best cutting disk that you have used

zmansmac · Oct 22, 2015

I have a couple of Dewalt 4 1/2 inch angle grinders and have used the Dewalt brand cutting disks, bought at TSC, and the Harbor Freight ones on sale. It seems like a tossup in a way. You go through 2 HF disks for every one Dewalt disk making the price about the same. But, of course, you have to change the HF disks more often, so more hassle. So that got me thinking that I should ask guys with way more experience than me using cutting disks and wondered what is the best one out there. Does anybody make a diamond type disk for cutting metal? The only diamond ones I've seen so far are only for masonry type applications. So which disks do you guys have the best success with?

4570Man · Oct 22, 2015

The best cutting disk I have used was attached to this saw. I'm pretty sure the 10 HP motor driving it, and not the disk made the most difference.

Arc weld · Oct 23, 2015

The blade on a big chop saw makes a huge difference too. Walter has good zip discs but they're more expensive so it's kind of a toss up. You can get diamond/carbide grinding wheels and I think cutting discs for angle grinders but they're about 8-10 times the cost.

BethelHntr · Oct 23, 2015

Iv'e had good luck with metabo brand cut off wheels.

4.5" x 3/32" x 7/8" A30R T27 Cut-Off Wheel | Metabo Original Slicer 616727000

DJ54 · Oct 23, 2015

If you have a Rural King in the area, about every other monthly sale they have DeWalt cut off wheels, and grinding wheels for 99 cents each.

Mysfyt · Oct 23, 2015

SAIT brand for me.

yomax4 · Oct 23, 2015

SAIT, Pferd, Norton. If you buy a disc that cuts fast, it will wear fast. They are not apples to apples. Look for a zirconia or similar wheel for long life.

GLyford · Oct 23, 2015

I used to love the HF ones when they were made in Russia, cut great, lasted a reasonably long time. I had noticed that the reinforcing fibers on the back were tightly spaced, maybe 1/16" apart or so. Then came the ones made in China with the widely spaced fibers, like 1/4" apart or more. They didn't last worth heck. Still cut OK, but they would break apart much more easily and would wear out super fast. Not a big fan of breaking cut off wheels. The latest batch I looked at, and I forget where they were made, seemed to be a little closer, but I don't think I have picked any up yet to try...I have a few stacks of the DeWalt ones, and whatever the no-name home depot brand is to use up. They both seem to do OK.

So now, the first thing I do when I pick up a potential brand of cutting wheel is flip it over and see how many reinforcing fibers it has.

Hope that helps...

CNC Dan · Oct 23, 2015

Mysfyt said:
SAIT brand for me.

+1 on the Sait brand.

I've heard good things about 3M cubeatron II

Big Barn · Oct 23, 2015

yomax4 said:
If you buy a disc that cuts fast, it will wear fast. They are not apples to apples. Look for a zirconia or similar wheel for long life.

I find this to be true.
These are pretty good. Pretty much bought all the abrasives my tool truck had left when he retired. When I've used up these cutting discs I think I'll go back to Walters though.

Terry

ruffdog · Oct 23, 2015

Norton

PILOON · Oct 23, 2015

My friends and I usually buy the Canadian Tire brand whenever they go on sale.
The sale is usually 20 0r 25 discs for less than $10.00
I always opt for the thinner ones and not the depressed center style.
I find they compare very well with most of the major brand name ones and frankly can not justify paying 2-3$ for a disc.

Wire cup brushes is another story. Here I always buy top brands as I just do not like bits of wire flying around.

dstig1 · Oct 25, 2015

CNC Dan said:
I've heard good things about 3M cubitron II

I have a friend who works on that stuff at 3M. He told me how awesome it was a few years back. Gave me a couple samples of flap wheels and paper discs to try out. Holy crap that stuff is scary! It rips through metal like you won't believe. I haven't tried a Cubitron-II cutoff disc yet though. I suspect it is munches metal similar to the sandpaper versions of it. He was saying that their sales guys show up at a potential customer, hand them a disc, and say I'll wait in the lobby while you try it out. They all come back with eyes wide as saucers going WTH is this stuff?!?!? I was sure astounded how fast it cut compared to the norton or whatever I was using.

Jim Timber · Oct 25, 2015

I hoarded a good supply of the Russian HF 4.5" disks back when they were the best deal going with a 20% off coupon, but my supply will run out in another year.

LD1 · Oct 25, 2015

Norton bluefire zip discs, Norton charger wheels, and tru-maxx flappers

lamanated · Oct 26, 2015

with regards to the small ones for the air grinders, I love the green 3M ones,, last many times longer than the HF ones etc.

EddieWalker · Oct 26, 2015

For a long time I would only buy Norton since all the other brand fail so quickly. Same thing with sand paper and flapper disks. While Norton is still pretty good, the quit carrying them at Home depot, who now carries Diablo, which is just another mediocre brand along with DeWalt. I can still get Norton at Northern Tool, which is just down the block, but while at Lowes I saw they had a new brand called Shop Smith next to that really horrible brand called Gator. I tried the Shop Smith brand and have to say I was blown away with how much better they are over everything else I've tried. Shop Smith is now my go to brand and worth driving to Lowes for over all the other brands available to me at the different stores I go to.

pat32rf · Oct 29, 2015

I always keep a supply of Can Tire discs on hand and buy when they go on sale. Big jobs I fire up the plasma but I've cut up many used fuel oil tanks with just a 4 1/4" disk... (after they have been cleaned/vented)

PILOON · Oct 30, 2015

One trick I have come up with when cutting heavy gauge 'tin' (like oil tank) is to not cut all the way thru but to make a deep 'score' first and later cut thru.
The deep score does 90% of the work with impressive footage but a complete cut thru generally uses 4 times the quantity of blades for same footage.
I blame chatter for that extra wear.
Well scored sheet stock can then be easily folded for total separation.
I sometimes clamp a straight edge to use as a guide if I want nice cuts. (I use scrap wood lathe)