11 Angle Grinder Attachments for Wood (Uses FAQ). Wood sanding angle grinder

Power Carving Wood For Beginners

One of the suggestions I get most often is people asking if I can show them a project that can be done with limited tools, and/or a limited budget. These are usually Комментарии и мнения владельцев on a video where I spent 1000 on a wood slab, 1000 on epoxy, and another 1000 on a custom steel base for a client. Most DIYers are looking for a project with a max budget of 300 or so. At least that is where I’d like to be if I’m making something just for fun. Power carving is even better than that. You can get started carving a green piece of firewood, or a stack lamination of scraps from your burn bin.

TOOLS REQUIRED

I don’t know how to work a lathe and I’m not good at wood carving, so I found this no lathe alternative to wood shaping and sculpting. All that it really tak.

WOOD

I made this end table from an old burl chunk I had and a stack of burn pile recuses I got from my local wood supplier. I fashioned the top into a 4-way bookm.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CARVE?

This part is totally up to you. I have done a handful of power carved projects and there doesn’t appear to be a limit to how creative you can be. I have two YouTube videos out on power carving. In one video I carve an end table base from old scraps of walnut I pulled from my supplier’s burn bin. In the second video, I carve an entire end table from a solid chunk of English Walnut. Although in that video I get some help from a chainsaw.

There are lots of people making amazing wood texture patterns with these grinding discs and burrs too. These can be done to add interest to a table base or custom lamp. Or they could be made as stand-alone wall art pieces. I am currently working on a project where I textured a log, then burn it for a pretty dramatic effect. So yeah, carve whatever you can dream up.

TOOLS

I mentioned in the introduction that you don’t need that many tools to get started carving. Just an angle grinder and a Kutzall disc at a bare minimum. I recommend a variable speed angle grinder if you are purchasing a new one. Although the fixed speed grinders work fine. Just a bit harder to control sometimes.

Kutzall makes several discs including fine, medium, and extreme grits. Each one is made by bonding tungsten carbide bits to a steel disc. They are extremely sharp, don’t lose their temper when hot (you can even clean them with a torch). And because they’re carbide, they stay sharp a very long time. I don’t think it is necessary to purchase every single grit they make. I would start with just the extreme and fine discs. You’ll see how fast the fine disc removes material. In fact, most people will be ok with just the fine disc.

If you want to get a little fancier you can add some of the Kutzall rotary burrs to your power carving lineup. The burrs are awesome for adding texture, fine detail, or just opening up a hole in your drywall. You’ll need a die grinder with a 1/4” collet for the burrs though. Or a Dremel for the ⅛’ shaft burrs.

Other than the angle grinder and Kutzall discs, the rest is up to you. tools generally make life easier. An orbital sander, chainsaw, rasps, and clamps are just a few items you will likely end up using if you have access to them.

PPE

I know, most of you will probably skip past this section. But angle grinders spinning carbide bits at 20k RPM are no joke. A face shield is highly recommended at a minimum. The wood bits can come off in a hurry, so get those peepers protected. These discs also create a pretty fine dust. So I also recommend a good respirator. Gloves are a bit of a contested piece of PPE. Traditionally, gloves and woodworking are taboo. The idea is that gloves can get caught in a rotating machine and pull you into it. Things can get graphic from there. That said, I don’t see these discs as a high risk for that. There is a pretty significant risk of having the disc burn a hole in your hand rather quickly though. So I wear gloves. I have grazed the disc with my hand and it burned partially through the glove before. It didn’t suck my hand in, and I saved some skin that time. All that said, there are no guarantees expressed or implied by Blacktail Studio LLC (I hope that satisfies the attorneys).

