If you love your fingers you will follow every safety tip and use your head, I just bought my first angle grinder and ive learned so much already on youtube and I haven't even opened it yet , thanks for the learnin .
Old-timer here, and I have used a hacksaw to remove 1/3 of the guard. It still makes the grinder safe to use and enables the user to get in to tight corners.
Thank you so much, I just bought my first grinder and I was going through the user guide and, unfortunately, instructions about how to fit the different discs were all messed up, your video helped me to understand how it really has to be done, I know that sometimes it's just common sense, but last thing you want to do with a power tool is to learn the hard way...!!!
Excellent coverage. Especially the safety part. Never underestimate safety folks. Your body parts are no joke. Don't fool around. Have fun! Great video thanks.
Dan thank you for taking the time to do this video. I never used a grinder and have to grind cement and smooth it so as to install tile. The video was a great learning tool and your safety portion really save me injury. Because the dust created was bad and wearing all the safety did the job. Normally I macho up and don't use any.Chips were flying and many pieces hit my face if not for the mast... I look forward for more and will pickup my hat and stickers. Thanks deeman
We worked with a WIllys Jeeps Station Wagon, trying to cut part of the chasis, with an 10-15 years old Bosch 9 in angle grinder, the steel of the middle chassis was so strong that actually crack the cutting disc, if it werent for the Guard i would be dead, at 9.000 RPM a disc failure kill's you without any problem, that's why the guard is there.
Great video and very helpful for me. Very admirable that you are talking so much about safety, as many people just buy these things for $30 from a store, go home, and hospitalize themselves. +1
Great Video and nice to take a word on Safety !Many People take of the guard to be able putting bigger discs on a grinder.Which is of course not done and against all safetyrules, aswell as stressing the grinder, Just don't do that People!
This video is ten years old, but it should be highlighted. That says it all about job security. Because you only have two hands with ten fingers, two eyes, two lungs and one life. I'd like to add a little detail: if you're working with an extension cord, make sure it's not coiled up, to avoid the self-effect, its overheating effects, its electro-magnetic problems on your equipment and the other inevitable problems that will overwhelm you. Congratulations to the author, I'm putting in a bullet point because I can't put in three. 👍👍👍
Having watched numerous grinding videos, I particularly feel this WELDFEVER video series is very well done and the explanations are clear to understand as well as the video aspects being shown. Great Job and look forward to viewing more on WELDFEVER videos!
Thanks for the video. I just bought a grinder at a garage sale and neglected to see that it did not have a guard. After watching your video I realized it's not worth the 10 bucks I spent on it and trashed it.
Hey Dan, Very informational and safety important video. I have over the years seen people misuse grinders and not use guard etc. At work when I grab up a grinder, I always check the hold down nut to make sure it is installed properly. I don't know if guys don't care or they don't know the difference! Maybe they should watch your video! I find those flapper sanders are great to sharpen lawnmower blades ( off the mower ). The trick is to keep it moving and cool your blade to keep from overheating! Thanks for another great video. Take care.
Stumbled across your channel and really like it. I picked up a few tips about how to use my grinder. Thanks. I hit the thumb's up button and have subscribed. Thanks again. Eric central Florida
+WeldFever today i took a piece of steel and cutted it to ''parang machete look a like'' and then i chromed it out by grinding the old 1st rusty layer, now i wonder how do i make sure it doesnt ever rust again?
thanks for calling out how to install the cutting wheel (reversing the fastener .. I did it the other way the last weekend .. and the results were bad .. lesson learned thanks again for the video
50 videos later, only one to actually show the raise portion going where. Seen some many people hand me there grinder, wheel blows off within a minute. Thanks for saving my life, or potentially in the future.
Finally someone who knows what they are actually talking about there's so many 10 20 minute long videos that are just useless and wood workers trying to tell you a flap disc is for grinding welds. What in your opinion is the best wheel for getting to bare metal I mean paint mild rust galvanizing. I have a grinding wheel and cut off and that's it I've got a wire wheel for my drill well a few 3 different ones and they don't do it fast enough and the grinding wheel is only contacting so much so its not a big ammount its like highlighter streaks right ? Should I get a flap disc or wire wheel I'm just worried about the wire wheel flying apart at 11000 rpm I hear good things about the flap discs I have a 4 and a half inch grinder from Mastercraft and I've never had an issue with anything mind you I'd rather take longer than hurt the tool so I don't press really hard and make sure others don't either. Highly recommend you try one I got it for 30 bucks on sale and people say Mastercraft is crap I've used it my whole life and had maybe one socket Crack but I was using an impact..
DeadlyVoltsHD For paint and mild rust I have found a special paint stripping disk works extremely well! It looks a bit like a sponge (very porous) but is harder. It doesn't appear that it would work, but it will if you use it correctly. Light pressure and completely flat to the workpiece and it will last quite a long time. Not sure how it would work on galvanized though. For that I would go with an aggressive flap disk, or even a stone with light pressure. Good luck.
