cort351w

Hey y'all, While at Lowe's yesterday, I was looking at angle grinders. I have heard them mentioned in many posts on here, but off the top of my head can't remember what exactly they were used for. So, I have a pretty nice assortment of tools, but an angle grinder is not among it--it could be a nice Christmas present. What do you use angle grinders for? What is a good size, rpm capability and amperage to get?

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five7kid

I've had mine since 1975. It is 4", kind of an odd size arbor, but I got it while stationed on Okinawa. It runs somewhere in the neighborhood of 12k RPMs. I don't know the amp draw, but I've never popped a breaker when using it.

I used it last month to open up the collector ball flange opening on my headers. The die grinder wouldn't touch it, but the angle grinder made quick work of it. I also used it to grind off the perimeter valve cover bolt bosses on the heads for the same reason. I probably use it several times a year.

My dad went out and got one to sharpen the lawn mower blade because he could do it without removing the blade first (he had mine for a few months while I was going to school after leaving Okinawa - got spoiled). I don't know if he ever used it for anything else. He got a 4.5", thought it was "better". If I had that size, I wouldn't have been able to fit it up to the collector for that exhaust modification.

I would think a 4" model would do you fine for most jobs. Harbor Freight has a 3/4 horse Chicago Electric on sale right now for $17.99. Has a side handle that mine doesn't have.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R4, 2300 stall TC. Ported World 305 heads, Crane PowerMax 2050 cam. ZZ3/4 intake, oil pump, pan & baffle. Accel HEI SuperCoil & module. Hooker 2055 headers, 3" Catco cat & 3" catback w/dual-opposite Flowmaster 80. 2.93 limited slip. Spohn SFCs waiting to be installed. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily year-round driver. Best ET, speed TBD...
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. '66 396, 9.7:1 forged TRWs, Weiand Action+, Holley 750VS w/4150 conversion, GK 270 cam, Magnum rockers, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" Hedders & 3" Warlocks, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, MegaShifter, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Idles smooth @ 700 RPM in D. Best 15.02/95.06 @ 5800' Bandimere (corrected 13.93/102.4 @ sea level).

CloudZStrife

Making your own Exhaust stuff..... Cutting Pipes etc....Cutting up annoying neighbors that kinda stuff... lol j/k

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87 IROC-Z, 3.23 posi, new 305 TPI, and soon to get new trans and world torquer 305 heads

cort351w

Thanks, I am actually putting dual exhaust on my car as in the time that I am not studying--the exhaust is going very slowly. Anyway, I'm "making" the pipes from sections of mandrel U-bends. I was going to use a chop saw to cut the pipe. An angle grinder sure would have helped me cut my stock muffler off, though, now that I think about it. I used a hacksaw, a dremel with cutting wheel, a sabresaw, and I twisted it back and forth for for about 10 minutes after I couldn't get anything else in there to cut. I finally twisted it enough times to break it off. Amazingly, the muffler inlet isn't all hacked up--I must have incredible skills

I think an angle grinder could help me out--I'll look into one.

CloudZStrife

I remember one at Home Depot for somethin like 50 bucks I think it was a Mikuni

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87 IROC-Z, 3.23 posi, new 305 TPI, and soon to get new trans and world torquer 305 heads

burntblues

I love that taco bell commercial...

"hey, nice band saw"

"its an angle grinder"

ahh... g0d....

"whats that, like 10 oz's?"

"10.5!!"

oh... g0d , I need some sleep...

Later,Mike

[This message has been edited by burntblues (edited December 04, 2001).]

Jza

"You know how ta use that thing?"

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I got a good deal on an angle grinder.. they're usefuly for a lot of stuff but my favorite use is cutting up parts cars when you're done with them! bodies/frames are much easier to dispose of when they're in bite-size pieces.