WOOD CHOICE

One of my favorite things about power carving is the variety of wood you can use. Unlike a table that requires clear, dry dimensional lumber or dry slabs. Power carving can be done with green wood. Similar to how woodturners work. Carving your green piece 90% of the way, let it dry, then finish carving/sanding/finishing. One way around waiting that long is also used by woodturners. You can glue up a stack of dry blocks and carve your piece from that. The advantage to this is your piece is immediately ready for finish, you can use wood otherwise destined for the fireplace, and you generally end up with a crack-free rock solid piece.

CARVING PROCESS

The actual process of power carving is primarily learned through experience. Grip the grinder securely and ease the edge of the disc into your piece. Keep the disc spinning away from you as it contacts the wood. Blade guards are cumbersome but beneficial to your health. Just start slow and pretty soon you’ll realize the disc isn’t as intimidating as you first thought. I highly recommend practicing on some scrap before you dive into that heirloom table you want to carve.

I am drawn to very organic shapes. Long sweeping curves. Trying to keep the ‘bumps’ to a minimum. Don’t be too critical about those bumps though. They will get smoothed out in the next step.

Once you like the overall shape of your piece you can put the power tools aside and bring out the hand tools. I am especially fond of rasps. Kutzall even makes a hand rasp with the same carbide technology as their carving discs. They are much more affordable than traditional hand-cut rasps and have benefits that I think put them ahead of most premium rasps. Check out my blog here for a deeper dive into these rasps.

SANDING AND FINISHING

How to finish a table by applying Rubio Monocoat. In this video I’ll show you how to apply two coats of Rubio monocoat. I discussed this technique with other.

Sanding these carved pieces can be a little different than traditional pieces. Especially if you leave a rough finish coming off the Kutzall as I do. My preferred method is to move to my orbital sander with a super soft pad and 40 grit sandpaper. This is kind of a bridge from carving to sanding. You can still do some light shaping with the 40 grit, and you definitely don’t want to move on to higher grits until you get all the Kutzall marks out.

Once you get your piece nice and smooth (At least as smooth as 40 grit can be anyway), you can work through your regular sanding progressions. I have a couple of blogs and videos on sanding and finishing. So feel free to check those out here, here, and here.

WHAT’S NEXT?

There are so many options for power carving. Table bases, tabletops, wall panels, end tables, free form art pieces, sculpted seats, or just traditional carving and shaping. Chainsaw carvers have been using the smaller burrs for years. You will frequently see them used for details like adding feathers to a bird sculpture, or shaping and detailing the eyes. If you’re like me and lack the skill for anything close to that, venture into texturing boards for various uses. Picture frames, details on bowls (or bowls themselves), or anything else you can think of

This shou sugi ban inspired table was created from a piece of Ponderosa Pine firewood I got for free. The charred wood effect was highlighted by adding a dee.

Angle Grinder Attachments for Wood (Uses FAQ)

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Long gone are the days when you would have to mindlessly chisel away at a piece of wood to accomplish a beautiful sculpture. Now, you have access to angle grinders, a wood maker’s paradise. Angle grinders come with a variety of attachments that allow you a high level of modification in your work.

They are perfect for when you want your wooden pieces to be intricate with a minute design. Not to mention, while you are working on an industry-grade chunk of wood bigger than yourself, angle grinder attachments for wood will prove invaluable for you.

Let’s learn about some of the most important attachments for wood here.

Angle Grinder Attachments for Woodworking

Whether in the woods or the hoods, you can never go wrong by learning about the 11 types of angle grinder attachments we will be talking about today:

Attachment for Wood Cutting: Saw Blade

A good start is a battle half won. Of course, you would want to cut your wood into one or more decent-sized blocks before you start working on them. Saw blades will help you cut through your woods like a knife gliding through a Saran wrap.

Sounds lovely, but this practice comes with a disclaimer. Angle grinder manufacturers discourage attaching saw blades to your angle grinders because they pose a significant amount of risk. If you choose to attach a saw blade to your angle grinder, make sure that you are taking necessary safety precautions.