WeldFever I think a stone one would be best if no others are available. I noticed that flap disks get clogged up very easily with softer materials. Ironically I find flap disks are the best for removing huge amounts of metal even though it's a bit of a paradox.
Hi Weld.. are u able to do an video demo on cutting off of a jamm padlock which locked on the gate door.. which disc size is to be use... n do the grinder able to polish or sharpen a chef knife....
As a dumb fool who is currently nursing a nice groove I cut in the tip of my thumb 2 days ago by using a grinder and cutting disk without the guard, I second your remark regarding guards. It's stupid and it takes a fraction of a second to remove the flesh almost to the bone. Thankfully I managed to get the grinder stopped without doing myself any serious harm, I dread to think what could have happened if I'd dropped the thing in shock whilst it was running. I won't be doing that again!
+rdouthwaite I have heard this story many times and I am very grateful to you for sharing your experience. thank you and I hope your injury heals up soon.
Thanks, it's not too bad, could've been a lot worse. It's not like I'm new to grinders either, been using them on and off for years without issue, just got complacent and over confident and that's all it takes!
i agree with you about the gaurd, but i do appliance installation and cutting granite for replacing cooktops, that gaurd does in fact get in the way. I dont use the gaurd but it definitely makes me a little uncomfortable to be honest
Besides metal, what else can an angle grinder be used for? I bought a house that is turning into a remodel and I'm trying not to buy every kind of tool. I have drills, a sawzall, and a 4 1/2 angle grinder. Can I use the angle grinder to cut wood?
+Cynthia Gustafson You can buy stones for masonry work and I believe there are some special blades for cutting wood, though I must admit I have no experience with either of these, since I don't do masonry, and I feel there are much better and safer tools out there for cutting wood.Hope that helps.
Well explained and safety recommendations rightly put at the forefront. A question. I have a metal garage sprung door. I am having someone slacken spring but need to cut the door in two to take it off site. Can I use My angle grinder with a cutting disc. The weight of the door on the ground should prevent movement. Would you?
Harish Sharma Sorry I'm so late with the response, but I'm happy to see a knowledgeable viewer answered the question nicely. Generally speaking, angle grinders are not used on wood for cutting. I have seen them used for gouging out material with special blades/disks. Usually these are wood carvers that do this, but I couldn't really give you any more info than that. Good luck, and be safe!
Harish Sharma I would be dubious of using a angle grinder to cut wood. I have never used one to cut wood but I imagine a disk could easily get jammed as it has no teeth wider than the actual disk body. That's why handsaws and circular saws always have the cutting teeth wider than the body of the blade.
Thanks for the Video I just found your channel and subbed to it ..I am guilty of using grinders without the gaurds I recently put my guards back on and I am going to modify the screw that tightens them with a wingnut or something to make adjusting it quicker.... I was using a cutting disc and it started to shred and it did not feel good having the pieces hitting my arm !!!
Thank you for telling me so, since it makes me feel good to know that people are working safely, especially if I had anything to do with inspiring someone to do so! I hate sounding like a safety prude, but it really is for the best, because this stuff can really hurt you badly if your not careful. So if you have the ability to do something small that can potentially save you your vision, or hearing, or some skin, than why not? And if I can have something to do with educating people so that they can avoid being hurt, fantastic! Thanks a lot for your comment and please keep watching and following.
Excellent stuff... well done. How do you get some metal welded, small amounts for table legs, made of tubular steel. Would you search for a steel or metal fabricator? Or look for metal welding services? Any thoughts folks?
Hi... is it possible to eventually use a bigger disc on a 4 1/2 grinder?? not handling it using my hands but with a custom made table as for exame a table saw? my 4 1/2 grinder is 11.000rpm and bigger ones are slower at about 6.000rpm.
Dan I would like your opinion on a grinder that only has an on and off switch that is locked on when on.What I mean is that the Makita is a grinder that if you turn it on it stays on even if the grinder kicks back and comes out of your hand which is what happened to me.I was almost killed Dec 20, 2014 at 1:30p when the Makita grinder kicked back,jumped into my shirt and ran up to my neck and cut my neck open.I fought to try and stop it but i could not get the machine to turn off until I finally reached the plug and yanked it.By this time I was bleeding bad and had to rush to the ER where they finally got me stable.My Dewalt grinder stops if hands are off the grinder which I think is a huge safety issue.I just dont see a reason a grinder need to run if the operators hands are not on the tool.I am very lucky to be alive.
Matt Harris Wow, I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm glad to hear your okay. In the trade we call those switches "suicide switches" because they are so inherently dangerous. I try to avoid them if I can, but I do happen to have a grinder or two with that configuration. I usually use them for light work like sanding, or wire wheeling. Also, no matter what type of grinder I am using, I never put pressure on it. I take a firm grip and simply let the weight of the machine do the work. This ends up being a safer practice. Good luck and thanks for sharing your story. It just might save someone else!
I just purchased a grinder and was delighted to come across this video. It will certainly help me operate it more safely and with a better understanding of how to install the different wheels. I know this is an old message but if you have to use a tool with a power switch like Matt has you may be able to use it with what is called a "billy" pedal or deadman foot switch. You plug the pedal/switch into your power and your tool into the switch. Then you can control whether power flows to the tool with the foot pedal, and if there is an accident the power is shut off when you take your foot off the switch. The switches cost between $20-30 but can be used for multiple tools in your shop as needed.
