TheSamba.com :: View topic - Cutting wheel on my new dewalt angle grinder

Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:14 pm

So I bought a brand new dewalt grinder, and was trying to put a cutting wheel on it. The cutting wheel is so thin that when I tighten down the nut, the wheel spins freely and can't be held in place. Has anyone run into this before?

The picture includes a grinding wheel (right) that is thicker and works. The cutting wheel closest to the grinder is thin and doesn't work. Is there some accessory that I need?

Thanks

Sun Aug 10, 2008 12:36 pm

Not to worry, common mistake with first time users of angle grinders. You'll notice the nut has a flat side and a side with a center that is raised. Simply turn it over and put the flat side down on thinner materials like cutting discs. The only time you really use the raised side down is for heavy grinding discs like 24 grit, some of those "paint removal" pads and a few others.

Sun Aug 10, 2008 1:00 pm

Thanks! You'd think an engineer could have figured that out :roll:

Sun Aug 10, 2008 3:56 pm

I'm sure by the time you got my response you had already figured it out. I've found that most engineers are pretty sharp but I'm willing to bet 90 percent of the guys here didn't figure out the lock disc the first time around either and just won't admit it. I didn't and looked at the grinder like a monkey staring at a wristwatch.
Glad to help.

Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:47 pm

You may find that the above solution does not work because the nut provided with the grinder will not tighten down enough when its flipped over. Heres what I did:
You will buy the cutting discs for your grinder and find that the hole dia. is slightly larger than the shaft on your grinder. Locate (2) large HEAVY DUTY washers from the hardware store, and enlarge the holes in them so that they will slide over your grinder shaft. Put one large washer on the bare shaft, then your disc (it will be a sloppy loose fit, try to center it) and the second large washer ontop of that, THEN your grinder tightening nut will tighten down ontop of the top washer. The cutting disc should be secure enough to cut your sheet metal. It will work.

Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:49 pm

jzjames wrote: You may find that the above solution does not work because the nut provided with the grinder will not tighten down enough when its flipped over. Heres what I did:
You will buy the cutting discs for your grinder and find that the hole dia. is slightly larger than the shaft on your grinder. Locate (2) large HEAVY DUTY washers from the hardware store, and enlarge the holes in them so that they will slide over your grinder shaft. Put one large washer on the bare shaft, then your disc (it will be a sloppy loose fit, try to center it) and the second large washer ontop of that, THEN your grinder tightening nut will tighten down ontop of the top washer. The cutting disc should be secure enough to cut your sheet metal. It will work.

I have a DeWald grinder (older model than his, I think) as well so don't think he'll need to get washers.
Flipping it works fine.

Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:18 pm

Flipping the nut around worked just fine. How safe are these things to cut sheet metal with? I heard some horror stories of the cutting disc shattering. I also tried to find a type 1 guard online, but having no luck. This is the guard dewalt recommends to use with a cutoff disc.

Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:32 pm

bherder wrote: Flipping the nut around worked just fine. How safe are these things to cut sheet metal with? I heard some horror stories of the cutting disc shattering. I also tried to find a type 1 guard online, but having no luck. This is the guard dewalt recommends to use with a cutoff disc.

I always use a face mask along with goggles. Better safe than sorry. They can definitely shatter and pieces will hit you in the face.

Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:41 pm

Had the same thing happen to me.
Wear eye protection.
You'll find the guard and the handle get in the way when working in tight situations.

Tue Aug 12, 2008 4:46 am

Just wait till you play with a twisted wire wheel
1 it will bite you
2 don't remove the guard
3 it will warp sheet metal
4 have fun

Tue Aug 12, 2008 10:07 am

jwr wrote: Had the same thing happen to me.
Wear eye protection.
You'll find the guard and the handle get in the way when working in tight situations.

The guard and handle do get in the way in tight spots, but I have cut myself pretty badly with the guard removed. So pick your poison!

Tue Aug 12, 2008 11:36 am

TimGud wrote: jwr wrote: Had the same thing happen to me.
Wear eye protection.
You'll find the guard and the handle get in the way when working in tight situations.

The guard and handle do get in the way in tight spots, but I have cut myself pretty badly with the guard removed. So pick your poison!
exactly

Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:13 pm

TimGud wrote: jwr wrote: Had the same thing happen to me.
Wear eye protection.
You'll find the guard and the handle get in the way when working in tight situations.

The guard and handle do get in the way in tight spots, but I have cut myself pretty badly with the guard removed. So pick your poison!

I leave the guard on but hardly ever use the handle.
For really tight spots, I use a Dremel tool. Sure, the disk grinds down to nothing very quickly but they have quick change blades now.

Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:30 pm

Yeah I have the dremel for hard to reach places. Got half of the fake floor out with the cut off wheel. They sure go fast. Went through 5 wheels just for half the floor.

http://www.bradyherder.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=567

Sat Aug 16, 2008 12:51 am

All of the original hardware provided to me when i got my Dewalt angle grinder has been able to hold down any wheel or brush i throw at it. It's a matter of figuring out what fits where.

Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:11 pm

Quote: bherder wrote:
Flipping the nut around worked just fine. How safe are these things to cut sheet metal with?
I heard some horror stories of the cutting disc shattering.

Cutting discs will not handle a sideload, or binding very well.
Be gentle.