Shop angle grinder saw blade available at:

Attachments for Sanding and Grinding Wood: Abrasive Flap or Sanding Disc

Abrasive flap discs, also known simply as sanding discs, give a smooth finishing to your work. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind while using an abrasive flap disc;

You must be mindful of the angle you are applying your grinder at. If you are reckless about the surface you are doing your work on, your flap disc can break, or it can damage your wood.

You have to use guards if your flap discs come with them. Not using guards is common malpractice. It is actually instructed in the manual that comes with the box, but who reads manuals anyway, right?

Shop angle grinder sanding disc available at:

Attachments for Wood Carving and Shaving: Abrasive Cutting Disc and Carving Wheels

Now that you have a shining piece of wood, you might want to carve it if you have a specific blueprint in your mind. Or maybe even shave it to give it a detailed appearance.

Abrasive cutting discs will help you achieve that. These are cutting discs made with several abrasive agents like aluminum oxide, silicon, zirconium, etc. You are going to choose the disc and the abrasion agent depending on how deep you are going to carve your wood.

Carving wheels have a similar function. But let me warn you about the potential dangers beforehand since using cutting wheels on wood is not an ideal situation. Firstly, wood is combustible, and using a high-power carving wheel might pose fire hazards.

Also, abrasive discs are more suitable for metal, having them on wood is a bit daring. Because woods do not offer the resistance as metals do, brace yourself for specks of wood flying in your direction.

Shop angle grinder carving wheels available at:

Attachment for Surface Preparation: Non-woven Abrasive Wheels

Non-woven abrasive wheels are a compact blob of synthetic fiber held together by abrasive agents. These wheels are used for the final touch on your surface that will render a neat polish.

Non-woven abrasive wheels are non-conductive, making them a safer alternative to any other instrument that will conduct electricity. You can also use them for cleaning, polishing, de-fuzzing, and scouring your wood.

The combustibility of wood will not play as a disadvantage here since the produced heat diffuses through the meshwork of the nonwoven product.

Shop angle grinder non-woven abrasive wheels available at:

Wood Saw Attachment

There is an abundance of metal cutting tools such as saws, chainsaws, etc., on the internet and in marketplaces. So, I can see where you might be having a problem finding the perfect wood saw Fflaattachment for your grinder.

The truth is, using instruments with high RPMs on wood can get a bit wild. And without experience, it is just another Final Destination movie waiting to unfold.

If you have used an angle grinder for quite a few years now and have enough faith in your motor abilities, a wood saw attachment would be: not great, not terrible.

Whether you will be using a hacksaw, a jigsaw, or a traditional handsaw as an attachment depends on the kind of geometric configuration you desire in your work, such as a plain cut, a curved cut, concave cut, etc.

Shop angle grinder saw attachments available at:

Wood Chisel Attachment

A regular wood chisel attachment is capable of scraping glue, paint, or rusted rubbish off of your wood. But a higher quality chisel can cut corners and motifs off the wood.

Smaller bladed chisels are required for artistic purposes like sculpting, designing architecture models, or making wooden cutleries. Chisel is an artist’s favorite tool, almost as if it is the paintbrush of a wood person.

Shop angle grinder wood chisel attachments available at:

Drill Chuck Attachment

A drill chuck is a spindle-operated tool that holds a drill or other similar cutting machinery. Now, there are two types of drill chucks: keyed or keyless. Keyed chucks use a key to tighten the drill into the mouth of the jawed machine. This has the disadvantage of frequent slip-ups, but this offers you additional torque.

On the other hand, a keyless chuck requires you to tighten the drill manually. Keyless chucks are more commonly used for their portability and ease of use. However, experts suggest that keyed chucks are more precise in terms of accuracy.

Shop angle grinder drill chuck attachments available at:

Wood Belt Sander Attachment

Sander is a requisite tool for you if you work with wood. Apart from sanding wood, a sander is used for slicing a piece down to a calculated thickness or breadth. It can also be used to remove splinters and specks from wood.

