Thread: What size angle grinder ??

I have an old 8" ww table saw that I use for exclusively cutting metal. I normally use it with 5" thin kerf cuttoff blade but I can also sneak a 9" grinder wheel onto it. It's much slower than an angle grinder but that makes it MUCH quieter and much safer. I use the 9" wheel mainly for truing up my chainsaw bar rails but I also use in in preference to a grinding wheel to hog out metal from steel bars etc. OK it's not the sort of thing you can use to apply to large pieces of metal but if the metal is smaller than the grinder its much safer to have the wheel stationary and move the metal around it.

Thanks Bob I just found a good use for my old table saw

I might forget about getting a horizontal bandsaw

i'D GET A 9" if a 7" is the same weight you could run a 7" in it and it would be the same. Most important is 9" blades are easier to find (and probably cheaper) as they are standard.
I run 14" on cut off wheel then on 9" then on 4" but usually from 9" to 4"
Have also put several blades on the bench grinder to get them to 4" size.

Hi Planepig , A lot of grinders these days have soft start if that is a concern. I have 3 x 9 inch grinders, one is bolted in a grinder cut off stand because of it's weight (heavy)it is a old bosch the other one is a Hitachi I keep with a grinding wheel it is probably 10 year old and is not much lighter, the third one a light cheap GMC one I keep with a cutting disc.I find that I am frequently changing the GMC one over from grinding, cutting to wire wheel because it is alot lighter to handle.The GMC came with a spare set of brushes and only cost about $69.00( the cheapest grinder I own but the most used in the 9 inchers).I bought a mate a similar grinder different brand same price 2 sets of brushes included for a birthday present and he is happy with it (works well and it's light).So if your on a budget or your not sure if you want the 9 inch grinder buy a cheap one from ALDI or bunnings or some were like that and see how you go, they are a lot lighter and cheaper than the quality one's and seem to last( I have had mine for about 4 yr's with medium to heavy use) and for around $70.00 to $99.00 dollars they are cheap enough to have around for the amount of use a home shop gives them instead of paying around $300.00.Dave

Yes there are a lot of tools, most of them dangerous.

Most of them are still used in the mining and construction industry but 9" grinders are not.

Sure these industries are big on safety and may be over the top sometimes but as far as I know 9" grinders are the only banned tool.

That's enough for me, and I have a #### load of tools, many of them dangerous.

Most 7's are 9's with 7 inch guards on them. As people have said most places have banned 9's and soon that will start being reflected on workers comp and public liability policies. The extra inch all round on the 9 will remove material a little quicker and the disc will last a little longer. Like I said the 7's usually have the same drive unit so the only difference is the disc outside edge speed is a little slower and the discs don't last as long. All the big units are only good for serious grinding anyway as most of my grinding is done with my 125mm machines.

RE grinding injuries. Whenever I show someone to use a grinder I always tell them to assume the disc is going to break away and fly off. That is make sure your face and body is protected by the guard at all times. Grinding discs and especially cutting discs do shatter and break away around the retaining flange for various reasons. I know an old fellow who had a breakaway disc hit his knee when he was about 25. It led to a lifetime of pain and problems and repeated surgery, and also ended his soccer career.

I wouldn't consider a 7" there are so many times you need to put on a new blade to get the extra depth. This banning was do doubt due the some over paid stupid union leech. If you ban a 9" grinder what about a chainsaw? Can't put on a guard has to be the most dangerous hand held tool ever made and yes chains break aswell. Like grinders you just have to be aware of what can happen and be ready for it; like all tools. I think from a safety aspect it is far better to ban stupid operators than tools, nothing can be fool proof.

True that Glen. I can take my petrol powered 14" quick cut that weighs a ton and is like wrestling on ox when the full load is on the blade, but I can't use a 9"

This banning was do doubt due the some over paid stupid union leech.

You'd like to think that these bannings come about following some in-depth analysis of injuries and causal factors and that the tool is looked at in terms of procedures and modifications to see if they can't be made safer and reduce the potential for injuries. At the end of the day, the responsibility of an employer is to provide a safe work place and if you don't, the compensation lawyers will have your backside - so in theory at least, these regulations are intended to further that end.

If you really examined the data you might find that the tool has been banned more because of failure to address misuse than from any inherent danger in the design of the tool, but it's hard to make that call without having all the information.

I seriously hope that it has nothing to do with union leeches, stupid or otherwise.