How to work with a grinder correctly? How to cut and saw with it? Where should the sparks fly? How to use it when cutting glass, pipe and gas cylinder

How to use a grinder correctly

cut products with a thickness of 5 mm or more only with straight lines;
cut the corner metal from the side of the shelves, each separately;
cut long products from the edge, and not in the middle, in order to avoid jamming of the disc;
it is necessary to cut products of a figured configuration in straight sections, gradually removing unnecessary parts;
do not process the cut with the side of the disc;
do not cut with force on the grinder.

Grinding with a grinder is associated with the release of a large amount of dust. It is performed in circles for metal, which differ in the size of the surface grain, diameter and thickness. To obtain high-quality results of grinding and polishing operations, it is necessary to use not the entire surface of the wheel, but its upper part.

Choosing the right drive

model;
diameter in mm;
thickness in mm;
bore diameter in mm;
work angle;
number of revolutions per minute;
rotation speed in meters per second;
circle characteristics.

All these data are indicated on the label along with the logo of the company that produced it. In addition, the speed limit and safety recommendations can be indicated in the form of a colored bar in the form of pictograms.

How to properly fix the disc on the grinder

Which side to put the discs on the stone, diamond or grinding wheel? The first two views have an arrow-shaped rotation indicator. Such discs are installed taking into account the direction of rotation of the rod. And it will not work to install the grinding wheel by confusing its sides: it simply will not perform its function, that is, it will not grind.

Ensuring the safety of surrounding surfaces

It must be remembered that when performing work with a grinder, it is necessary to protect the surrounding objects and surfaces from emissions. This is especially true for plastic products. Small particles and dust settle deeply on the surface of these objects, and then it is impossible to remove them without damage. This can be avoided by carefully covering the surfaces before cutting, sanding or polishing. Therefore, you need to think about how to do this.

Start and stop rules

frame;
electric motor;
spindle gear with fixing button;
starting device with a blocking button;
safety clutch.

The question often arises of how to properly replace a disk if it is jammed. The nut at the angle grinder does not unscrew - a common problem. Do not forget that it unscrews in the same direction as the disc rotates. This problem is solved in several ways:

the key supplied with the grinder;
using a gas wrench;
heating the nut with a gas burner or a blowtorch in compliance with safety precautions.

How to cut slate without a grinder

If there is no grinder, then you can cut the slate sheet using an ordinary hacksaw. Better for these works is a hacksaw with fine teeth and a small divorce. As a last resort, you can use a hacksaw blade from a hacksaw for metal, and just a knife.

The main thing is to correctly distribute the forces and load on the sheet in order to avoid chips and breakage of the slate. Wave slate is cut somewhat more difficult, and a sheet of flat sheet slate can be cut simply with any tool.

Every master who is engaged in wall cladding with ceramic tiles knows that it is impossible to lay them without cutting. This is true both for wall cladding and for laying porcelain stoneware on the floor. But not everyone knows that you can use an ordinary grinder (angle grinder) for pruning.Let's consider how to perform this operation correctly and without chips.

The basics

For some, my advice and recommendations will not seem very useful and obvious. But you will be surprised that only half of the owners of grinders understand how to work with this tool. And those who adhere to safety precautions are even fewer.

Choosing a grinder and a disc

Before giving an answer to the question "how to properly cut with a grinder", you need to deal with the angle grinder itself. Her choice and purchase should be based not only on brand awareness and build quality. The initial parameter is its size. In my opinion, there should be two grinders. One small disc for 120 mm, and the second large, for 230 mm. It makes no sense to buy a medium-sized angle grinder, since you cannot put a large disc, and it is inconvenient to work with small products with such a power tool.

