Dewalt 4.5 inch cutoff wheels

Geo-TH,In · Jun 17, 2015

While at Rural King, I picked up a box of 25 cutoff wheels for $.99 each. They may not be the best, but they are the best I can buy locally. Normally they are twice that price.

Got to thinking, do they make an attachment for a right angle grinder so I can control the depth of the cutoff wheel? I rarely cut more than a 1/4 inch metal. It would be nice to help steady the grinder if it had an adjustable foot on it like a circular saw. Only has to be an inch of so wide, just something I can adjust how much of the cutoff wheel is cutting and make it so I don't damage the wheel by not having a steady wrist.

Or do they make something that looks like a circular saw that uses 4.5 inch metal cutoff wheels?

If there isn't something on the market, I'll just have to make one.

Steve@Advance · Jun 17, 2015

I've never seen anything like that. It would be difficult to hold the depth for very long as the wheel wears down, nature of the beast...

John T · Jun 17, 2015

George, any time I'm at our local Rural King I pick up those DeWalt cut off and grinder blades and they work okay PLUS at a great price.

John T

Goose · Jun 17, 2015

I always just wing it. As Steve said, the wheel wears down as you're cutting.

Geo-TH,In · Jun 17, 2015

Well aware it wears down. But the dewalts will last if you don't push then hard. I can always stop and re-adjust. Sounds like I'll just have to invent one and see how well it works. Already have a plan in my head.

Adirondack case guy · Jun 17, 2015

If you still have your safty guard on it, just use it as a depth guide. as the wheel wears down you will have to increase the angle you hold the grinder. Personally, I dont worry about the depth it cuts, because the wheel is cutting all the way through the steel that I cut, and it only wears down when in contact with the metal. The deeper the wheel is run, the less surface area the metal has.
Loren, the Acg.

Geo-TH,In · Jun 17, 2015

Actually I was thinking of modifying the guard and making the foot adjustable. Will post if it actually works. Arthritis prevents me from holding the grinder as steady as I should. Arthritis will not stop me, I'll figure out a way to work around it.

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Jun 17, 2015

On my 18volt Dewalt cutoff unit the guard can be rotated by releasing a clamp lever. It could be rotated to provide a guide.

Stan in Oly, WA · Jun 18, 2015

Steve;

Abrasive blades like cutoff wheels and chop saw blades have strength only in their plane of rotation. At speed, they come apart violently at very little lateral motion in the cut. I've seen this happen several times with chop saw blades when poorly secured work pieces shifted, and I would expect the same thing to happen if a cutoff blade on an angle grinder were allowed to turn in the cut. The less of the blade that is allowed to protrude through the cut, the less fore and aft length the person has to manage. This would be a reason to use some kind of hold off device to keep the blade depth to a minimum.

Stan

Geo-TH,In · Jun 18, 2015

JohnT,
I go through many cutoff wheels and not so many grinder wheels. I have a right angle grinder with grinder wheel, another with cutoff wheel, a third with a wire brush and then a 18v cordless, usually with a cutoff wheel. I hate changing wheels, so I just change grinders. The wire brush is on an old black and decker grinder and sometimes I connect it to a variac or a dimmer switch to slow it down. High speed wire brush can get a little dangerous is some situations. I've lost some skin using the wire brush. The rest of my grinders are dewalts. Carry all in truck tool box. Never know when you will need a grinder. Instead of using a torch, I've taken my portable generator and used cutoff wheel instead.

1948CaseVAI · Jun 18, 2015

Harbor Freight - item 45921. Couldn't live without mine.

FWIW the cutoff wheels from HF have always lasted longer than the Dewalt, at least for me. On bigger blades (14 inch) the HF beats the Dewalt all over the place. The Dewalt was so far out of balance that I was afraid it would tear my cheap cut off saw to pieces - the the HF 14 inch runs fine and true.

Cliff(VA) · Jun 18, 2015

I have an accessory for my 4 1/2" Dewalt grinder that does exactly that. It was intended for use with diamond blades.

Cliff(VA)
Dewalt Diamond Blade Guard

dr sportster · Jun 18, 2015

i THINK THE mAKITA CORDLESS SAWW WOULD DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT IF YOU PUT AN ABRASIVE BLADE IN IT.

Geo-TH,In · Jun 18, 2015

Thank you, that's what I'm looking for. I can't seem to find a place on line that sells them. One place even said discontinued. I called the store in town that is a dewalt service center, no luck.

I may not have a choice and have to modify the existing guard and put a shoe on it.

Dewalt 4.5 inch cutoff wheels

Geo-TH,In

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Steve@Advance

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John T

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Goose

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Geo-TH,In

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Adirondack case guy

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Geo-TH,In

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john .?-!. cub owner

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Stan in Oly, WA

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Geo-TH,In

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1948CaseVAI

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Cliff(VA)

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dr sportster

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Geo-TH,In

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