Grinding Discs Buying Guide

What are grinding discs used for?

Have you ever found yourself wondering “What can I grind with a grinding disc?”

There is a wide range of grinding discs available, and they are suitable for working with both metal and stone, and across a range of angle grinders. They can be used effectively to remove paint and rust, while some people may opt for grinding discs for the finishing and preparation of both metal and stone surfaces.

Typically grinding discs are used for the removal of large amounts of material, they are coarse, which means that they are much quicker than flap discs at evening out rough surfaces.

While they can be used for surface preparation, if you are looking for greater precision and a cleaner finish, we recommend using a flap disc, and you can find our range of flap discs here.

Often, grinding discs and flap discs will be used in conjunction with one another, with a grinding disc first being used to remove stock quickly and efficiently, followed by a flap disc for the blended, smooth finish.

Selecting the right grinding disc

While grinding discs are highly versatile, there are a number of factors that you should take into consideration when selecting which type of disc to use.

Structural Shape - We stock grinding discs in two main shapes, flat discs and discs with a depressed centre. Flat discs allow for aggressive and rapid stock removal, while depressed centre discs allow the user to grind uneven or curved surfaces such as pipework without the wheel mounting nut coming into contact with the work surface.

Material - Grinding discs also come with different types of grain, or grit. The higher quality grains, such as Ceramic will last longer and offer optimal performance, then you have grains made from Aluminium Oxide which is less expensive, although still highly effective these discs will tend to have a shorter service life. Sandwiched in the middle you have Zirconia discs, which are typically mid-priced and offer something of the best of both worlds.

Safety First

As you would when you are using any type of power tools, when you are using grinding discs you should always operate with your safety in mind.

• Adopt the “better safe than sorry” attitude. Always inspect the disc before using it, if there are any signs of damage do not use it.
• When using any coated abrasive products, you should always use the guard on your grinder.
• You should always prevent and remove any build-up of the material you are working with from your grinding disc. This is called preventing “load up.”
• Review all relevant safety materials and where possible get trained to use them.
• Never wear loose-fitting clothing or hanging jewellery, for obvious reasons!

View all our grinding discs available to buy online.