through steel bar then you'll want a metal cutting disk (not the same as a grinding one). I wouldn't go too thin with your metal cutting disk unless you need the accuracy.

Those discs also seem quite expensive!

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/9in-metal-cutting-disc

is a slightly better price but I've seen cheaper.
 
As said above - don't wear gauntlets, but do wear some reasonably heavy gloves.

Watch out for LOTS of sparks when cutting / grinding metal. Remember and not use a cutting disk for grinding and vice versa.
 
Always, always, always wear impact goggles with an angle grinder. And ear protection would be an advantage!

Angle grinders spin at very high RPM's and are more than capable of sputting stone / metal chunks toward your body. More than capable of putting your eye out and causing serious damage. I have had them draw blood before by having my forearms unprotected. (Not much, but still!)
 
I recommend buying branded cutting discs like Makita or Bosch. The cheap ones are a false economy as they don't last anywhere near as long.

I wear welding gauntlets and don't have any problem, but I'm used to wearing them and always have done, even with the smaller grinder. They have saved my fingers a number of times. If you're not comfortable in them then wear somethign thinnder but do wear something.

Steel toe boots are a good idea.

Earplugs. 9" grinders are noisier than they appear. Even bog roll stuffed in is better than nothing, but I recomend earplugs.

For cutting tiles think about using a smaller grinder with a diamond cutting disc or if it's all going to be straight lines think about getting a Rubi style tile cutter
 
Thanks for all the advice.
I've used them several times before so don't have a problem using them, but it's been when a friends lent me one after telling him what I want it for so I've never really paid attention to what the discs are.

Definitely need to buy rather than hire as I've got loads of jobs to do.

Safety specs, ear plugs, gloves check.

Going for these specs, I had some dirty old scratched goggles that I couldn't see through before, they were a pita.

 
Glasses for certain, I've not tried stone but having hot pieces of metal flying at you is not fun (not that they should be coming towards your face anyway, but it isn't worth taking the chance), and a decent pair of gloves is a good idea.

Also a tip, speaking from experience, if you decide to put the grinder down, watch the disc as it's still spinning down, don't walk past and catch your arm on it like I did, left me a nasty scar :p
 
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