The quality of the disc depends not only on the speed of cutting metal, but also on safety. I advise you not to save on such consumables and purchase goods from trusted manufacturers. I recommend using discs with a thickness of 1.2 to 1.8 mm. It is possible to take thick discs of 2.5 mm, but they take much longer to cut. For homework, a 1.6 mm product is perfect. A variety of grinder discs and their approximate cost can be found at this link

Safety engineering

As you can see, the grinder is a rather dangerous tool. And in order to avoid injury, you must follow certain rules for handling it:

various kinds of protective equipment should be used;
before starting work, you should check the reliability and fidelity of fixing the casing so that it does not come off during the work, because thanks to him, sparks should fly from the person, and if the casing falls off, they can start flying into him;
it is necessary to firmly hold the tool in your hand so that it does not slip out during the work;
it is necessary to use exclusively whole discs without flaws and only for working with some material;
the protection shield should be kept between the circle and the person, so that there is protection when the circle is deformed;
before the start of work, you can check the performance of the tool at idle for about a minute;

Before use, all nozzles should be inspected in order to determine how suitable they are for use;
working nozzles, so that they do not fall off, must be constantly fixed;
if there is a possibility of adjusting the rotational speed, then it is necessary to set the revolutions that are recommended for cutting or grinding the working material;
cutting should be carried out exclusively at certain speeds;
so that the cutting takes place without dust, during the process, water should be poured into the place where the cutting process is carried out;
breaks should be taken from time to time;

only after stopping the circle can the tool be put off;
if the working nozzle is jammed for some reason, then you should immediately turn off the grinder;
sawing wood should be very careful, because hitting a branch can cause the tool to jerk;
the power cord should be placed away from the part that rotates, so that it is not interrupted or caused by a short circuit;
it is impossible to install attachments from a circular saw due to the fact that they are designed for a different spindle speed.

For information on how to work correctly and safely with a grinder, see the next video.

Recommendations of the masters

How to cut the material correctly? There are a number of auxiliary recommendations for using the grinder at home.

In order to avoid overheating, it is necessary to take breaks every five minutes so that the grinder can rest, for example, for 20 minutes. This is especially true for low power models.

Aluminum is a soft and tough metal. When cutting a piece of large thickness, you need to drip kerosene.This substance is highly flammable, therefore all safety rules must be followed to avoid fire.

Waste discs are used for cutting sheet metal and curly carvings. Do not dispose of waste after use.

The corner is not cut in one go, each shelf is cut separately. In order to cut a long pipe, a certain cutting technique is required, you need to start cutting near the overhanging edge. If you start in the middle, the metal will bend and wedge the disc.

Do not sand the material with the side of the cutting sphere. There is a special grinding disc for this. Do not apply pressure to the disc to avoid breaking it and to avoid injury. Lack of fast rotation means the need to replace the disc.

Abrasive wheels: grinding, cutting off, grinding, flap

It is necessary to pay attention, the casing protects from the circle splitting, therefore, when sawing metal, if a thought appears, it interferes, you should not remove it

It should be remembered that everything must be done very carefully, for yourself, as well as for those nearby.

By yourself or by yourself

The most common question that torments many owners of angle grinders is "how to properly cut with a grinder so that the disc rotates away from you or towards you?" There are many opinions, and each proves their point. But there is only one correct answer: "You can cut both from yourself and onto yourself." Clear proof of this is the presence of handle holes on both sides of the device. In general, it all depends on individual preferences, to whom it is convenient, that cuts. However, each method has certain nuances, they should be taken into account.

Push

Many owners of the grinder do not like and cannot even cut from themselves. The bottom line is that it rarely forgives mistakes. Any inaccuracy or crooked cut will pinch the blade and break it. I want to say that I have a friend who was used to cutting for himself, and taking my grinder in his hands, he ditched two discs and left screaming. This is a person who has been working with angle grinders for about 10 years. There is also a myth that when you cut from yourself, then when the disc is jammed, the grinder will fly into the stomach. I want to say that if it is not normally held in hands, then it may even fly away from the workshop. The advantage of cutting metal from oneself is that sparks fly from the grinder and it is possible to see the product better. In addition, if the disc ruptures, it will fly away from you.

To myself

Cutting metal while turning the disc towards yourself allows you to work with a grinder, excuse the expression, with a little negligence. But you pay for this convenience with sparks flying into your eyes and feet. If the protective cover is set incorrectly, then the risk of burning the pants increases exponentially. In addition, the product is seen much worse, and if it breaks, the disc can fly under your feet. When cutting metal in this way, I recommend holding the angle grinder in such a way that in case of jamming and rupture of the disc, the latter cannot fall into the leg or other part of the body.

