Grinder wheels: types and sizes of discs for cutting or grinding wood, metal, concrete (for large, small, medium angle grinders)

Author: Evgeny Zhivoglyadov. Publication date: April 10, 2022. Category: Automotive equipment.

No matter how carefully the driver operates his favorite “iron horse,” sooner or later small scratches, chips, abrasions and cracks will begin to appear on the surface of the car’s paintwork. Such damage occurs not only as a result of careless driving, but also due to small stones, branches flying towards you, temperature changes and much more. To renew and protect your car’s paintwork, all you need to do is purchase an angle grinder and select the right wheels for polishing your car.

Polishing discs have different characteristics and are suitable for different purposes, so when choosing products you need to pay attention to their types and scope of use.

Types of discs for grinders

Diamond blade - For the manufacture of such disks, diamond-coated steel is used. It can cut any metal, cut various types of natural stones and artificial stones.

A diamond blade can be used to cut glass and ceramics. It is important to make several shallow cuts when working. This circle cut is narrow and neat.

There are new polishing wheels on sale; they have an elastic base. The new items have a non-smooth surface that resembles a turtle shell, hence the name: “Turtle”.

Carbide disc - Discs are made from high-alloy steel with the addition of chromium, nickel and molybdenum. The successful combination of these metals with steel gave this type of disc mechanical strength, thermal strength, and resistance to corrosion and oxidation. I mainly use carbide blades to process aluminum, high-carbon steel, and sometimes wood.

Abrasive disc (fiber wheel) - In the production of this type of disc, the basis is latex paper or fiber. An abrasive material, such as aluminum oxide or silicon carbide, is applied to such a base. The abrasive disk is connected to a support plate; it is needed to stop the cooling of the abrasive.

These discs are used both for cutting and for stripping and stripping. The fiber wheel is suitable for any material: iron, wood, stone, concrete. They can remove old paint, scale and even carbon deposits from any surface.

Body polishing

The polishing process can correct only some defects. If there is corrosion, chips or damage on the body through which the steel frame is visible, then a major repair will be required.

Before starting the polishing process, you should carefully inspect the vehicle to ensure that any imperfections can be eliminated.

Treatment of the body with a special device will give a positive result if:

• slight difference in shades that resulted after partial coloring;
• the presence of roughness, scratches and cloudy stains;
• faded layer of paint;
• the appearance of graininess and streaks of enamel.

You need to know that you can’t overuse polishing, because when you do it, the paint layer becomes smaller by 5 micrometers. From the date of manufacture of the vehicle, no more than 20 polishing procedures can be performed. At this time, you need to use a thickness gauge, especially if the car is used.

Each type of work has its own disk

It is important to use your own disk for each type of work. Cutting wheels cannot be used for stripping and vice versa. Based on this, it is possible to divide the types of disks by type of work.

• If it is necessary to cut or saw, then use cutting discs.
• If you have to cut wood products, use saw blades.
• If you need to peel off old layers of paint and varnish materials and primer or make the surface smooth, you need a roughing or grinding disc.
• You can process metal, wood, and plastic products with a flap disc.
• For final polishing of surfaces, a polishing disc is best.

What to look for when choosing a polishing wheel

Sometimes polishing attachments are already included with polishing fluids, however, if the products are purchased separately, you need to take them into account:

• Form. There are two types of discs: surface grinding (circular) and flap (cone-shaped). In order for polishing to be carried out as efficiently as possible, it is better to purchase products of several forms.
• Rigidity. This parameter directly depends on the type of polishing paste. If the liquid is used to restore the body, then it is necessary to select more rigid polishing wheels. To choose the right disc, just pay attention to its color: black ones are considered the softest, orange ones are medium hard and are suitable for all pastes, white circles are the hardest, so they are most often used to remove the most serious scratches.
• Diameter. It is better to purchase several discs of different diameters, then it will be more convenient for you to polish different parts of the car and hard-to-reach places. Large discs are usually chosen for polishing the body, and the smallest ones for headlights.
• Mounting type. The discs can be attached to a polishing machine or a regular drill in two ways: screwed onto a thread or fixed with Velcro. The latter option is considered universal, since you do not have to select discs based on thread diameter.

When choosing a nozzle for polishing a car, it is necessary to pay the greatest attention to the material of the sanding coating, since it will depend on it for what kind of work the wheel is most suitable.

Metal discs

Cutting wheels for working with metal are made from a super-hard material that is chemical-resistant and extremely fire-resistant based on aluminum oxide.

Cutting wheels made from these materials can be of two types:

• Flat;
• Convex.

Discs with a convex center are used for cutting metal products very close to the wall.

