Knowing to use an angle grinder is one thing. Knowing its parts is another. While the former is crucial to getting things done, the latter is important when things go wrong. After all, when your angle grinder breaks, you need to know which part of it malfunctioned before trying to fix it or get a spare part.
In this article, I will take you through the most important parts of an angle grinder. You will not only learn to identify them but you will also learn what each of them does. With that knowledge, you will be able to identify a problem with your tool in no time.
#1: Power Switch
The first part of an angle grinder that you need to be familiar with is the power switch or power lever. This is the button, lever, or trigger that is attached to the main handle. The function of this component is to allow you to turn the angle grinder on and off as needed.
Simply pull the trigger or press the button to activate the angle grinder, and then let it go to turn it back off again.
#2: Lock Button
The second part of an angle grinder that you need to be familiar with is the lock button. Most angle grinders come with a lock button or switch that is located either on the main handle or the body. This looks like a normal switch.
The purpose of the lock switch is two-fold. One of the purposes is to lock the angle grinder when it is off, so it cannot turn on by itself. The other function of the lock switch or button is to allow you to keep the angle grinder running when it is on, without continuously having to hold the power lever or trigger.
#3: Speed Control Dial
While not all angle grinders come with this particular feature, it is a very useful one to have. This feature is a speed control dial or lever, a normal-looking dial or lever that is typically located somewhere on the main handle of the angle grinder. This is a component that allows you to control the disc’s rotation speed.
On a side note, some angle grinders which do not come with a speed control dial, come with a variable speed trigger instead. This means that the harder you press the grinder’s power trigger, the faster the grinding disc will spin.
#4: Main Handle
The fourth component of an angle grinder that you need to know is the main handle. This is the main part of the angle grinder where you hold it with your dominant hand. It’s that long and circular part that comes out of the head of the angle grinder, where the majority of the controls are located, such as the power trigger, the lock button, and more.
When selecting an angle grinder, make sure to get one that has a comfortable main handle.
#5: Side Handle
The vast majority of angle grinders also come with a side (or secondary) handle. This looks like metal or plastic protrusion, kind of like a stick, that features a textured rubber or plastic grip, complete with a raised pommel near the end to allow for a non-slip grip.
Some angle grinders come with the side handle attached right to the head of the grinder, thus only allowing it to sit in one position. However, some angle grinders allow this secondary handle to be adjusted, with most allowing it to be on either side or even on top of the head. This allows for a great degree of versatility, because it allows for better grip and cutting accuracy, due to you being able to hold the angle grinder with both hands in a variety of positions.
In case the side handle gets in the way, you can always remove it.
#6: Body
The body of the angle grinder may also be referred to as the head. This is the part of the angle grinder that houses the motor, to which the spindle and blade are attached, and to which the main and side handles are attached.
This is one of the most important components because more or less everything else is attached to it in one way or another.
#7: Motor
Another one of the most important components of an angle grinder is the motor. Of course, the motor is what generates all of the power and movement in your angle grinder. Angle grinder motors can come in various power ratings, depending on the type, quality, and cost.
Attached to the motor, generally speaking, will be a V-belt transmission, which transfers the power created by the motor into movement. The belt is attached to the spindle, thus resulting in the circular movement of the cutter or grinding heads.
Moreover, high-quality angle grinders will also incorporate air filters to keep dust and debris out of the motor.
#8: Spindle
Another major set of components on an angle grinder is the spindle and its related parts. The spindle is the circular part located on the bottom part of the head or main body, that circular protrusion where the grinder head and blade are mounted on. As mentioned above, the spindle is attached to the motor via a belt, which results in a rapid circular movement.
The spindle nut looks like a regular nut, and it is mounted on the end of the spindle, with the function being to hold the blades and discs in place. Finally, the spindle lock is a button or lever located somewhere on the top portion of the head or main body. The function of this spindle lock is to lock and unlock the spindle so that the discs and blades can be changed.
#9: Blade Guard
Another important but removable component of an angle grinder is the blade guard. This is a semi-circular attachment that is mounted on the underside of the main body or head of the angle grinder, and it faces the user. The part facing the user is blocked off, leaving the front half of the blade free to make contact with the workpiece.
The aim of the blade guard is to make sure that your hands never touch that moving blade, as well as to keep debris and sparks from flying in your direction.
#10: Attachments
Next, we have the various types of blades and discs that can be attached to an angle grinder, the component that actually spins and does the cutting or grinding.
There are many types of blades and discs that can be used with angle grinders, including cutting discs, sanding discs, grinding discs, wire brushes, and flap discs.
#11: Power Cord or Battery
The final component of an angle grinder that needs to be talked about is the power cord or battery pack. Of course, that motor needs power, which it can via a direct connection to an outlet or through a battery pack.
The battery back or power cord will be located on the end of the main handle.
Summary
As you can see, although an angle grinder may seem like a very simple tool, there are actually many components that you need to be familiar with.
Now that you know what all of the components are, buying a new angle grinder, identifying faults of your current one, and making repairs should be much easier.