Purpose of discs and attachments

Grinder wheels differ in purpose for:

detachable;
stripping
grinding;
sharpening.

Cutting discs

The most common task performed with a grinder is cutting various materials. The choice of tool material also depends on what material needs to be cut.

Metal cutting. The metal cutting disc is made from crystalline alumina corundum, as well as from a synthetic corundum called fused alumina. The main color of wheels for cutting metals is blue.
Cutting stone and concrete. For cutting stone, you should choose a disc made of another abrasive material - silicon carbide. This abrasive easily cuts white brick (silicate) and slate. But to cut red brick, some types of concrete or ceramic tiles, this circle material will not work. Stone discs are available in green.
Cutting ceramic tiles, red brick, porcelain stoneware and concrete. For these purposes, a diamond disc is already used. This nozzle is made of metal, an abrasive mass with diamond chips is applied to the cutting edge. The picture above shows a segmented saw blade designed for dry cutting of material. All-metal discs require water cooling during operation.
Wood cutting. Although there are sawing wheels for wood on the market that are no different from circular saw blades, it is best to avoid using them for safety reasons. When working with such a tool, the user is often seriously injured due to jamming, bouncing, accidental slipping of the tool, etc.

Therefore, if you are still going to use a saw blade for wood, then you should adhere to safety measures. A protective cover and a handle must be installed on the grinder, the user must wear a protective mask or goggles. In addition, you must not use this tool to cut materials that are not intended for it.

Roughing

If it is necessary to remove a layer of paint or other application, as well as rust from any surface, use a brush. They are disc-shaped or in the form of a bowl with built-in metal wire.

The wire in these attachments can be twisted or loose. Its thickness can also be different. The thicker the wire, the coarser the roughing is used for the roughing disc or bowl, and vice versa.

Grinding

Grinding discs and attachments are used for grinding and polishing various surfaces (metal, wood, plastic and others). Often a flap type grinding wheel is used for grinding. It consists of many "petals" made of sandpaper. The grit size of the sanding paper can be selected based on the required type of processing (finishing or roughing).,

Also, the sandpaper can be attached to the nozzle with Velcro. Such a tool is screwed onto the spindle of the angle grinder.

For surface polishing, special wheels and attachments are produced that look like felt pillows or fabric discs.

Sharpening

To sharpen the tool, grinding machines (sharpeners) are usually used. But if you do not have the latter, but have a grinder, then you can purchase a sharpening (grinding) wheel for it, with which you can easily sharpen almost any cutting tool.

In the video, the process of cutting with a grinder:

I hope the browsing was helpful. Here I cut a pipe with a large diameter and it took only three minutes to cut, naturally, the time spent on cutting pipes with a diameter of 15 to 25 millimeters will be much less. When working with a grinder, always wear glasses - this is a prerequisite for the safety of your health.

So, dear friends, feel free to apply this in your work and may you always be successful.

The article before this line was written initially, and it is dedicated to helping the experienced sants, as explained in the description of the video. And what I saw after ten months of posting it on YouTube: 33606 views, 66 likes and 95 dislikes. Lots of negative comments. Sadly, however, he did not strive for this.
One viewer, named Vladimir Temlyak, wrote: "Show all sorts of crap just to earn extra money." I wonder what is my earnings here?
The last commentator, under the nickname Jumatatu ta, threw a couple of links to pictures of crippled people. And then it dawned on me that many of the viewers who “hank” my video are ordinary people, moreover, frightened by the horror stories widespread on the Internet. The next line is for them:

Dear "sympathizers", maybe this is a secret for you, but every day a million people use angle grinders (grinder) in the production of work, and five hundred thousand of them work without a protective casing installed on it.

It was for these guys that the video was shot, I wanted to introduce them to a 1.2 mm thick disc.

But I was already touched by these dislikes and therefore decided to study what is on the network on this issue. What was my amazement after reading the sites located in the TOP of search engines: a lot of articles written about the grinder by copywriters. Who is this? And I will explain that a copywriter is a person who makes a living by writing articles, that is, he is given a set of keywords (in our case, a grinder, a cutting disc, an accident), they say that an article must contain at least 2-3 thousand characters ( sign is a letter, symbol, space, etc.) and he slaps the article. With the same success, tomorrow he writes about a ladybug, and the day after tomorrow about spaceships, and the next day about the benefits of the Turboslim mixture. Did I make it clear?

