Any rule-of-thumb for replacing 4.5" cutoff wheels?

newbury · Apr 2, 2021

California said:
Very likely. Project Farm in the video linked above, measured the DeWalt blade at 67% thicker than advertised. No wonder it was the slowest.

And at 7:34 in the video he listed DeWalt as the lowest cost to cut steel. The others cut faster but cost more.
I'm retired, time is not always money.

California · Apr 2, 2021

newbury said:
And at 7:34 in the video he listed DeWalt as the lowest cost to cut steel. The others cut faster but cost more.

I saw that. Normally I will buy cheapest available that can do the job, I'm not in a hurry. I use a lot of HF stuff.

But cutting with an angle grinder seems to me a special situation where I want to reduce the time I'm exposed to risk, considering the potential of a disc grenading as some have described. A slow-cutting disc would encourage feeding it harder to cut faster, increasing risk. The DeWalt took about double the time compared to most of the others.

Considering everything in his video, I bought Makita cutoff discs. He didn't summarize in a chart, but as he tested discs he showed how much the diameter of each was reduced during the test cut. So there will be less time wasted to re-mounting fresh discs during a project. Makita was among his faster discs and lost about the least diameter. As a good name brand it might be less likely to come apart compared to HF or all the no-name brands on Amazon. So his video persuaded me that paying slightly more for Makita optimized the criteria I was looking for.

Xfaxman · Apr 2, 2021

DL Meisen said:
Use skill saw with carbide tipped blade and a lot of safety gear... Not a angle grinder...

View attachment 692774

That looks like a cookie cutter to me

DieselBound · Apr 2, 2021

(removed) said:
What all you guys got agin orderin steel cut to right length?

Don't you got Amishman wid roller near you?

A couple years back I cut up a bunch of panels (with circular saw with reversed blade- I tried all sort of other implements, and none were able to effectively manage the ribs). I was using the material for skirting on a manufactured home; about 30" in height. Couldn't order in such a short size so I ordered about twice required length and cut approximately in half. For sure, look to order in lengths such that you don't have to cut!

ArlyA · Apr 2, 2021

We get roofing up here from MS or metal sales and as as I know, they'll cut it to any length you'd like. I've ordered 2 pieces three feet in length in the past....

truckdiagnostics · Apr 2, 2021

LENOX® | Hand Tools & Power Tool Accessories

Eat metal for breakfast with the new LENOX® hole saw and reciprocating saw blades. Now available at a retailer near you.

www.lenoxtools.com

I use these. I have found it is a wash on price they last longer, lots longer. Saves changing discs. I believe it solves some of the safety issues others have mentioned

DieselBound · Apr 2, 2021

ArlyA said:
We get roofing up here from MS or metal sales and as as I know, they'll cut it to any length you'd like. I've ordered 2 pieces three feet in length in the past....

Great, when I need short pieces again I'll order from MI!

ArlyA · Apr 2, 2021

Looks to me our tin might come out of Minnesota. There is a branch in what looks might be Detroit which is further from us than MN is. Nonetheless, this corporation is all across the USA. https://www.metalsales.us.com/location-finder/

jjeff · Apr 2, 2021

I use these they are better than hf are pretty durable and cost less. I can't stand cutting with thicker wheels.
S SATC Cutting Wheel 50 PCS Cut Off Wheel 4.5"x.040"x7/8" Cutting Disc Ultra Thin Metal & Stainless Steel
4.5inch 50PCS, there on Amazon.
As others have said cut straight and don't put a lot of pressure on it or use a skill saw with metal blade.

Pete O · Apr 2, 2021

I used to build sheds for a living- big sheds. Tried many methods for trimming roof and wall sheets. A normal wood saw mounted backward in a circular saw was the best power-tool method. Better still is a pair of quality tin snips. Stand on one side of the cut and pull up on the other side with your free hand and you can cut all the way across a sheet, following a pencil line, in a few seconds.

rangerfredbob · Apr 3, 2021

THESE are what I got for tin snips, worth every penny... I had to adjust the screw for blade spacing as one was a touch loose and would fold metal instead of cut, but once adjusted I could cut off I'm pretty sure a hair thickness, very much a pleasure to use... Other than the one piece of metal that I cut lengthwise I used these for everything, I think I only used the nibbler for a couple cuts before I realized these were faster and cleaner... With the extra angle I don't think I even cut any knuckles! I didn't wear gloves doing the work either...

cbcbass · Apr 10, 2021

KennyG said:
For roofing, use a circular saw with a metal cutting blade. The grinder will heat the metal too much and be more likely to cause rust issues in the future. I made all the cuts necessary for my pole barn with one metal cutting blade and it's still in good shape.

I agree. I have cut a lot of roofing and I always use a metal cutting blade in my circular saw. Lots faster and the blade lasts a long time.

PILOON · Apr 10, 2021

truckdiagnostics said:
LENOX® | Hand Tools & Power Tool Accessories

Eat metal for breakfast with the new LENOX® hole saw and reciprocating saw blades. Now available at a retailer near you.

www.lenoxtools.com

I use these. I have found it is a wash on price they last longer, lots longer. Saves changing discs. I believe it solves some of the safety issues others have mentioned

Yep, used similar blade.
I believe they are called 'friction blades'.
Nice cut, long lasting but make a nice collection of steel wool like material.

newbury · Apr 13, 2021

Thanks for all the input. I was tearing apart a collapsed carport and most cuts were on sheets that I could barely reach the width while standing on either a stepladder or a scaffold. Many cuts were made overhead at full arm extension using the angle grinder. The best way it worked for me was to cut most of the sheet with the grinder then finish off the "valleys" with the reciprocal saw.
I was just surprised how fast the wheels were grinding down and concerned about them shattering. Especially while grinding overhead.
Didn't have any shatters. Probably went through 20 or 30 DeWalt wheels.

KennyG · Apr 13, 2021

DieselBound said:
Great, when I need short pieces again I'll order from MI!

You'll have to go up north. Here in southern MI, the minimum is 4 feet.

ArlyA · Apr 13, 2021

KennyG said:
You'll have to go up north. Here in southern MI, the minimum is 4 feet.

Last time I ordered steel from MS, there was no minim lengths. Location Finder - Metal Sales

Sonny580 · Apr 13, 2021

never had one break yet ----- not to say the next one wont.
the guys that did our shed and house siding cut the sheets with a shear that makes a 1/8" ribbon as it cuts. clean cutting, fast, and no metal damage due to heating. I would never use grinders or saws!

bcp · Apr 13, 2021

Sonny580 said:
never had one break yet ----- not to say the next one wont.
the guys that did our shed and house siding cut the sheets with a shear that makes a 1/8" ribbon as it cuts. clean cutting, fast, and no metal damage due to heating. I would never use grinders or saws!

Sounds like one of this type.