Choosing aluminum wheels for the grinder

When self-repairing an apartment or house, most people are often faced with the need to cut various types of metal structures. In order to accurately perform these works, it is necessary not only to choose and buy the tool itself, but also to choose the right cut-off wheel. After all, not every metal can be cut quickly and evenly with a universal attachment. Choosing aluminum wheels for the grinder correctly.

Cutting of soft metals raises a lot of questions among ordinary people. In particular, aluminum. For processing such material, there is a wide variety of sawing attachments, which have different diameters. Wheels for grinding on aluminum are also produced. The description of cutting wheels for a grinder must begin with their sizes. So, the outer diameter of such products varies from 125 mm to 230 mm. The thickness of the cutting attachments is in the range from 1 to 3.2 mm. As a rule, a larger disc diameter corresponds to a larger width. As for the circles of small diameter, their thickness can be any, depending on the purpose.

If we talk about aluminum, then circles with a thickness of about 1 mm are used for its processing. This choice is due to the low melting point of this metal. During operation with a thick nozzle, aluminum becomes viscous from friction and begins to clog the abrasive of the wheel with its particles. In such a situation, the disc simply stops cutting.

As for the configuration and coating of the cutting part, most often the wheels for aluminum have diamond dusting and a cutting edge in the form of several sectors. In fact, it is a saw blade for concrete. It is for them that it is convenient to carry out work on cutting aluminum structures. For example, cutting a profile. The diameter of such a disc has a minimum value, that is, 12.5 cm.

Circles with a maximum diameter of 23 cm are most often multifunctional and cut not only metals, but also concrete, plastic pipes and even wood with nails.

On the construction market, you can see a wide variety of special wheels for various types of grinding and polishing with an angle grinder. Such nozzles are distinguished primarily by the type of coating:

• from sandpaper;
• from a sponge;
• fabric;
• with felt.

In addition to the abrasive coating on the wheel, various pastes with abrasive inclusions are used for grinding metal surfaces. Their use depends on how smooth the surface is planned to be. In order to perform a rough cleaning of aluminum, craftsmen use coarse-grain emery nozzles. In this case, the structure of the grinding wheel should not be dense (with a small number of grains per unit volume of the attachment). Such work results in a rather rough surface that requires cleaner grinding and polishing.

For fine and accurate sanding, sponge wheels are suitable, which can be used in conjunction with fine-grained pastes. After them, you can polish using replaceable felt or fabric covers, which are fixed on a special attachment for the grinder. In this case, a paste with a minimum grain size is used.When choosing a nozzle, the manufacturer's brand is also important. Products, the quality of which should not be doubted, are mainly produced by well-known companies, such as:

• Bosch;
• Berner;
• Kronenflex;
• DeWalt.

In addition to choosing a circle, when working with soft metals, it is necessary to take into account their characteristics and features. Cut-through cuts in aluminum structures are not made in one go. This is due to the formation of work hardening on the cutting teeth. They cause the nozzle to get stuck in the slot. Therefore, the work is done in several approaches. At the same time, the circle must not be skewed, which is most important for working with discs with a maximum diameter of 230 mm.

The grinder is an electric cutting tool, when working with which you need special attention. So, before changing the cutting or grinding attachment, make sure that the equipment is disconnected from the mains. If the plug is plugged in, there is always a risk of injury from accidentally pressing the start button.

When cutting and grinding soft materials such as aluminum, be aware of its toughness. To carry out the work, do not neglect the rules for the operation of cutting wheels. So, an excessive width of the circle can cause overheating of the metal and, as a result, jamming of the discs or their slipping. This ultimately leads to injury.

It is also necessary to remember about the inner diameter of the circles for angle grinders. It must exactly match the diameter of the machine shaft. A larger diameter will cause an imbalance of the cutting attachment, its uneven movement. Operating in this manner is likely to cause the disc to split despite its reinforced coating, which also results in serious injury.

It is important to pay attention not only to the manufacturer's brand, but also to its authenticity. In the modern market, you can also find fakes. But they can be distinguished by their inscriptions, which are likely to be done with cheap paint. If such text is rubbed a little, then the paint will become cloudy or completely smeared. The quality of the sticker on the circle is also important. In cheap counterparts, it can be peeled off, unlike real branded products.

The following video clearly demonstrates the high quality of Cibo products.