What can a correspondent write, for example, in a news release? Of course, some kind of stunning sensation, oh, how they love phrases: "two flights of stairs in the entrance were covered with blood" ... and the like. Never, no one in the news will tell you that a Moldovan, or an Uzbek, or a Russian, put a circle of the wrong diameter on the angle grinder ... But in vain!

No, don’t think, I didn’t even have to "beg" the seriousness of working with this instrument in my thoughts, but it’s just a tool - a hand tool. Let me remind you once again: every day a million people use it, and five hundred thousand of them operate without a casing.

Let's go from one more side.
They are allegedly taught to use a power tool in vocational schools. Remember who studied there, what did they teach you? TB (safety precautions) is almost a dirty word, at the age of sixteen - seventeen the head of others is crammed.
And who studied the operating manual after buying the tool, so that from cover to cover? Of course, there are such guys, but they are few - believe me.
For example, I got a job in a company engaged in the dismantling of old, and the subsequent installation of new systems of water supply, heating, sewerage, who do you think explained to me the rules of use? That's right, no one ..., showed the power button and demonstrated how it cuts! Everything! You have no idea how at first I was afraid of the grinder, and no wonder, you hold it in your hands, and it still strives to break free. Experienced locksmiths just giggle, and your hands are trembling. How many of those newly settled?

And how many "d, Artanyans" who are knee-deep in the sea, how many among our brother - go away, I myself know, I can do it myself? That's right, there are also enough of them.
So here they are, the heroes of the reports - horror stories, I have listed them to you.

That is why I decided to supplement the article, but first I studied the reviews, comments on specialized forums. Here, yes, I met guys who face this beast on a daily basis, but they also send each other links to the same photos of unfortunate people, crippled by imprudence. Below I expose such unpleasant pictures, I don’t want to, but I can’t do without it. For all the seriousness of the recommendations that I will give further was understandable. I’m not suggesting to play in "spirits".

Well dear, how does it feel? I have shock ones too. Believe me, these are not the worst shots. I will conventionally call them a snapshot one, and a snapshot two. Next, I will explain what happened. So let's get to the point:

Methods for cutting stainless steel

Stainless steel refers to alloyed steels that are difficult to process. This metal can be cut by 2 methods:

thermal (metal melts under the influence of high temperatures);
mechanical (cutting is carried out using a cutting tool by removing a layer of metal).

Thermal methods include:

Oxygen cutting (gas-arc cutting). The metal melts under the influence of an electric arc. The oxygen supplied to the cutting zone contributes to the combustion of the metal and the removal of slags from the working zone.
EDM cutting. The cutting process consists in the destruction of the surface of the workpiece under the influence of an electric discharge.
Waterjet cutting.The metal is separated by a fine jet of abrasive mixture supplied under ultra-high pressure.
Laser cutting. Processing is carried out with a thin laser beam.
Plasma cutting. A plasma jet acts as a cutting tool.

Mechanical machining of stainless steel is carried out using the following tools:

Scissors for metal. They cope with sheets with a thickness of no more than 0.5-1 mm.
A circular saw. Cutting is carried out using an edged abrasive wheel. This method can be used to cut thick parts.
Angle grinder. When cutting metal with a grinder, special thin stainless steel discs with a diameter of 125 mm are used. Non-specialized tooling can subsequently cause corrosive phenomena in the metal.

According to the rules for cutting, the part must be securely fixed or rest against something, otherwise the workpiece may be pulled to the side and the cut will be broken. It will be necessary to additionally process the trimmed edge if you cut it without observing the technology.

Metal cutting rules

How to cut metal with a grinder? What kind of grinder is needed for cutting metal? If you don't have experience yet, then practice on unnecessary details. The cut-off wheel only accepts directed efforts. Changing the plane of the file will cause damage.