Rating of expensive products

Standart 27 (230*6*22.2 mm) Totflex 125081100 (16092318)

Consumables from a domestic manufacturer are very popular among those who own a manual grinding machine and know how to use it. The main purpose is to clean metal products from rust, remove the old layer of paint, make the surface even, and bring the seams into proper condition after welding is completed. The production is based on a bakelite bond. Fiberglass mesh is used for reinforcement, which significantly extends the service life of the product. Dimensions – 230*6*22.2 mm. Type – grinding. The base shape is concave. Weighs 0.62 kg. Sold in individual packaging. There are no complaints about the quality of the products.

The average cost is 320 rubles.

Standart 27 (230*6*22.2 mm) Totflex 125081100 (16092318)

Advantages:

• reliability;
• durability;
• versatility;
• functionality;
• performance;
• value for money.

Flaws:

• not identified.

NV, 27 (150*6.4*22.23 mm) Norton 66252925525 (15908435)

Product from an American manufacturer. An ideal assistant when cleaning stainless steel or metal structures. A distinctive feature is its greater thickness compared to other analogues. Belongs to the category of grinding. Has a straight shape. It's easy and convenient to work with. No experience or skills needed. Even a beginner can handle it. The weight is significant. Rarely found on sale.

The average price is 298 rubles.

NV, 27 (150*6.4*22.23 mm) Norton 66252925525 (15908435)

Advantages:

• durability;
• reliability;
• strength of the materials used;
• performance;
• versatility;
• safety.

Flaws:

• not identified.

Klingspor 13402 (15544287)

The nozzle is produced by a German company, so there is no need to worry about its quality and wear resistance. It is considered a replacement element for an angle grinder. Ideal for cleaning aluminum surfaces. Famous for its large working resource. Users report excellent performance. Dimensions – 125*6*22.2 mm. Wheel type – grinding. Flange mounted. Available in concave shape. The manufacturer supplies products for sale in individual packaging. The reviews are only positive.

The purchase price is 264 rubles.

Klingspor 13402 (15544287)

Advantages:

• reliability;
• functionality;
• versatility;
• ease of operation;
• wear resistance;
• practicality;
• durability.

Flaws:

• not installed.

Trigger 70324 tov/157540 (15737810)

The homeland of the brand is Germany, but the nozzles are produced at a Chinese factory. There are no complaints about the quality. The products last a long time, completely exhausting their working life. Dimensions – 180*6*22.2 mm. Designed for cleaning metal structures. They will quickly and efficiently polish surfaces and carry out rough preparation for welding work. Manufactured in straight shape. Flange mounted. Own weight – 380 grams. Sold at any specialized retail outlet. When ordering a batch of goods worth up to 4,000 rubles, the manufacturer provides a discount.

Purchase price – 261 rubles.

Trigger 70324 tov/157540 (15737810)

Advantages:

• long service life;
• simplicity in operation;
• reliability;
• functionality;
• large working resource;
• absence of marriage;
• positive reviews.

Flaws:

• not found.

N-Omega 125*7*22.23 BF-27 A24-S Norton 66253370046 (15908437)

A durable and reliable circle is produced by an American company. The product quality is appropriate. There are no complaints. It is quite rare on the shelves of domestic stores, but you can order a batch of goods in an online store, having first checked the supplier for integrity. Otherwise, you can become the owner of a low-quality Chinese fake for good money. Purchased by professional builders for cleaning stainless steel structures, but can also be useful for domestic use. Available in straight form, installation is universal.

Retailers are asking 251 rubles for the product.

N-Omega 125*7*22.23 BF-27 A24-S Norton 66253370046 (15908437)

Advantages:

• quality factor;
• performance;
• quality of the material used;
• long service life;
• reliability;
• versatility.

Flaws:

• not detected.

Wood discs

Toothed or circular discs are installed on permanently mounted “grinders.” A special feature of such a disc is the presence of teeth on the outside tipped with carbide materials.

There are chain discs, they have a chain. Suitable for medium density wood. When working with such a wheel, you cannot cut wood with metal elements; the chain will quickly become dull when it comes into contact with them. Everything is like with saws.

Sometimes you need a blade that can cut all types of materials - this is a universal blade. The nozzle has the appearance of a regular disk with three additional teeth, tipped with hard metal.

The disc with a tungsten carbide edge has tungsten carbide coating on the outside. There are technological holes on the disk, they help remove heat during operation. This disc is suitable for wood and plastic. Working with such a disk makes it easier to encounter various metal objects, such as screws.

