An angle grinder (angle grinder), popularly known as a “grinder”, is a professional universal device that is used for a variety of purposes. With its help you can carry out many works: cutting, grinding, polishing, sawing and processing various raw materials. When choosing a suitable model, you must understand its design features, assess your financial capabilities, and also consult with a specialist.
Due to the wide variety of models available, choosing the perfect solution can be a disaster. In any case, the emphasis should be placed on the purpose of the proposed equipment. Wooden structures require appropriate grinding wheels for wood grinders. The same goes for metal - it is processed only with suitable tools.
The nuances of working with an angle grinder on wood
Professionals rarely use a grinder specifically for working with wood; there are special devices and tools for this - a belt sander, an electric saw, a jigsaw. But in everyday life, if there is a need to perform woodworking work, it is not practical to buy a whole set of expensive tools, then a grinder with an attachment for sanding wood comes to the rescue.
Sawing
The grinder is not the most popular tool for sawing wood, since it is a material with a fibrous structure. With insufficient fixation and the slightest vibration and change in the cutting angle, the fibers rise, delaminate, chips, defects and scattering of sawdust and chips are formed.
Cutting wood with an angle grinder Source mplus.ru
The cutting attachment is justified only if the angle grinder is fixed as firmly as possible on the cutting table. Using a grinder, you can only make a rough cut, not a precise cut, since it is impossible to organize compliance with all the conditions for precise work - rigidly fix the material, the tool and see the cutting location.
Attention! Cutting wood using abrasive or diamond wheels is strictly prohibited; this can lead to the disc breaking and overheating of the tool.
Sanding and polishing
The grinder is excellent for grinding. The work is carried out according to the following algorithm:
- Preparatory work . Initially, rough grinding is done using a roughing attachment. It looks like a bowl with twisted wire located around the entire perimeter (outwardly similar to a brush with metal bristles). At this stage, the old layers of paint and varnish materials are removed from the board.
- Preliminary (rough) grinding . Remains of coating, protruding fibers and other defects are removed from the surface of the material. Work is carried out using grinding wheels for grinders on wood. At this stage, the material is prepared for painting.
Sanding wood with a grinder Source szlif-tech.pl
- Final (fine) sanding . Used for wood that will not be painted. For work, an attachment for an angle grinder is used for sanding wood with an abrasive of minimal grain size - zero.
- Polishing . Produced at low engine speeds, fabric wheels are used as an abrasive.
In order to carry out all the processes as conveniently and efficiently as possible, it is necessary to choose the right nozzle from the whole variety of their modifications.
Types of grinding discs
Currently, a wide variety of grinder discs are offered for sale, and it can be quite difficult for the average person to choose a grinding wheel for a wood grinder . To understand the existing types in more detail, it is necessary to divide the range into the following categories:
- Abrasive type wheels. Such consumables are particularly versatile, so they allow you to carry out precise and high-quality activities with minimal resource consumption. In addition, there is the possibility of additional polishing. Due to such characteristics, abrasive type tools are among the best.
- Diamond coated wheels are very popular. Segmented and solid type models are available in the market. Depending on this option, the scope of application may differ. Both solutions are capable of providing precise cutting of any materials with the highest density. These include: stone, metal and concrete products.
Grinder blades may resemble most modern saws, but they are made from different alloys. Initially, such goods were considered rare, but now they have spread very widely. The ideal option is a combination of carbide and tungsten.
Types of disks for wood processing
The construction tools market is expanding every year. What types of wheels there are for an angle grinder, we’ll take a closer look below:
For cutting
Some blades are designed for sawing large and small pieces of wood:
- Plane.
Used for rough processing of wood. The nozzle is durable, solid. Installed only on angle grinders with two handles.
Disc plane for grinder Source thewoodwhisperer.com
- Chainsaw.
Most effective for working with wood. Used for removing bark, trimming and sawing tree branches, boards of small thickness (up to 4 cm) - plywood, parquet, chipboard, fiberboard. It is considered the safest - when the grinder jams, the chain remains in place, and the circle makes idle turns.
Chain saw blade for angle grinders Source yandex.net
- Segmental (tungsten carbide).