I just picked one up at a yard sale. It is gritty, but works and is not broken in any way that I know of. Is it okay if the bolt piece for the wheel a little wobbly? It is secure, just wobbly
+deltaforceairsoft579 Whenever the word "wobbly" is referenced with a machine that spins at high RPM, I would say that is not safe. If it were me, I wouldn't use it.
I'm cleaning an engine bay out what disc do u recommend using? To remove rust and paint was thinking if using a flap disc on certain areas like you did so I can get a nice polish to it :)
Azzam Asghar A flap disk works well, but be careful if there are an flammable liquids, solvents, or oils on the parts you will sand or it could be disastrous! There are also some really nice paint removing disks that look like a sponge, but are hard. They work very well for removing rust, paint, and mill scale, but you have to go easy on them and let the machine do the work without much pressure from the user. Good luck!
I have an iron/steel staircase, lots of spindles and custom design thingies and the previous owner painted over the gold paint with a hideous grey... I've been using a dremel and an orbital sander and it's taking FOREVER to take the paint off and sand down the imperfections... can you give me some advice on how to sand this staircase quicker?
Spirito2008 Probably a paint stripper, but its hard to say without actually seeing it. There are many wire wheel arrangements for grinders, drills, and die grinders. They seem to work well in tight areas, so you might try them, but be careful as the wires have s tendency to fly out and imbed themselves in all kinds of things, including skin and eyes! In other words, if you're going to use one, make sure to wear every bit of personal protective equipment possible.
Be very carefully then you working with cutting disc and gloves on your hands. If cutting disc gets a bit deformed-chipped, it can catch your glove an break your fingers, slice your hand very badly. True story. Already happened to my father, and his friend
Is there a beginner video to useing a self feed fluc cored welder it might be tig or mig not sure but I liked this vid and I agree very much with always using a guard
Best wheel for removing thick hard paint mild rust and galvanizing? If you can't use a grinder with a guard on or with it in your way your probably not using it right or don't have the guard set right... Also I have a Mastercraft electric 4 and a half inch grinder and I've never had an issue with it the motor or anything and I use Mastercraft cut off wheels too never had one shatter on me luckily. And I use grinding discs as well seem good to me I got 2 packs of 5 for 2$ each think it was an error lol but wondering how your experiences have been with these. Also will my cutoff wheel get rounded edges or will it stay square I haven't done enough grinding to find out and the one in my shop has rounded edges I think it's just from use but I'm unsure and how do I know when it's time to change them as well. Just getting into mig welding and I reccomend using a handle always grinding or cutting it's saved me for having a grinder jump out of my hands.
what should I add to my grinder? I cut my finger open pretty bad last night and had to get 2 stitches so I'd like to put something on to prevent it from happening again. I used one that had the body style of the far right but a grinding wheel on the far left but it has no guard on it.
I got my Easy MIG 100T/1 from Ebay. This is my first time using welding machine and I have a question. I put the flux core wire included and the motor pulled the wire fine but when I try to start soldering nothing happened. The ground cable is on my metal part and moved the switches to differents position from 1 to 2 and from Min to Max andnothing happened. Can you tell me what is the problem? I hear the motor running. Maybe the ground cable is not conected inside the machine. What I need to do? Thank you in advantage.
Very helpful. Thank you! Here's a good question for you... Which grinder attachment is best for removing paint (over-spray) from the surface of exterior brick?
+Mark Spotter They have a special paint removal disk at the big box stores. It looks a bit like a raggedy sponge and works very well for removing mill scale too. Just use light pressure.
So my father says that using flap discs with a guard is pointless because the edge of the flap disc doesn't really do much and you need to be able to place it down flat to do any decent work. How would you respond to this?
Yes. Guards. Face protection. And respirator for lung protection. Those are all requirements before I pick up an angle grinder. I have a full face respirator so that works face and lung protection together!
Thank you, I'm glad it helped. Unfortunately, cutting porcelain is not in my skill set, so I'm afraid I can't help you there, but I hope you'll keep watching in case we hit on something that you can use.
Hey, I really appreciate the video (I sound like every youtube commenter ever)... Can I ask, for prepping steel before painting with rustproofing paint (after welding is complete), what grit level flap wheel would you recommend? Thanks!
They are very useful tools but they can be dangerous. My dad was cutting a piece of angle iron and it pinched the wheel. The grinder jumped back and cut his middle finger off. It was re-attached but he could not hold things for long with that hand. The grinder must have also cut a tendon. I could only imagine how painful that must have been but they say it happens so fast you don't notice it at first.