Tools and equipment

If you plan to polish a car using a drill, then it is best to use a device that can operate at 1500 rpm. Of course, this figure is not high enough for professional work, but at home it is quite possible to polish the body using a drill.

To perform the work, the following elements are required:

• attachments for a polishing machine or an attachment for a drill, which will allow you to secure the wheels;
• adapter for circles;
• polishing wheel;
• applicator for distributing wax or polish;
• polishing sponge;
• body cleaner;
• scratch remover;
• abrasive paste;
• finishing polish.

When everything you need is prepared, you can start working.

Stone discs

Stone cutting discs, also known as diamond discs, are used for cutting all types of stones. There are several types of discs with applied diamonds.

• Solid Discs - There is a continuous tape on the disc. Diamonds of non-natural, artificial origin are applied along the entire circumference of the tape. The disc is designed for high-precision cutting.
• Segmented discs - The disc has several technological holes or slots, this increases resistance to mechanical and temperature loads.
• This type of drive is more productive. The disc is designed for rough, not precise cutting.
• Turbo discs - To increase mechanical strength, improve heat dissipation and increase cutting speed, the disc has grooves on the sides of the rim. The disc cuts any mineral materials.
• Turbo segmented discs - Discs are characterized by high performance and versatility.
• Diamond blades differ not only in structure, but also in the cutting method. Can be dry cutting and wet cutting.
• Dry cutting - This method provides a more precise cut. But its disadvantage is a large amount of dust. This type of work requires good ventilation.
• Wet cutting - This kind of cutting involves water cooling due to a constant flow of liquid. The disadvantage of such discs may be the bulkiness of special equipment for supplying liquid.

Rating of quality products from 50 rubles

C 24/R Makita D/25292 (13349299)

Japanese brand, produced in the Middle Kingdom. The equipment is designed for manipulating stone. Purchased for angle grinders. It is in great demand among both professionals and beginners. Suitable for both domestic and commercial use. Breakdowns are rare due to the use of innovative technologies in the production process. It copes well with rough machining of stones, concrete and bricks. Thickness – 6 mm, diameter – 100 mm, weight – 100 grams. Type – grinding. Straight shape. Flange mounted. Sold in convenient packaging.

How much does the product cost? You can buy it for 39 rubles.

C 24/R Makita D/25292 (13349299)

Advantages:

• reliability;
• wear resistance;
• strength;
• long service life;
• practicality.

Flaws:

• not identified.

Professional (125*6.4*22.2 mm) Maxweld KRPR-12564 (16486904)

Cleaning consumables are purchased to bring metal surfaces into proper condition. Thickness – 6.4 mm, diameter – 125 mm. The disc is of the grinding type. Bore diameter – 22.2 mm. Concave shape. Attaches with a clamp. Installation location: flange. The packaging contains one item of the product. The weight of the structure is 140 grams. The Belarusian brand is manufactured at Chinese production facilities, but there have been no complaints about the quality.

The product is sold at a price of 81 rubles.

Professional (125*6.4*22.2 mm) Maxweld KRPR-12564 (16486904)

Advantages:

• quality of materials used;
• ease of operation;
• wear resistance;
• positive reviews;
• can be ordered online in the online store.

Flaws:

• not installed.

SP-Novoflex Metabo 617170000 (15869836)

An inexpensive grinding wheel is produced at a domestic enterprise. Durable steel is used in manufacturing. Installed on hand grinders. Designed for cleaning steel surfaces. A distinctive feature is high productivity and a huge working resource. Belongs to the grinding type. Diameter – 125 mm, thickness – 6 mm. The shape is concave. Flange mounted. The product weighs 0.170 kg.

The average cost is 87 rubles.

SP-Novoflex Metabo 617170000 (15869836)

Advantages:

• practicality;
• functionality;
• versatility;
• performance;
• strength;
• durability;
• safety.

Flaws:

• none.

Tsunami D-16110011562300 (15856003)

A six-millimeter metal cleaning wheel with a diameter of 115 mm is very popular among craftsmen. Straight shape. The seat is a flange. Weighs 150 grams. Sold at any specialized retail outlet. You can use the online store service. There is practically no defect on sale. The domestic manufacturer controls the quality of the product at all stages.

The purchase price is 93 rubles.

Tsunami D-16110011562300 (15856003)

Advantages:

• strength;
• long service life;
• versatility;
• wear resistance;
• absence of marriage;
• achieving a positive result in a short period of time.

Flaws:

• not identified.

