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View Full Version : Die Grinders - sanding? Grinding? woodworking....



woodPixel
30th December 2019, 11:36 AM
I was thinking about how to do a bit of carving and decorative recently. Small is good as I'm now in a small place*

I found some 1/4" Die Grinders by Ingersol Rand and was pretty impressed at their capabilities. They are essentially Dremels on steroids.

Robot Check (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VZC9PI/)

They also have an impressive range of bits, the same as the dremel, but not so fine... more like a mini angle grinder.

Robot Check (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H7DZXHK/)
Robot Check (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DBZ5PDT/)
Robot Check
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DLGLZNL/)
Something like this would have been awesome when I was turning bowls... finish sanding would have been super quick!

They review incredibly well and have a dedicated fan base. Wondering what other peoples opinions might be?


* I can always run 50 metres of air hose over the balcony and do it in the garden below!!!!!! :oo::oo::oo::D:D:D

Treecycle
30th December 2019, 12:09 PM
Do you have a compressor with high enough cfm? It uses 18cfm (https://www.ingersollrandproducts.com/ja/power-tools/edge-series-tools/grinders/3107g.html)

woodPixel
30th December 2019, 12:33 PM
I've two.

My "big" one which is a 247 lpm and a smaller silent Chicago 50 which is 241 lpm FAD... both of which is close to 8.5 cfm @ 100 psi.

Not 18... that is VERY high. Even my spray gear doesn't top out these machines.... interesting.

edit: crikey, check how LOUD they are! 92 and 103 db .... bloody hell.

BobL
30th December 2019, 01:56 PM
I've two.

My "big" one which is a 247 lpm and a smaller silent Chicago 50 which is 241 lpm FAD... both of which is close to 8.5 cfm @ 100 psi.

Not 18... that is VERY high. Even my spray gear doesn't top out these machines.... interesting.

edit: crikey, check how LOUD they are! 92 and 103 db .... bloody hell.

Probably not Ingersol Rand but most other (especially budget) air tool manufacturers underquote the air flow required, and most (especially budget end) compressors overstate the air flow outputs generated. The net effect being bitter disappointment. To adequately select air tools, start by upping the tool's air requirements by 50% and discount your compressor output by 50% and this should be OK.

Something else to bear in mind is that air tools get very cold, so decent gloves are needed.

If you want to do some mechanised carving have a look at Arbortech gear, its fast, albeit messy, which they all are. Good dust extraction and a mask is pretty well mandatory.

Chris Parks
30th December 2019, 02:19 PM
I've two.

My "big" one which is a 247 lpm and a smaller silent Chicago 50 which is 241 lpm FAD... both of which is close to 8.5 cfm @ 100 psi.

Not 18... that is VERY high. Even my spray gear doesn't top out these machines.... interesting.

edit: crikey, check how LOUD they are! 92 and 103 db .... bloody hell.

Bloody noisy! Anyone who uses these tools extensively usually gets hand problems but you have to be using them a lot for that to happen.

BobL
30th December 2019, 02:50 PM
Bloody noisy! Anyone who uses these tools extensively usually gets hand problems but you have to be using them a lot for that to happen.

I agree about the noise and the hand problems, after about 10 minutes of using my air die grinder on metal my hand starts to go numb, can go a bit longer on wood. I have a pair of gel padded work gloves that are good vibe insulators that I bought for chainsaw use but they lack feeling as they're like cricket gloves with the padding on the inside of the fingers and palms, although they are good cold insulators.

Simplicity
30th December 2019, 10:29 PM
One other thing to consider air tools run very cool,
If your using them for long period they become uncivilised in bare hands.
Tho today at plus 40 in Ballarat would have been welcomed [emoji3064].

Cheers Matt.

woodPixel
30th December 2019, 10:57 PM
yes, well, looks like that idea is well and truly flushed.

I was so excited, but the vibration, noise, huge air use and cold are some.... drawbacks :)

Onward!

Ironwood
30th December 2019, 11:57 PM
Have you checked out the 240v die grinders? Both Makita and Hitachi make one and no doubt more make them as well. Also there are battery power ones, a mate has a Milwaukee and loves it.

Stewie D
20th February 2020, 02:37 PM
As per Ironwood. I have one of the Makita die grinders and it is a great piece of kit. It will come down to what sort of work you want to do. Small intricate work and a Dremel would be fine. If you're looking at carving a 12 ft totem pole then an Arbortec and an assortment of bigger die grinders would suit you better. There are then the cheaper range like B & D which lie somewhere between the two. Easier on the hand but OK for smaller jobs.

Stewie