Not looking to weld anything sir. I want to know if I can use this tool to cut a car tire in half. Yes I know there are steel bands in tires and that's why I'm looking for the "least" dangerous yet effective way to accomplish this job. I'm doing some upcycling of discarded tires: planters, see saws for kids etc. Just a quick note that quite a few people (upcycling freaks, like me) are trying to find the best method/tool for this task and would be happy to have a solid solution!! If you search the net, you'll see no one really has an answer. Hope you can help me!
which is better a dremmel or angle grinder,im still in highschool and im pretty scared of the angle grinder even though its more powerfull the dremmel got more use
+RYU47376 I have a Dremel that I rarely use because it is just not robust enough for what I do. Having said that, you might find it okay for whatever work you are doing. No matter what you decide, make sure to read all of the safety and use instructions on anything you use and try to get a lesson or demo from a trade school, a manufacturer, or other qualified person before you use it. Good luck, be safe and don't forget to put on safety glasses and all other protective personal equipment.
Hi, is it dangerous if i use 150mm wheel/disc (rated as 10 000 rpm) with angle grinder 115mm (rated as 11 000rpm)? Angle grinder will be anchored/fixed on steel stand. I am going to have small amount of metal work.
m Ni I would suggest you use a bench grinder for stationary work. Using a tool in a way that it is not intended to be used can be dangerous and I would never recommend it. Hope that helps and please be safe.
can I use a angle grinder to cut of a nut that is welded on a strut? my head bolt snapped so the bolt is still stuck in the strut and knuckle. I think the bolt is made of tapered steel or (metal)
Whoever cannot grind with the guard on, need to learn how to use the grinder. Those who think the guard serves no purpose, needs to learn more about grinders.
If you love your fingers you will follow every safety tip and use your head, I just bought my first angle grinder and ive learned so much already on youtube and I haven't even opened it yet , thanks for the learnin .
Probably the most dangerous tool out there, be safe folks
Old-timer here, and I have used a hacksaw to remove 1/3 of the guard. It still makes the grinder safe to use and enables the user to get in to tight corners.
That's extremely helpful to this newb who's about to buy his first grinder. Thank you very much, and well done.
+Doctor Chris Glad to have helped and thanks for the comment. Please like my video if you could.
Thank you so much, I just bought my first grinder and I was going through the user guide and, unfortunately, instructions about how to fit the different discs were all messed up, your video helped me to understand how it really has to be done, I know that sometimes it's just common sense, but last thing you want to do with a power tool is to learn the hard way...!!!
+carlos heredia Glad to have helped and thanks for the comment.
Excellent coverage. Especially the safety part. Never underestimate safety folks. Your body parts are no joke. Don't fool around. Have fun!
Great video thanks.
Ken ded Thank you, and you're welcome.
Dan thank you for taking the time to do this video. I never used a grinder and have to grind cement and smooth it so as to install tile. The video was a great learning tool and your safety portion really save me injury. Because the dust created was bad and wearing all the safety did the job. Normally I macho up and don't use any.Chips were flying and many pieces hit my face if not for the mast... I look forward for more and will pickup my hat and stickers. Thanks deeman
EXCELLENT video! Just purchased a new grinder and loved how you went over each type of wheel available. Flap discs are definitely my favorite
My first grinding project uses cutting disks and flap wheels...turning a length of railroad track into an anvil!
+FATKIDWITHMOOBZ Great, glad you liked the video and good luck!
Nice clear narration, good voice, usefull tips, Thanks
+Bryn Noble Thank you so much. I appreciate that!
Your speaking and instructions are very clear. Your knowledge is extensive and your work is great! Excellent video--great editing, short and sweet.
Thank you so much for the kind words, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. - Dan
We worked with a WIllys Jeeps Station Wagon, trying to cut part of the chasis, with an 10-15 years old Bosch 9 in angle grinder, the steel of the middle chassis was so strong that actually crack the cutting disc, if it werent for the Guard i would be dead, at 9.000 RPM a disc failure kill's you without any problem, that's why the guard is there.
Thank you for sharing, I'm getting into welding and grinding for personal projects, your tutorial was the best on the internet!
Keep up the good work!
Jojoba Loope Thank you for saying so. It is always gratifying to hear that my videos have helped someone in some small way.
Great video and very helpful for me. Very admirable that you are talking so much about safety, as many people just buy these things for $30 from a store, go home, and hospitalize themselves. +1
Great Video and nice to take a word on Safety !Many People take of the guard to be able putting bigger discs on a grinder.Which is of course not done and against all safetyrules, aswell as stressing the grinder, Just don't do that People!
+Gwen Coonen I agree and thanks for the comment.
Very instructive. Clear and easy to understand for a beginner. Thank you.
This video is ten years old, but it should be highlighted.
That says it all about job security.
Because you only have two hands with ten fingers, two eyes, two lungs and one life.
I'd like to add a little detail: if you're working with an extension cord, make sure it's not coiled up, to avoid the self-effect, its overheating effects, its electro-magnetic problems on your equipment and the other inevitable problems that will overwhelm you.
Congratulations to the author, I'm putting in a bullet point because I can't put in three.