A21 R BF 14 A BU80 Luga-Abrasiv D/11201502260000 (15854285)

The sanding attachment is used with hand sanders. Ideal for power grinding of parts and structural elements made of durable steel. Quickly and efficiently puts welded seams in perfect order. The product is produced by a Russian company. The reviews are only positive. There are no complaints about quality and durability. They are purchased by both amateurs and professional builders. Thickness – 6 mm, disc diameter – 150 mm. Flange mounted. The shape is straight. Each circle has its own packaging. To extend service life, the manufacturer's recommended speed must be observed.

Purchase price – 98 rubles.

A21 R BF 14 A BU80 Luga-Abrasiv D/11201502260000 (15854285)

Advantages:

• strength of the materials used;
• application of innovative technologies;
• versatility;
• practicality;
• reliability.

Flaws:

• not installed.

Grinding disc

Grinding discs come in a variety of shapes: flat and cup-shaped; by surface type: petal, wire, diamond, disc.

• Flap disk - used when working with wooden surfaces.
• Wire disc - used for stripping or removing rust.
• A diamond blade is good when working with stone. When working on stone or similar surfaces, use a bowl-shaped wheel.
• Disc disc - for grinding metal.

Using a polishing wheel

By using a polishing wheel on a drill, you can update the appearance of your car. This procedure is most effective if you need to smooth out small chips or remove tarnishing of the surface.

The work is carried out in 2 stages:

• removing paint from the body surface;
• applying polishing compound.

Protective treatment is also carried out to reduce the negative effects of various types of precipitation and ultraviolet radiation. It is mainly done when preparing a car for sale. A protective layer (it contains wax or silicone) is distributed over the surface of the body to form a film that is invisible to the eye, repels moisture, and makes the body shiny. You can polish a used car with a soft pad if there is no paint damage. It can also be used with careful treatment with a protective agent.

Instructions for replacing a disc on an angle grinder (step by step)

No matter how durable the circle is and is resistant to all kinds of influences, sooner or later it will need to be changed. Replacing a disk consists of several stages:

1. Disconnect the grinder from the power source.
2. Press the button that locks the spindle.
3. Insert the key with the pins into the nut that secures the circle.
4. Turn the wrench counterclockwise until the nut gives way. In this case, do not forget to hold the latch. As soon as the nut starts to move, you can tighten it by hand.
5. Remove the nut from the spindle, then remove the used disc.
6. Now you can safely put on the new disc.
7. We perform all steps in reverse order. The nut does not need to be tightened with a wrench; it is enough to fix it manually.
8. We plug in the tool and continue working.

Choosing a car polishing machine

To purchase a reliable and inexpensive grinder for polishing a car, you should pay attention to the following technical parameters of the tool:

• The power of the unit should be about 1200 - 1400 W. In this case, the grinding machine will cope with more tasks.
• Please note that there is a speed control function. If you have them, you will be able to carry out all stages of polishing with the highest quality. In addition, thanks to such modes, it will be possible to process different types of surfaces.
• Availability of a compensator. Thanks to power compensation, you can change the load level while maintaining the speed of the unit. The fact is that jumps in speed (when pressing and releasing the machine) can lead to rapid overheating of the paintwork surface, which is sensitive to high temperatures.
• Smooth engine start. This function will protect you from inrush currents during long-term operation of the tool. Thanks to this mode, the machine can be turned on when it is already installed on the surface of the body. In this case, “burning” will not occur.

How to unscrew a disc on an angle grinder if it is jammed

During operation, for one reason or another, a nuisance may occur - the disk may jam. We offer you two ways to solve this problem:

First way

• We find, in our arsenal, a piece of metal plate no more than 1 mm thick.
• Clamp the plate in a vice.
• Break the remaining disk. It's better to use pliers.
• We insert the plate between the upper nut, the one that secures the disk, and the lower nut.
• Let's start cutting.
• The remains of the disk between the nuts will wear off, and the nut will begin to move freely.
• Remove the nut

Second way

• We break the disk.
• Using a gas wrench, fix the lower nut so that the spindle does not rotate.

Using a standard wrench, we begin to unscrew the top nut. As soon as the top nut moves out of place, you can unscrew it by hand.

How to make it yourself

It’s worth figuring out how to make a polishing disc for headlights with your own hands. The basis of the disk is linoleum. Its reverse side adheres well to the drill attachment. Foamed polyurethane is used as a substrate. The polishing layer is represented by sandpaper. First, 2 layers of polyurethane are glued onto a piece of linoleum, and then sandpaper.

As you can see, there are many types of polishing discs for grinders, which motorists use to process bodywork, glass, and wooden elements. During the polishing process it is often necessary to change the grain size of products. You can easily create a simple circle with your own hands from linoleum, polyurethane and sandpaper.

Photos of the best manufacturers of grinder circles