It does not have teeth; instead, there are segments around the circumference. It is distinguished by increased strength - it will cut not only wood, but also randomly encountered hardware.
Tungsten carbide wheel Source diskitrio.ru
- Few teeth.
Safest when working with wood. Suitable for both longitudinal and cross cuts, for cutting grooves in workpieces. There are models with 3 and 4 teeth.
Saw blade with a small number of teeth Source domingo.su
- Saw.
They differ in the number of teeth and material. For wood, cutting wheels with a small number of teeth are used.
Saw blade with medium number of teeth Source skladom.ru
See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in the design and installation of house structures for various purposes - sheds, greenhouses and others
Roughing
These discs perform primary processing of wood parts:
- With baby.
Used for rough processing of wood. There are models with different sizes of abrasive chips.
Peeling disc with crumbs Source prom.st
- With spikes.
Used for leveling various wooden surfaces. The nozzle aligns the junction of two boards and they are joined in the same plane.
Peeling disc with spikes Source amazon.com
- End.
Designed for processing cuts of wooden blanks. Convenient for materials with oblique (corner) cuts.
End grinding disc Source metabo.com
- Glass with wire bundles.
Used for rough cleaning of wooden surfaces from paint and varnish materials.
Glass for angle grinders with wire bundles Source mplus.ru
- Brush with wire bundles.
Another disc option for rough cleaning of wood surfaces.
Brush for angle grinders with wire bundles Source bobrujsk-praktik.by
Chain saw blades for wood: advantages of use
In this case, the saw blade is made using a chain from a chainsaw. This attachment is the most suitable for working with wood, as it has the greatest efficiency. A chain disk for wood for an angle grinder is also considered the safest. The use of this attachment significantly reduces the likelihood of injury if the tool jams.
If the disk hits a hard element of wood during operation (for example, a knot), the chain is not destroyed. This happens by turning the base. Such attachments are very popular when it is necessary to strip a tree trunk of bark and knots.
Chain saw blades are considered the most suitable for working with wood
Wood saw blades for angle grinders with a chain are used for various types of work. With their help you can remove tree branches, as well as cut boards of small thickness. The functionality of chain products allows them to be used as roughing tools. They do an excellent job of removing bark.
Using a saw wheel, you can make an even cut of parquet boards, plywood, fiberboard, chipboard, as well as ordinary unedged and edged wooden products. It is important to remember that the thickness of the material that will be processed with such a nozzle should be no more than 4 cm. Otherwise, there is a high probability of the device overheating.
Features of choosing a disk for wood
Grinder circles are produced in standard sizes. The minimum size is 11.5 cm. This tool is compact, but inconvenient for a large amount of work. The optimally convenient and safe tool with a 12.5 cm wheel. Anglers with 15 cm discs are inconvenient for processing wood and create conditions for increased injury.
When choosing a wheel, you need to focus on the markings indicated on the disk - its diameter, thickness, seat size, maximum permissible rotation speed, shelf life of the wheel and the material that can be processed with it.
Disc marking for an angle grinder Source yandex.net
If you install a larger disc on a grinder than specified by the manufacturer, you may exceed the speed of the cutting edge, break the wheel, and cause injury. In addition, a small angle grinder may not have enough power to rotate a large disk. The most dangerous thing is that installing a large circle will require dismantling the protective casing, which can lead to injury when cutting wood.
Grinding
The grinding disc is selected depending on the nature of the work being performed. For roughing and roughing work, wheels with coarse abrasive and wire are suitable. The higher the grinding quality, the finer the grains of the abrasive material.
Grinding disc Source tehnomuza.ru
Convenient grinding wheels with the ability to change abrasive discs of different grain sizes, attached with Velcro. The price of these replacement materials is low, but their service life is also short.
For finishing a wooden product – polishing – circles made of felt and pressed wool are used.
Cut-off
It is advisable to approach the choice of a cutting disc more responsibly, since sawing work is characterized by increased injury.
Do not process wood with discs intended for metal, stone or ceramics. To work with them, higher strength and higher speeds are required. In wood, such a circle can get stuck, break, and the instrument will burn.
