Angle grinders are among the most undervalued tools in construction. Angle grinders include an angled cutting tip on their driving shafts.
You may use the tool for various purposes, including polishing, cutting, and sharpening. It’s possible to obtain a corded or cordless model depending on the model you choose.
What Is an Angle Grinder?
Grinding (abrasive cutting) and polishing can be done with an angle grinder, also known as a disc grinder. Even though it was initially designed for stiff abrasives, now you may use them with a broad range of cutting tools and accessories.
Compressed air or an electric motor can power an angle grinder. It has a right-angle gearhead that drives an abrasive or narrower cut-off disc, which may be replaced.
The motor drives the gearhead. Angle grinders often feature a side handle and an adjustable guard for two-handed use. In some cases, angle grinders can be used as backers for sanding discs or discs, depending on their speed range.
Due to the flexibility required in the banking system, the material can be constructed of either hard plastic or phenolic resin. Regarding metal manufacturing and building sites, angle grinders are a must-have piece of machinery.
Die grinders and bench grinders are also used in machine shops.
Some Pointers for Being Safe When Using an Angle Grinder
- It’s essential to be safe when you use an angle grinder. Angle grinders have sharp edges that can be seen on their blades. Slips and falls can lead to severe injuries and even death while using power equipment.
- Get rid of the clutter on your desk. You must remove all wires, tools, and toolboxes before you start using an angle grinder. You won’t have to worry about making a mess since you’ll have enough space. Keep your tools in an easy-to-reach location if you ever need to use them again.
- Make sure you don’t touch the power cords. Avoid slicing or damaging them by keeping them hidden behind you. To avoid tripping over them, put them where you won’t trip.
- You need to remove combustible materials. Oil, fuel, and paper should all be removed from the premises to prevent fires. Using an angle grinder generates sparks, which can burn these substances.
- Dispose of all earphones, jewelry, strings, and other objects that might become entangled in the grinders’ teeth.
- It would be best if you carry an extinguisher with you. Prepare yourself in the event of a fire. You can avoid many incidents if you have an appropriate extinguisher for any fire.
When working in a damp environment, you need to be careful. Avoid working in the rain or wet locations at all times. No matter the scenario, never use a tool that isn’t entirely dry.
Protect yourself by using appropriate safety gear. The eyes, hearing, lungs, and hands should all be protected by personal protective equipment.
You must wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying particles and sparks from various materials. It’s critical that your gear, including your clothing and goggles, be the suitable size for your height and weight.
A wise precaution is to wear earplugs and thick gloves to protect your ears and hands from cuts, sparks, and hot, sharp metal edges.
Uses of an Angle Grinder
Using It to Cut Metals
Angle grinders have a quickly moving disc that you may use to cut, polish, smooth, and grind away metal. Plumbers who work with galvanized iron or lead pipes commonly employ this technique.
Welders use metal cuts to tidy up projects or prepare a piece of metal to be a match for other metals. It would be best to replace the abrasive grinding disc with a cut-off disc.
While grinding discs might be thicker, cut-off discs have a smaller thickness. Thinner grinding discs require less material to be removed than thicker ones, making it easier for the spinning disc to cut through metal.
Cutting discs are more prone to bending and shattering because of their thinness. You can avoid damaging your grinder’s cut-off disc if you let it cut at a steady pace instead of trying to drive it through the metal.
Tile, stone, and other masonry materials are being cut to size. While angle grinders are often used to cut metals like iron, copper, lead, and steel, you may also use them to cut through masonry materials like tile, brick, and stone.
Using a masonry cutting wheel instead of a metal cut-off disc will allow you to cut through these challenging materials.
An angle grinder comes in handy for cutting bespoke angles in tile to aid with bathroom shower repairs, constructing a garden walkway from brick or stone, or repairing damaged parts of a backyard fire pit.
These cutting wheels can bear more stress than metal cutting discs, making them more durable. When the grinder is driven into the material, it might still chip or shatter.
Change your masonry cutting wheel regularly to ensure smooth, clean cuts and less chance of chipping and breaking.
Using It to Sharpen Tools
You may sharpen axes, lawnmower blades, and chisels with an angle grinder. Get the angle grinder ready by attaching it to a vise so that you can regulate and steady its movement with your hands instead of having to worry about securing the blade.
To have the same angled cut while sharpening a tool with a grinder, placing a grinding disc in line with its angle is vital. Changing the cutting angle can significantly impact the tool’s performance and even damage the blade. You can rapidly sharpen your devices using a grinder, but you should follow up with a sharpening stone for an even more delicate edge before putting them away.
Wrapping Up
Angle grinders may cut, grind, or polish metal, tile, concrete, or other hard material with remarkable versatility. Angle grinders are a terrific purchase since you can use them for many different things.
Keep your safety in mind at all times when using this product. With a weapon as robust and adaptable as this one, it is possible to damage oneself inadvertently. Wear safety gear, and be cautious while using it.