A sander can either be battery-operated cordless or an electric corded machine. Although a cordless sander is easier to handle, it has a battery life of thirty minutes. This is an insufficient time if you intend to be sanding for longer periods.

However, electric sanders will offer you more power, and there is no time limit! Just sand away.

Shop angle grinder belt sander attachments available at:

Buffing, Padding, and Polishing Wheels Attachments

Buffing wheels are used to add a nontextured finishing to the contour of your wood piece. It is similar to the ones used for metal buffing, but this conforms to the reduced durability of wood and ensures to preserve the details.

Buffing wheels add a layer of carnauba wax. It is a natural wax that will render your wood waterproof since wood is one of those substances that tend to gather moisture by the imbibition process.

Another generous feature of the buffing wheel is that it is designed to reach the creases and curves of convex surfaces that other tools usually cannot reach. Choose your buffing wheel depending on the size of your convex bowls, plates, cups, etc.

Now, if you add the padding to it, which is made of natural wood itself, it is used to polish wooden jewelry and other materials such as metals (Yeah, your attachment for wood can polish metal too!).

Polishing wheels are made of felt or cotton. This is usually the last step of finessing your finishing touch, and it will leave a mirror shine on your wood.

The thickness of your polishing tool will depend on the material used and the number of layers made from them. Thicker bristles allow you to accomplish a more versatile look on your work.

Remember to clean your polishing wheels regularly because this is one of those tools that accumulate dust, asbestos, and wood dust.

Shop angle grinder polishing wheels available at:

Diamond Cutting Blades Attachments

Diamond cutting blades are used to cut through materials with high power and accuracy – providing you with explicit edges. These cutting blades are made of a hard steel core that has fine ground diamonds embellished on it.

As expensive as diamond sounds, this is the hardest element on earth. A diamond cutting blade uses that to its advantage and makes for a great attachment that saves time and hard work.

Disclaimer: Diamond cutting blades were primarily made for metals. As we discussed before, how detrimental it is to use such attachments for wood, make sure that you are being safe.

Also, keep in mind that your blades should work in the direction of splinters. It is almost impossible to find a piece of wood that does not have a splinter or a grain. So, keep in mind that if you direct your blade in the direction opposite to that of the splinter, the wood will snag.

Shop angle grinder diamond cutting blades available at:

Wire Brush Attachments

The last attachment on the list is named wire brush. It has a flexible wire that twists and bends to polish, deburr and remove contaminants from wood.

You have to choose the right wire brush while considering a few things like the function and precision required. Wire brushes can be made of several materials, including brass, carbon, stainless steel, etc.

A few types of wire brushes are scratch brush, channel scratch brush, welder brush, toothbrush type, utility type, and many more. To avoid confusion, use a wire brush selection guide that will tell you exactly what kind of wire brush you will need for your exact job.

Shop angle grinder wire brushes available at:

Frequently Asked Questions

We are one step ahead of you. Here is an article we have written on how to choose an angle grinder that suits your wood carving needs

An angle grinder is used in wood carving, wood sanding, and giving a piece of wood its shape. This is the only tool that can do multiple tasks without any hassle.

However, to put it bluntly, no woodworking task requires an angle grinder. You can always use a manual tool.

But if you are Smart enough, you will use an angle grinder for all your woodworking tasks to save time, energy, and money.

An angle grinder is a versatile tool that allows you to do sanding, shaping, and carving.

You get a whole box worth of tools as attachments. You just install those attachments to your angle grinder, and voila, you have everything you need and more.

Angle grinder allows all these attachments to work at their optimum power because the grinder is an industry-grade instrument with a high RPM. – a great investment for your woodworking journey.

Yes, you can, but you shouldn’t. Metal cutting blades are meant for resistant and durable materials like iron, bronze, copper, etc. If you cut wood with a metal cutting blade, it may pose harm to your safety. Not only this practice creates a fire hazard, but there is also a risk of splinters flying about.