👍👍👍
Thank you, I certainly feel the same about safety. - Dan
I've never done any work with metal nor do I know anything about it, so I'm trying to learn. Good info here and was very helpful! thanks
Having watched numerous grinding videos, I particularly feel this WELDFEVER video series is very well done and the explanations are clear to understand as well as the video aspects being shown. Great Job and look forward to viewing more on WELDFEVER videos!
as a welder myself this is a great video for people getting into metal work good video man new sub here...
Thanks for the video. I just bought a grinder at a garage sale and neglected to see that it did not have a guard. After watching your video I realized it's not worth the 10 bucks I spent on it and trashed it.
Hey Dan, Very informational and safety important video. I have over the years seen people misuse grinders and not use guard etc. At work when I grab up a grinder, I always check the hold down nut to make sure it is installed properly. I don't know if guys don't care or they don't know the difference! Maybe they should watch your video! I find those flapper sanders are great to sharpen lawnmower blades ( off the mower ). The trick is to keep it moving and cool your blade to keep from overheating! Thanks for another great video. Take care.
***** Yes, they can be quite dangerous and are often taken for granted.
Good job. I know nothing about this stuff and you made it interesting and informative.
You'd make a good metal shop teacher.
Stumbled across your channel and really like it.
I picked up a few tips about how to use my grinder. Thanks.
I hit the thumb's up button and have subscribed.
Thanks again.
Eric
central Florida
Great video, well done. Clear, concise, informative. Thanks.
Great Info thanks!
I am thinking about a first time metal project and this answered many questions.
Greg Dixon Great, glad to hear it!
+WeldFever today i took a piece of steel and cutted it to ''parang machete look a like'' and then i chromed it out by grinding the old 1st rusty layer, now i wonder how do i make sure it doesnt ever rust again?
Excellent video! Fantastic explanation of how to use a grinder!
This video was actually so useful, thanks!
George Simmons I'm glad you think so.
Just bought my first angle grinder, so this was extermely helpfull! Thanks a lot!
Marcelo Lombardo Great, glad to hear it!
thanks for calling out how to install the cutting wheel (reversing the fastener .. I did it the other way the last weekend .. and the results were bad .. lesson learned thanks again for the video
Mark MarkWis Glad it helped
50 videos later, only one to actually show the raise portion going where. Seen some many people hand me there grinder, wheel blows off within a minute. Thanks for saving my life, or potentially in the future.
Well, I'm glad to help in any way possible, Thanks for the comment and stay safe! - Dan
Yep I find that using the right grinder help clean up a mess when doing out of position welding.
thx for the vid
+Art Humphrey You're welcome and thank you for the comment.
Finally someone who knows what they are actually talking about there's so many 10 20 minute long videos that are just useless and wood workers trying to tell you a flap disc is for grinding welds. What in your opinion is the best wheel for getting to bare metal I mean paint mild rust galvanizing. I have a grinding wheel and cut off and that's it I've got a wire wheel for my drill well a few 3 different ones and they don't do it fast enough and the grinding wheel is only contacting so much so its not a big ammount its like highlighter streaks right ? Should I get a flap disc or wire wheel I'm just worried about the wire wheel flying apart at 11000 rpm I hear good things about the flap discs I have a 4 and a half inch grinder from Mastercraft and I've never had an issue with anything mind you I'd rather take longer than hurt the tool so I don't press really hard and make sure others don't either. Highly recommend you try one I got it for 30 bucks on sale and people say Mastercraft is crap I've used it my whole life and had maybe one socket Crack but I was using an impact..
DeadlyVoltsHD For paint and mild rust I have found a special paint stripping disk works extremely well! It looks a bit like a sponge (very porous) but is harder. It doesn't appear that it would work, but it will if you use it correctly. Light pressure and completely flat to the workpiece and it will last quite a long time. Not sure how it would work on galvanized though. For that I would go with an aggressive flap disk, or even a stone with light pressure. Good luck.
WeldFever I think a stone one would be best if no others are available. I noticed that flap disks get clogged up very easily with softer materials. Ironically I find flap disks are the best for removing huge amounts of metal even though it's a bit of a paradox.
Great tutorial !! i just bought a 4 1/2 angle grinder for yard art
great video, very well produced and demonstrated. thank you.
Avoid grinding with a nylon shirt on. I caught my belly on fire. Interesting exercise in "think fast".
Excellent tutorial, pleasure to watch.
Great video and very thorough
great vid for welding (and grinding) noobs like me!
+cineman73 Glad to hear it and thanks for saying so!
Hi Weld.. are u able to do an video demo on cutting off of a jamm padlock which locked on the gate door.. which disc size is to be use... n do the grinder able to polish or sharpen a chef knife....
Excellent video - just what we needed to see - great explanation. Now we'll get to work!
+Swing Cushion Covers Great, glad to hear it and thanks for the comment.
Outstanding presentation. Easy to understand and video of high quality!
+Steve Friedlander Thanks so much for your compliment and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
As a dumb fool who is currently nursing a nice groove I cut in the tip of my thumb 2 days ago by using a grinder and cutting disk without the guard, I second your remark regarding guards. It's stupid and it takes a fraction of a second to remove the flesh almost to the bone. Thankfully I managed to get the grinder stopped without doing myself any serious harm, I dread to think what could have happened if I'd dropped the thing in shock whilst it was running. I won't be doing that again!
