[dogbreath]

I've got about $40 to spend on a cutting tool. I can get an angle grinder (mine literally exploded when I was building the trailer), a Dremel, or a Sawz-all, or something like that.

I need it, primarily, to cut the subframe on my bike (steel tube) and then I will be keeping it (obviously) for future things. I can't decide which one will be more useful.

The Sawz-all seems too hardcore for building bikes. Thoughts? :knucks:

 

[skr00zloose]

a good angle grinder will do just about anything if you've got the right wheels for it. best bang for the buck compared to a sawzall or a dremel. get a selection of grinding wheels, flapper wheels, and cut off disks, and you're set.

 

[dogbreath]

I loved mine. I made up excuses to use it. I think I'll get one and some cutting disks.

I'm a little shaken up though after having one explode in my hand.

 

[Ammadien]

Ya that would make me nervous too, I'd jsut get a real nice one grinding and cutting would make it more useful than a sawzall. Dremels make me more nervous than a angle grinder.


Nate

 

[dogbreath]

I've never used a dremel so I have no idea what they're like

 

[endo]

I have a dremel, but I don't use it tonnes, more for detail work. If you were to only have one, I'd say get the angle grinder. With a couple different discs you could grind off your subframe, smooth it out, etc. Just wear proper gear when working with it you'll be fine By that I mean gloves, full face shield...at LEAST goggles. I wear a full shield anytime I'm working with a grinder or something. Burnt plastic hurts skin pretty bad too...

 

[dogbreath]

yeah I had a piece of melted plastic hit my eyeball when I was using an angle grinder to slice off the plastic tray under my subframe.

 

[skr00zloose]

you know you're not supposed to use those cut off wheels and grinding disks on aluminum right? they load up in the disk, and they explode. been there, done that, got the scars to prove it

i think they make disks specifically for softer metals and plastics. dunno for sure, my dumb ass still cuts aluminum and plastic with my regular disks.

 

[dogbreath]

I'll check for discs made for aluminum. I used mine to make a 10 foot aluminum trailer. Could be why it exploded.

But I mean the whole thing exploded. The motor overheated or something.

 

[skr00zloose]

can't say i've ever had that happen. any time i overheat mine, the brush springs collapse and it just stops working till i replace the brushes.

 

[dogbreath]

I'm not really sure what happened but the case split open (along the normal spot, it didn't break) and chunks of copper and steel flew all over and burned me.

 

[skr00zloose]

dayum!

 

[Britjoe]

I say get a grinder, it will likely be low ampage, and you can burn them out easy, so just take your time and buy a couple of thin cutting discs, steel ones are ok, for the amount of cutting your doing, a flap disc are expensive, but will make a great job of finishing the job, allways cut a little less off than you need and finish the work with the flapdisc.

 

[rdannar]

I love my sawzall, but it isn't for precision cutting. It whips through metal faster, but doesn't allow all of the fine tunning or exactness of a grinder. I know you can only get one, but having both makes my life a lot easier for projects (e.g. cars, bikes, house)

 

[skr00zloose]

just get a plasma cutter and have at it

 

[dogbreath]

Angle grinder it is.

 

[Candyman]

you know you're not supposed to use those cut off wheels and grinding disks on aluminum right? they load up in the disk, and they explode. been there, done that, got the scars to prove it

i think they make disks specifically for softer metals and plastics. dunno for sure, my dumb ass still cuts aluminum and plastic with my regular disks.

He-he um, thats good to know now:redface:

 

[fslflint]

haha, yeah. try to stay away from aluminum with a steel-only disk. its not a happy combo. but much worse than using an angle grinder is using a bench mounted grinder on aluminum. when the big 8 inch wheels fragment it is BAD in all kinds of ways.

I've had 4.5" wheels frag on me and it was just an issue of picking shit out of my knuckles.


bu back on topic, get yourself a good angle grinder. dewalt, makita, milwalkee, ryobi.... the big name brands will hold up allot better then the small off brands. that said I have a 17 dollar angle frinder that I just can't seem to kill for the life of me. I have beat the living shit out of it and it just keeps going.