How To Chose The Right Cutting Disc

Choosing the right cutting disc for your operation will make your job go that much smoother, but deciphering which is right for your job is not always easy. As such, we have put together a little guide to help you finding the right cutting disc for your needs. So let's take a look at some things to consider...

Material

The first thing you must do is find the right material cutting disc for the job at hand.

Aluminium Oxide - Suitable for alloys with high tensile strength, and for ferrous metals, such as steel and titanium

Silicon Carbide - Suitable for low tensile strength alloys, such as cast and ductile iron, and for non-ferrous metals such as aluminium, bronze and copper.

Form

Secondly, you must take into account the shape, or form, of your cutting discs

Flat - Diameters here will vary depending on the angle grinder you use it with. For most angle grinders, a diameter of between 100 mm and 230 mm is ideal.

Depressed Centre (Concave) - When using these discs for cutting you will have a diameter of between 100 mm and 230 mm, while for roughing, you will have varying thicknesses between 2 and 10 mm, and a diameter of between 100 mm and 200 mm.

When should you change your cutting discs?

If you respect your tools, they will respect you, and replacing your cutting discs when the time is right is essential for safe operation. So let's take a look at when you should be changing them.

If your cutting discs show any signs of visible damage, you should replace them immediately. This includes, but is not limited to, cracks, chips, and any bending or twists in the wheel. Once they expire, it is time to replace them. Factors such as time, the conditions they are kept in, temperature, humidity, and UV light can have an impact on the bonding agents used to hold the discs together.

If you are ever unsure whether your discs are safe to use, adopt the “better safe than sorry” attitude and change your discs. It is not worth the risk.

Further Cutting Disc Safety Tips

For both safety and for optimal performance, your cutting disc should never be larger or smaller than the specifications of your grinder. And you should always ensure that both the size of the disc and the RPM (revolutions per minute) are matched to your grinder. Never use a grinder that has a greater RPM than the disc is rated for. Never run an oversized disc on a grinder with the guard removed. Not using the correct guarding can be dangerous.