+rdouthwaite I have heard this story many times and I am very grateful to you for sharing your experience. thank you and I hope your injury heals up soon.
Thanks, it's not too bad, could've been a lot worse. It's not like I'm new to grinders either, been using them on and off for years without issue, just got complacent and over confident and that's all it takes!
Excellent video. I bought a Makita today and it's superb!
A+ video, well made and informative. thanks for the great upload
i agree with you about the gaurd, but i do appliance installation and cutting granite for replacing cooktops, that gaurd does in fact get in the way. I dont use the gaurd but it definitely makes me a little uncomfortable to be honest
Thanks so much for the video. I'm new to DIY and I appreciate the tutoring. this video was very thorough and informative.
+Cynthia Gustafson You're welcome, thanks for the comment.
Besides metal, what else can an angle grinder be used for? I bought a house that is turning into a remodel and I'm trying not to buy every kind of tool.
I have drills, a sawzall, and a 4 1/2 angle grinder. Can I use the angle grinder to cut wood?
+Cynthia Gustafson You can buy stones for masonry work and I believe there are some special blades for cutting wood, though I must admit I have no experience with either of these, since I don't do masonry, and I feel there are much better and safer tools out there for cutting wood.Hope that helps.
Excellent primer on how to use an angle grinder.
Well explained and safety recommendations rightly put at the forefront.
A question. I have a metal garage sprung door. I am having someone slacken spring but need to cut the door in two to take it off site. Can I use My angle grinder with a cutting disc. The weight of the door on the ground should prevent movement. Would you?
chesterarebest Sorry, but I never give such specific advice regarding repairs or alterations. Good luck and be safe.
I love how what appears to be a fuel can close to your metal grinders.... beware as it can cause flames especially when you are grinding.
Which type of cutting disc you would recommend to use on Wood, MDF Board, Particle Boards etc?
Thanks ArtaGene Skipper I am just starting out..and learning. Your videos are informative. Thanks for that.
Quite welcome, my father was a great carpenter, so learned quite a bit about working with carpenter tools.
Harish Sharma Sorry I'm so late with the response, but I'm happy to see a knowledgeable viewer answered the question nicely. Generally speaking, angle grinders are not used on wood for cutting. I have seen them used for gouging out material with special blades/disks. Usually these are wood carvers that do this, but I couldn't really give you any more info than that. Good luck, and be safe!
Harish Sharma I would be dubious of using a angle grinder to cut wood. I have never used one to cut wood but I imagine a disk could easily get jammed as it has no teeth wider than the actual disk body. That's why handsaws and circular saws always have the cutting teeth wider than the body of the blade.
An angle grinder isn't for cutting wood. Ever...
totally agree with you brother. I usually find methheads and crackheads take off the guards, don't wear breathing guards or eye guards.
Thanks for the Video I just found your channel and subbed to it ..I am guilty of using grinders without the gaurds I recently put my guards back on and I am going to modify the screw that tightens them with a wingnut or something to make adjusting it quicker.... I was using a cutting disc and it started to shred and it did not feel good having the pieces hitting my arm !!!
Thank you for telling me so, since it makes me feel good to know that people are working safely, especially if I had anything to do with inspiring someone to do so! I hate sounding like a safety prude, but it really is for the best, because this stuff can really hurt you badly if your not careful. So if you have the ability to do something small that can potentially save you your vision, or hearing, or some skin, than why not? And if I can have something to do with educating people so that they can avoid being hurt, fantastic!
Thanks a lot for your comment and please keep watching and following.
Excellent stuff... well done. How do you get some metal welded, small amounts for table legs, made of tubular steel. Would you search for a steel or metal fabricator? Or look for metal welding services? Any thoughts folks?
Hi... is it possible to eventually use a bigger disc on a 4 1/2 grinder?? not handling it using my hands but with a custom made table as for exame a table saw? my 4 1/2 grinder is 11.000rpm and bigger ones are slower at about 6.000rpm.
Dan I would like your opinion on a grinder that only has an on and off switch that is locked on when on.What I mean is that the Makita is a grinder that if you turn it on it stays on even if the grinder kicks back and comes out of your hand which is what happened to me.I was almost killed Dec 20, 2014 at 1:30p when the Makita grinder kicked back,jumped into my shirt and ran up to my neck and cut my neck open.I fought to try and stop it but i could not get the machine to turn off until I finally reached the plug and yanked it.By this time I was bleeding bad and had to rush to the ER where they finally got me stable.My Dewalt grinder stops if hands are off the grinder which I think is a huge safety issue.I just dont see a reason a grinder need to run if the operators hands are not on the tool.I am very lucky to be alive.
Matt Harris Wow, I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm glad to hear your okay. In the trade we call those switches "suicide switches" because they are so inherently dangerous. I try to avoid them if I can, but I do happen to have a grinder or two with that configuration. I usually use them for light work like sanding, or wire wheeling. Also, no matter what type of grinder I am using, I never put pressure on it. I take a firm grip and simply let the weight of the machine do the work. This ends up being a safer practice. Good luck and thanks for sharing your story. It just might save someone else!
