dgfoster
Diamond
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2008
- Location
- Bellingham, WA
I’ve used cutoff wheels for many years (so l’m an expert right?) on my 7” Makita (nice)
most of the time and sometimes on my 4.5 older Milwaukee (OK) angle grinders. Most of my use involves cutting gates ranging from 1/2” x 1” to 1.5” x 2” in size on my cast iron castings. I also use them to score castings that need to be scrapped.
I typically use a plunge-cut vs scoring-cut technique as that seems to be the quickest. But I am starting to wonder if the pressure involved in plunge cutting may be causing excessive wheel wear and shortening wheel life. (I was looking for tips on YouTube and came across this video which looks at scoring vs plunging on THIN material:
which indicates scoring is better by far for durability but is somewhat slower)
I am also looking for thoughts on optimal blade thickness (I have been buying 1/16” ) abrasive grain size, and brand preferences that folks with experience might have. I have considered diamond blades, but from what I can glean it sounds like they are slower and cost per cut may be greater.
Just looking to improve my methods and tools…. Thanks in advance for your advice.
Denis
most of the time and sometimes on my 4.5 older Milwaukee (OK) angle grinders. Most of my use involves cutting gates ranging from 1/2” x 1” to 1.5” x 2” in size on my cast iron castings. I also use them to score castings that need to be scrapped.
I typically use a plunge-cut vs scoring-cut technique as that seems to be the quickest. But I am starting to wonder if the pressure involved in plunge cutting may be causing excessive wheel wear and shortening wheel life. (I was looking for tips on YouTube and came across this video which looks at scoring vs plunging on THIN material:
I am also looking for thoughts on optimal blade thickness (I have been buying 1/16” ) abrasive grain size, and brand preferences that folks with experience might have. I have considered diamond blades, but from what I can glean it sounds like they are slower and cost per cut may be greater.
Just looking to improve my methods and tools…. Thanks in advance for your advice.
Denis