Yes, absolutely. A standardized angle grinder is meant to accommodate all kinds of discs there is.

Yes, not all sizes fit all angle grinders. So, you have to consider the size of the disc before trying to mount them on the arbor.

Final Words

It is grind time, homie! Now that you know all about the most commonly used angle grinder attachments for wood, you have a whole new world to explore that includes you, yourself, and wood.

If you enjoyed this article, then see our article on the 14 essential table saw accessories for woodworking

Enjoy our articles? You can follow us on for more woodworking power tools tips and tricks.

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Angle Grinder Discs Attachments you Should Absolutely Get!

If your job or hobby involves any type of material fabrication or surface finishing, then the angle grinder is the power tool that you’re looking for.

An angle grinder has many versatile functions, available in both battery-equipped (cordless) and power cord versions, this heavy-duty power tool possesses the ability to cut, grind, polish, smooth, and sharpen a wide variety of materials including iron, steel, brass, marble, wood, and stone.

Apart from its most common use as a grinder, there are a variety of abrasive attachments available for this power tool, designed to perform many versatile jobs and functions. You may choose the attachment depending on the material you’re working with and the function you need to perform.

Below are attachments you should know about:

Angle Grinder Wire Brush Attachments

Available in many different shapes and forms and sizes such as wire cup brushes, wire wheel brushes and end brushes. Wire brush angle grinder attachments are ideal for heavy duty cleaning, deburring, edge blending, and paint stripping. Wire wheel brush attachments with knotted and crimped wires are used for working with hard metal surfaces such as iron and stainless steel.

Knotted Wire Wheel Brush

With a knotted design adding maximum aggressiveness to the wires, this wire wheel brush attachment type is circular in shape to add precision to your project and to fit into corners. Used for treating hard metals such as iron, stainless steel, this attachment prepares and conditions rough surfaces through heavy duty cleaning action, deburring, and removing rust.

Crimped Wire Cup Brush

Designed with flexible wires, these cup brush attachments are best suited for preparing larger and wider surfaces. Less aggressive than a knotted design, crimped wire brushes result in a uniform, polished, and smoothly finished surface.

Knotted Wire Cup Brush

Adding the features of both cup design and knotted wire, this wire brush attachment is ideal for performing tough jobs on larger surface areas. With aggressive cleaning abilities, it is ideal for removing material deposits and contaminates such rust and oxidization.

Angle Grinder Diamond Cutting Blades

Designed specifically for working on concrete and masonry surfaces, diamond saw discs are made of hardened steel rims embedded synthetic diamond abrasives. possessing the ability to grind through the hard materials with power and precision.

Diamond cutting discs come in many different types, the most common types are continuous rim, segmented rim, and turbo rim designs. Saw blades provide a precise and finished cutting ability. these cut off discs can cut through marble, ceramic, porcelain, and granite. Which makes them ideal for tiling and other masonry work.

There are 3 different types of Diamond cutting blades:

• Continuous rim: Ideal for smooth cutting of marble, ceramic, and porcelain tiles
• Segmented blade: Best for general purpose cutting of masonry, concrete, terrazzo, and roof tiles
• Turbo blade: With efficient speed and clear-cutting abilities, ideal for cutting granite, slate, paver bricks, and concrete pipes

Angle Grinder Sanding Attachments

Angle grinders make excellent power sanding tools because of their powerful motor combined with precision and high RPM.