How long does it take to work with the device and how long does it take to take a break? To extend the service life of the angle grinder and disc, it is necessary to take a break after seven minutes of operation. The break should be approximately half an hour. A break is especially necessary for devices with low power, because they quickly overheat.

The disc will last longer if the cut area is watered with cold water. Thanks to this procedure, you can cool the metal. Cutting metal with a grinder should be carried out with an assistant in pairs.
Each metal has its own cutting rules. For example, since aluminum is a viscous material, kerosene must be dripped into the cut. You need to follow the fire safety rules when you drip into the cut in the metal.

To cut the sheet metal, you need to use a used disc, which is called a "stub". Therefore, do not throw away discs after using them.

If the rebar is being cut with a grinder, it is better to cut off the edge that hangs down. Pipe cutting with a grinder is carried out in the same way. The pipe is easy to cut: you do not need to exert special efforts, and the tool is easy to hold in your hands.

If we cut between the supports, then the material, due to its mass, will begin to bend, and the disc will jam.

If you are cutting material that is thick, you must cut it straight, straight. How to cut a circle with a grinder? If you need to cut out a certain shape, then first cut the part in a straight line, then cut off the excess.

When cutting any metal, do not press down on the construction tool. The disc can jam and break, and the grinder can overheat. The grinder for metal should run smoothly.
Many people have questions: is it possible to cut metal tiles or cut corrugated board with a grinder? Metal tiles - yes, decking - no.

Many metal structures can be filed with ease. For example, cutting cast iron is easy because the material is brittle. Use a cut-off wheel to cut cast iron.
How to cut a profiled sheet with a grinder? To saw a profiled sheet, you need to use only certain types of discs. The disc should be one and a half millimeters thick.

Once you have cut the profiled sheet, you need to process the edges (sawing) using specially designed paints. The profiled sheet is cut quickly and easily. Cutting the flooring has its drawback - the edges become torn, after which it is necessary to remove the burrs.

Cutting of rolled metal is carried out to obtain steel billets.If you want to cut stainless steel, then use a cutting wheel with a diameter of 125 millimeters and a thickness of one millimeter. To saw off stainless material, you need to apply a little pressure. Stainless steel requires only specially designed discs for cutting.

How to cut a circle in metal? You can cut a circle in metal with a grinder. You need to cut through the sheet from all sides. You won't be able to get a perfectly flat circle in metal right away. To get a perfect circle in metal, you need to additionally use a grinder.

How to properly cut metal with a grinder. Practical tips and advice

If long pipes are resting on supports, the overhanging edge must be cut. If you cut them in the middle, then due to its own weight, the metal will bend and clamp the disc.

If you do not have the skills to handle the grinder, then before starting work, you should learn how to cut on unnecessary parts.

The cut-off wheel only accepts radial forces. Attempting to change the cutting plane while the blade is inside a metal piece will break it.

The disc heel (the near lower part of the circle) cuts metal more efficiently.

In order for the grinder and discs to serve for a long time, every 5-7 minutes of work you need to take a break for 20-30 minutes

This rule is especially important for low-power grinders who are afraid of overheating.

To increase the service life of the discs, especially expensive ones, and to cool the metal, the place of the cut must be watered. It is advisable to carry out the work together.

Aluminum is a very tough metal. When cutting a piece of large thickness, kerosene must be dripped into the seam, observing fire safety rules.

For moldings, cutting of sheet metal, curly carvings, you should use worn-out discs - "stubs", so do not throw them away immediately.

The corner should be cut correctly not in one go, but separately both shelves.

If long enough pipes, corners, fittings lie on the supports, cut the overhanging edge correctly. If you cut between the supports, the part will bend due to its own weight and jam the disc.

Thick parts are cut only in a straight line. If you need to cut a curly part, straight-line cuts are first made, then the remaining unnecessary parts are removed.

You should not put pressure on the grinder. This will lead to jamming or breakage of the disc and overheating of the grinder. If the cutting process is slow, the blade should be replaced.

The resulting cut should not be processed with the side of the disc. For this, a different type of disc is used.

Melted particles of metal and abrasive, falling on plastic products, glass and car headlights, get stuck in them, and then it is almost impossible to remove them. Therefore, before starting work, they must be removed or protected.