I just purchased a grinder and was delighted to come across this video. It will certainly help me operate it more safely and with a better understanding of how to install the different wheels.
I know this is an old message but if you have to use a tool with a power switch like Matt has you may be able to use it with what is called a "billy" pedal or deadman foot switch. You plug the pedal/switch into your power and your tool into the switch. Then you can control whether power flows to the tool with the foot pedal, and if there is an accident the power is shut off when you take your foot off the switch. The switches cost between $20-30 but can be used for multiple tools in your shop as needed.
Nice explanation. What is the flap disc grit size you use 12:45?
Great video, excellent instruction. Thank you ...
I just picked one up at a yard sale. It is gritty, but works and is not broken in any way that I know of. Is it okay if the bolt piece for the wheel a little wobbly? It is secure, just wobbly
+deltaforceairsoft579 Whenever the word "wobbly" is referenced with a machine that spins at high RPM, I would say that is not safe. If it were me, I wouldn't use it.
thanx for these precious advice and information
Thanks again.
Great video I just started welding school so these tips will help me thank you very much god bless
I'm cleaning an engine bay out what disc do u recommend using? To remove rust and paint was thinking if using a flap disc on certain areas like you did so I can get a nice polish to it :)
Azzam Asghar A flap disk works well, but be careful if there are an flammable liquids, solvents, or oils on the parts you will sand or it could be disastrous! There are also some really nice paint removing disks that look like a sponge, but are hard. They work very well for removing rust, paint, and mill scale, but you have to go easy on them and let the machine do the work without much pressure from the user. Good luck!
Thanks buddy :) appreciate your help ! Will deffo subscribe ! :)
If you wanted to take a lot of metal off, how would you best use an angel grinder? Which disc would you suggest? Thank you in advance. Great video :)
big4m20 Youve probably got it figured out by now, but 40 grit flap disks are the fastest.
Nice video, what grinder and type/size grinder wheel would you recommend to cut my rear metal bumper off a 2010 Sierra pickup truck?
You doing a great job ! thank you for your help.
thanks. i was able to grind something off in the garage with your tutorial!
Mike P Glad to hear it.
I have an iron/steel staircase, lots of spindles and custom design thingies and the previous owner painted over the gold paint with a hideous grey... I've been using a dremel and an orbital sander and it's taking FOREVER to take the paint off and sand down the imperfections... can you give me some advice on how to sand this staircase quicker?
Spirito2008 Probably a paint stripper, but its hard to say without actually seeing it. There are many wire wheel arrangements for grinders, drills, and die grinders. They seem to work well in tight areas, so you might try them, but be careful as the wires have s tendency to fly out and imbed themselves in all kinds of things, including skin and eyes! In other words, if you're going to use one, make sure to wear every bit of personal protective equipment possible.
im scared of angle grinders
are there different arbor sizes? i bought an adapter for sanding disk but the thread is way bigger than the arbor of my makita
Be very carefully then you working with cutting disc and gloves on your hands. If cutting disc gets a bit deformed-chipped, it can catch your glove an break your fingers, slice your hand very badly. True story. Already happened to my father, and his friend
+arsenall654 Thank you
Is there a beginner video to useing a self feed fluc cored welder it might be tig or mig not sure but I liked this vid and I agree very much with always using a guard
Best wheel for removing thick hard paint mild rust and galvanizing?
If you can't use a grinder with a guard on or with it in your way your probably not using it right or don't have the guard set right...
Also I have a Mastercraft electric 4 and a half inch grinder and I've never had an issue with it the motor or anything and I use Mastercraft cut off wheels too never had one shatter on me luckily. And I use grinding discs as well seem good to me I got 2 packs of 5 for 2$ each think it was an error lol but wondering how your experiences have been with these.
Also will my cutoff wheel get rounded edges or will it stay square I haven't done enough grinding to find out and the one in my shop has rounded edges I think it's just from use but I'm unsure and how do I know when it's time to change them as well. Just getting into mig welding and I reccomend using a handle always grinding or cutting it's saved me for having a grinder jump out of my hands.
very nice. thanks. hugs from Mozambique
WeldFever How much rpm grinder machine does it have and what voltage to run these machine??
i love you. thanks for the video
I was looking for instant brake, anti restart and anti counter-blow systems. Could you test those systems for us?
+fpdrumond If I had them I suppose I could, but I do not. So if you have an idea how I can get my hands on some, please let me know.
what should I add to my grinder? I cut my finger open pretty bad last night and had to get 2 stitches so I'd like to put something on to prevent it from happening again. I used one that had the body style of the far right but a grinding wheel on the far left but it has no guard on it.
go get a guard
can you use a grinding stone disk to cut metal?...
+Brandon Horn No, not for cutting. Only a cutting disk should be used to cut.