Sanding discs for the angle grinder are generally circular discs embedded with abrasive material. Its commonly used in the woodworking industry for leveling surfaces, carving and shaping and smoothing hard woods, and in the metal working industry to remove rust and scratches off of metal surfaces,

Here are some of the various abrasive materials you may choose from when you need to use your angle grinder as a power sanding tool

• Aluminum Oxide Sanding Discs : Best suited for sanding and polishing bronze, alloy steel, wood and fiber glass. It is advised not to use stainless steel because of its iron composition can cause light oxidization
• Zirconia Sanding Discs : Stronger than aluminum oxide and iron-free, this type is best suited to polish and sand wood, fiber glass, metal, brass, aluminum, and stainless steel. Lasting 10x more than aluminum oxide abrasives, its ideal for rough wood surfaces, grinding metals and removing burrs, Cleaning up welds and stripping paint and contaminants.
• Ceramic Sanding Discs : Efficient in terms of both sharpness and longevity, ceramic sanding discs are the most aggressive abrasive grains, best to apply for heavy-duty functions on metals including wood, metal, and stainless steel. With its coarse grits, these can be used for removing substances.

Two Common Sanding Discs Types you can buy for your Angle Grinder

Due to the strength they possess and the separated flaps of sanding material, flap discs are famous for removing hard stock efficiently as the flap design dissipates heat, which is Super Cool! (pun intended).

Attached to an angle grinder, Flap sanding wheels allows the abrasive grain to sand and grind efficiently while reducing load, lessening friction while keeping the surface reasonably cool to extend the life of the abrasive and avoid damaging and overheating the surface.

Perfect to work with stainless steel, cast iron, titanium, and hardwood.

These discs are the best when it comes to value for money, even though they are more expensive than zirconia and aluminum oxide initially, they last much longer and provide consistent results.

They are ideal to use with heat-sensitive materials such as stainless steel, nickel alloy, and titanium due to having less ceramic friction and cooler operation than both aluminum oxide and zirconium, since ceramic is a harder abrasive.

Angle Grinder Attachments for Buffing Polishing

While using the angle grinder as a buffing tool is good idea but its best to be used with experienced hands, the angle grinder are very powerful and could run up to 13,000 RPM, so its advisable to use a variable speed grinder for buffing and polishing jobs.

Buffing pads for angle grinder are made from high-quality wool, famous for being wear-resistant. When you want to polish and shine your metal surfaces, the buffing wheel comes to the rescue. Attached to the power of the angle grinder, the polishing wheel is effective for metal, glass, ceramic, and wood polishing.

Angle Grinder Attachments for Stripping and Surface Preparation

Surface preparation is the essential part of finishing any project or workpiece. To prepare and condition hard surfaces with rust issues, paints and gunk build-ups, a stripping grinder wheel is a quick solution.

The poly stripping wheel is usually made from nylon and somewhat flexible with a non woven matrix design to allow a sufficient amount of air though the weave, which results in a much cooler operation so you can use your grinder at high RPM without burning out the surface.

Attached with an angle grinder provides speed and efficiency to remove contaminants from the surface without damaging it.

Non-Woven Abrasive Discs

Non-woven abrasive discs are essential for surface conditioning and paint jobs. they are commonly used in the autobody industry and metal fabrication facilities for finishing. It provides enough scouring power to remove even the toughest of substances like adhesives and sealers to prepare the surface for finishing.

Poly Stripping Discs

Poly strip wheels are rotating discs used for stripping paints, which is basically removing the paint and exposing the surface. These discs are used with angle grinders for finishing and conditioning with fast action and no damage to the original surface.

Conclusion

Whether you’re finishing metal projects or cutting a tile, the angle grinder is the ideal tool for your tasks. With a powerful motor and a high RPM, its the go-to tool to take on several jobs with the right accessories and ultimate versatility.

Choose your attachments and discs to turn your angle grinder into a sander, polisher, buffer, grinder or a multi-material cutter.

1 comment

Hi! I would suggest you specify when you say ‘surface’. Are you talking wood or metal? I do wood work, metal and ceramic. Removing rust from metal is still a challenge after 5 years of experiencing different tools. Comment specific to this would be appreciated. tks!

Grinder vs. Sander – What Is the Difference

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between grinding and sanding? Are you struggling whether you will need a grinder or a sander for your project? In fact, these questions are frequently discussed among handymen and DIYers. In this post, we will finally shed a light on the differences and similarities of grinding and sanding as well as grinders and sanders. Be aware though that the lines between them are a bit blurred, on the definition as well as on the application side.

