Angle grinders are undoubtedly very useful tools. These small yet powerful machines have discs that spin at very high speeds. Depending on the specific disc or attachment being used, these tools can perform various tasks. These include grinding, deburring, cutting, polishing, and finishing metals.
That being said, a lot of people have questions about these tools, and we are here to answer all of them right now.
How Long Does an Angle Grinder Last?
How long an angle grinder will last depends on a variety of factors. Of course, the “you get what you pay for” adage does hold true here. Therefore, the brand and price of the machine in question do make a difference. There are accounts of angle grinders from the Sealey brand lasting upwards of 20 years. There are also accounts of Bosch grinders lasting for well over 15 years.
The bottom line here is that if you need an angle grinder for constant use, you need to buy a professional model. It is not uncommon for very cheap angle grinders to only last for ten or even just five hours. Yes, people, you read that right, five hours of grinding.
There is no straightforward answer here. However, if you buy a relatively high-quality model, you can expect it to last for anywhere from seven to 15 years.
What Is Arbor Size on an Angle Grinder?
For those of you who don’t know, the arbor on your angle grinder may also be referred to as the spindle. The spindle or arbor is the part of the angle grinder that you attach the cutting or grinding disc to. This spindle is then powered by the machine’s motor, which causes it to spin at high speeds. In other words, the arbor is that protrusion on the angle grinder where you fit the disc onto.
The hole in the center of the disc is placed onto the spindle or arbor and is then secured in place. The standard arbor size on most angle grinders in the USA is 5/8-11. This means that the diameter of the arbor is 5/8-inch, with 11 threads per inch. Another common size of angle grinder arbor is 3/8-inch.
The arbor size is important because it will determine what kind of discs and wheels you can fit onto the angle grinder in question. Keep in mind that generally speaking, the larger the arbor, the lower the revolutions per minute.
What Amp Angle Grinder Do I Need?
Without getting too technical, an amp is a single unit of constant electrical current, with the term amperage referring to the strength of that current. In most basic terms, it refers to how much power your angle grinder has. Simply put, the more amps your angle grinder has, the more powerful it is, and on that note, the larger an angle grinder is, the more amps it needs to function properly.
Your standard angle grinder will have either five or six amps of power. If you are just doing some work around the house, this should be more than enough. Smaller units may have three or four amps, although these are somewhat weak and only ideal for small tasks. Larger angle grinders may have anywhere from 11 to 14 amps of power, and these are ideal for some fairly heavy-duty work.
How Many Watts of Power Does an Angle Grinder Use?
Technically speaking, a watt is a unit of power, and in terms of wattage, this is the amount of power used or produced per second. How many watts an angle grinder uses really depends on the model in question.
Depending on the model and size you get, an angle grinder may have anywhere from 500 to 2,500 watts of power or more. How many watts your angle grinder uses, or should use, depends on the task at hand. For instance, for a simple polishing job, 500 watts will suffice. However, for basic grinding tasks, you want an angle grinder with at least 1,500 watts.
If you need to cut through simple materials and metals, you will want to aim for 1,500 watts. If you plan on cutting through very tough metals, then go for 2,500 watts or more.
This number also determines how much power your tool will consume and thus the size of your electricity bill.
What Cannot Be Cut with an Angle Grinder?
The main purpose of an angle grinder is to grind or cut through metal. These tools can cut through a variety of metals including copper, brass, iron, steel, and more. One metal that you may not be able to cut with an angle grinder is titanium, as titanium gets very soft as it heats up, and it can melt and deform.
Angle grinders can also cut pavers and other hard materials such as stone, mortar, brick and tile.
One thing that an angle grinder is not the best for is wood, and it has to do with all of the heat and sparks generated. You may actually burn the wood with that fast-spinning blade. Another material that is not ideal to work with when an angle grinder is involved is plastic. These tools are likely to melt and deform the plastic.
Can Angle Grinder Sparks Cause Fire?
In the worst-case scenario, yes an angle grinder could cause a fire, but it is very unlikely. Those sparks don’t stay hot for long, so the risk they pose in terms of a fire hazard is quite minimal.
The only way they can cause a fire is if they continuously fall on a very flammable material. For instance, if those sparks fall on very dry hay or straw for a long time, this could cause a fire. However, in terms of yourself catching fire, particularly your clothing, the chances are minimal.
Why Are Angle Grinders Very Dangerous?
The reason why angle grinders are dangerous is that they can send sharp shards of metal flying in your direction. Moreover, the discs can also snap or explode, which themselves can also become fast-moving projectiles.
Summary
There you have it, folks, the seven most commonly asked angle grinder questions answered. We hope that we have been able to answer all of your inquiries.