I got my Easy MIG 100T/1 from Ebay. This is my first time using welding machine and I have a question. I put the flux core wire included and the motor pulled the wire fine but when I try to start soldering nothing happened. The ground cable is on my metal part and moved the switches to differents position from 1 to 2 and from Min to Max andnothing happened. Can you tell me what is the problem? I hear the motor running. Maybe the ground cable is not conected inside the machine. What I need to do? Thank you in advantage.
Very helpful. Thank you!
Here's a good question for you...
Which grinder attachment is best for removing paint (over-spray) from the surface of exterior brick?
+Mark Spotter They have a special paint removal disk at the big box stores. It looks a bit like a raggedy sponge and works very well for removing mill scale too. Just use light pressure.
Cheers for this.
So my father says that using flap discs with a guard is pointless because the edge of the flap disc doesn't really do much and you need to be able to place it down flat to do any decent work. How would you respond to this?
FracturedPixels Most flap discs are tapered do you don't use them flat, trying to use them flat will cause them to get out of control.
FracturedPixels pointless as a flap disc has a tapered face
Yes. Guards. Face protection. And respirator for lung protection. Those are all requirements before I pick up an angle grinder. I have a full face respirator so that works face and lung protection together!
Scottius the Big Absolutely, thanks for commenting.
Bro how many clamps do you need??? No wonder I can't find any at the hardware store.
Great video for a newbie like me! Would you have a video on how to use a diamond blade for cutting porcelain? I would so greatly appreciate it!
Thank you, I'm glad it helped. Unfortunately, cutting porcelain is not in my skill set, so I'm afraid I can't help you there, but I hope you'll keep watching in case we hit on something that you can use.
Hey, I really appreciate the video (I sound like every youtube commenter ever)... Can I ask, for prepping steel before painting with rustproofing paint (after welding is complete), what grit level flap wheel would you recommend? Thanks!
Great tutorial. Thanks!
+Daniel Pulido My pleasure, and thank for your comment.
They are very useful tools but they can be dangerous. My dad was cutting a piece of angle iron and it pinched the wheel. The grinder jumped back and cut his middle finger off. It was re-attached but he could not hold things for long with that hand. The grinder must have also cut a tendon. I could only imagine how painful that must have been but they say it happens so fast you don't notice it at first.
John Doe Yes, very dangerous indeed. Did he have the guard on when it happened?
this was very helpful, thank you.
Benny Turbo Glad you liked it!
Not looking to weld anything sir. I want to know if I can use this tool to cut a car tire in half. Yes I know there are steel bands in tires and that's why I'm looking for the "least" dangerous yet effective way to accomplish this job. I'm doing some upcycling of discarded tires: planters, see saws for kids etc. Just a quick note that quite a few people (upcycling freaks, like me) are trying to find the best method/tool for this task and would be happy to have a solid solution!! If you search the net, you'll see no one really has an answer. Hope you can help me!
Sandra Jeffrey it will smoke like crazy but if you hold the grinder with a sturdy grip it will do
Look the first video of the new unique patented brush
Sandra Jeffrey you can, I did it the other day
you can lay the grinding disc flat to get the smooth X or the swirly finish...but it doest look all shiney like a flap disc
+j smith Thanks for the comment.
which is better a dremmel or angle grinder,im still in highschool and im pretty scared of the angle grinder even though its more powerfull the dremmel got more use
+RYU47376 I have a Dremel that I rarely use because it is just not robust enough for what I do. Having said that, you might find it okay for whatever work you are doing. No matter what you decide, make sure to read all of the safety and use instructions on anything you use and try to get a lesson or demo from a trade school, a manufacturer, or other qualified person before you use it. Good luck, be safe and don't forget to put on safety glasses and all other protective personal equipment.
Hi, is it dangerous if i use 150mm wheel/disc (rated as 10 000 rpm) with angle grinder 115mm (rated as 11 000rpm)? Angle grinder will be anchored/fixed on steel stand. I am going to have small amount of metal work.
m Ni I would suggest you use a bench grinder for stationary work. Using a tool in a way that it is not intended to be used can be dangerous and I would never recommend it. Hope that helps and please be safe.
I agree the guard is very essential never work without it !!!!
can I use a angle grinder to cut of a nut that is welded on a strut? my head bolt snapped so the bolt is still stuck in the strut and knuckle. I think the bolt is made of tapered steel or (metal)
+85krash yeah, just use a cut off wheel, make sure its the same size as any other wheel you have for that specific grinder size.
Whoever cannot grind with the guard on, need to learn how to use the grinder.
Those who think the guard serves no purpose, needs to learn more about grinders.
MalawisLilleKanal Agreed, thanks for the comment.
Ya I enjoy having all my fingers
Thanks for the great information, brilliant.
Derek Rowlands Thank you!
those chicago electric cutoff wheels shatter really easy. try dewalt cutoff wheels, they're miles better
6foot4 butre Knock on wood, I have never had a problem with that, but I agree that the DeWalt's are great. Thanks for the info.
Very interesting, and very informative. Thanks for the video!
Thx the wire wheel confused me cause I couldn't fit the bolt on top but it was nvr needed.
***** Glad I could help! Thanks for commenting.