Cutting disc Source alicdn.com
Work rules and safety precautions
Processing wood with angle grinders requires a serious attitude and strict adherence to the rules of operation of the device and personal safety:
- It is strictly forbidden to remove the protective cover during operation. If the working disk breaks, it will prevent injury to the face and body from fragments.
- For woodworking, preference should be given to medium-power angle grinder models. If the process fails and the tool jams, it will be much easier to hold it in your hands compared to a more powerful one.
- Grinding discs are much safer to use than cutting discs. When using them, it is advisable to use a mask to prevent wood dust and small sawdust from entering the respiratory tract. It is also advisable to wear safety glasses.
Workwear and protective equipment when sanding wood with an angle grinder Source kraskistroi.ru
- When working with cutting attachments on an angle grinder for processing wood, you must strictly adhere to a right angle, otherwise the cutting will occur unevenly and the angle grinder may jam.
- You cannot use discs that do not match at least one of the parameters for the angle grinder model you are using.
- It is strictly forbidden to use discs even with minimal signs of damage, especially when cutting wood.
- It is prohibited to install circles from a circular saw or other tools instead of a disc on a wood grinder. Circular discs are designed for operation at low speeds and on angle grinders they can simply warp or break and fly apart.
- Before sanding wood with a grinder, it must be thoroughly dried. Damp wood is difficult to sand and is more likely to be damaged by mold and mildew.
Briefly about the main thing
The grinder is a universal tool designed for working with various materials, including processing wood bases. Sanding and cutting discs for wood perform various functions:
- removing bark, pruning and sawing branches and trees;
- rough, rough, final sanding of wood;
- surface polishing;
- rough and fine cutting of boards, fiberboard, chipboard.
But we must understand that this is all true only for those whose work related to wood processing is not income. The grinder is suitable simply for minor household chores - repairs, installation of a fence, replacement of flooring. The necessary discs will help you cut, clean, and sand wooden materials and products. But if you have to work with wood often, then a specialized tool will be much more practical.
Plus, you must always remember that a universal grinding machine is a high-risk tool - when performing work, it is imperative to follow safety precautions.
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Processing Tips
Finishing operations begin in cases where the workpiece takes on preliminary shape. The final result can be determined by the types of attachments that are used to solve the problem.
An angle grinder can be used as a cutter, as well as a grinding and polishing machine. Expansion of functionality is provided by the use of different types of disks.
And so, if you are faced with the question: “how to successfully polish or sand a wood structure,” be prepared to take a responsible approach to studying the basic subtleties and recommendations. As for the tools that will be used in the future, they include:
- Brush cord. This device is ideal for rough grinding activities. There is the possibility of successfully leveling the wood giving the optimal shape to the workpiece.
- End discs. Their purpose is to easily grind workpieces. In most cases, such work is carried out while maintaining miter cuts. The operation of a miter saw can resemble the interaction between the workpiece and the saw.
- Flap sanding attachments. They represent one of the main consumables. Their features provide wide possibilities for processing various workpieces, including those made from natural wood. It is important to pay attention to the fact that stripping wooden elements with a complex structure can only be done using radial strips.
- Felt circle. Provides maximum protection against the appearance of roughness on the surface being treated. It is based on compressed wool of fine-haired, semi-coarse-haired and coarse-haired origin. Felt working tools provide ample opportunities for high-quality processing of wood or other materials. In addition, with their help you can give wood a perfectly smooth surface, which can be compared to a mirror.
- Circle for grinder. Its purpose is grinding. Very often it is confused with the disk of the same name. However, Velcro circles are especially versatile and can be used for a variety of purposes. Various additional elements are intended for specific tasks, although a regular grinding wheel sometimes amazes with its versatility and high quality of work.
- Chain disc for wood. It represents one of the most productive and rough solutions for processing natural wood.
If you intend to choose the right equipment for an angle grinder, consider not only the diameter, but also many other markings. Using the inscriptions, you can clarify the exact purpose of the tool and choose the best option for your purposes.
The modern grinder is one of the most convenient and useful devices . To improve the quality of its work, you need to take care of additional attachments and discs that will make the processing of wood, metal, or any other raw material accurate and complete.