Working with grinders implies a more aggressive working on material that includes cutting and precision finishing of surfaces. These tools are used for all kinds of material and – with the right equipment – can even be used with the hard ones, e. g. metal, concrete, stone, etc.

Using a sander, on the other hand, is a finer way of material processing and usually helps achieving a smooth surface. Sanders are often used on softer materials like wood; however, you can also sand concrete surfaces or sharpen knives with a sander.

This is a high-level comparison of sanding and grinding with a FOCUS on hand-held and DIY tools like angle or belt grinders and belt, disk and orbital sanders. We will be discussing the details in the following sections.

What Is a Grinder?

A grinder is a power tool that is used for grinding (obviously), cutting, sanding, brushing and other DIY areas.

Grinders come in different sizes and forms with application areas ranging from DIY to industrial use. For DIYers and semi-professional users, these are the two most common types:

What Is an Angle Grinder?

An angle grinder is a tool with a geared head on the side on which you can mount abrasive or cutting discs but also brushes and other attachments.

Angle grinders are rather inexpensive and offer good value if you take their versatility into account.

Belt grinders are (semi-)professional machines and will set you back at least a few hundred dollars.

What Is a Grinder Used For?

Typical areas, for which you can consider using a grinder, are:

• Cutting,
• Rough shaping,
• Fine shaping,
• Sanding and smoothening the surface (if you use proper sand paper / discs), and
• Brushing and polishing (if your equipment allows it).

You can use most grinders for materials like:

What Is a Sander?

Sanders are used to sand, smooth and polish surfaces. As the name implies, these tools are using sandpaper as an abrasive.

Among the most common hand-held sanders are:

What Is a Belt Sander?

These sanders have a sandpaper belt and they are mostly used for rough or smooth sanding of large surfaces, e.g. for sanding wooden floors or slats.

Belt sanders come either as stationary or as hand-held tools, depending on their area of application.

What Is a Disk Sander?

A disk sander is usually a stationary machine. For these types of sanders, the sandpaper comes in the form of a disk instead of a belt.

What Is an Orbital Sander?​

This power tool has a round pad and performs the sanding in circles, thus achieving smoother results compared to a belt sander. While an orbital sander creates a circular movement of the sandpaper, a random orbital sander adds an additional back-and-forth movement.

Given the differences in speed and power (we have covered this already), a grinder is usually able to cope with a harder material than a sander.

What Are the Advantages of a Grinder?

A grinder is more versatile and often more powerful than a sander. Even if you use it for sanding, you can mount larger discs and therefore finish the job much faster for the same surface.

Some grinders come with a switch-angle function (angle grinders) or a slack belt (belt grinders) which allows you to work on surfaces that are more complex, so you can go beyond flat and even workpieces.

With the right attachments, you can also brush or cut metal or glass with your grinder.

When to Use a Sander?

Sanding is used for fine shaping of softer materials as well as smoothening or even polishing a surface. It allows you to use very fine sandpaper – the higher the grit number the finer the abrasion – and thus achieve shiny surfaces. Sanding is therefore the method of choice when it comes to wood (re-)finishing or restoration works.

However, there are several areas where you could use either tool, e. g. using a grinder with fine sandpaper as a sander or smoothening concrete surfaces where both grinding and sanding are possible.

What Are the Advantages of a Sander?

Belt sanders are ideal for the sanding of large wooden surfaces, e. g. before refinishing a hardwood floor. While orbital sanders and angle grinders have a similar functionality, random orbital sanders are equipped with the small but important difference in the way it moves the sandpaper. For super-smooth sanding, a random orbital sander is therefore second to none.

Is It Possible to Sand With a Grinder Or Grind With a Sander?

An angle grinder can be turned into a sander by using a sanding disk. You will not need an additional orbital sander if you already have an angle grinder. However, an angle grinder could not fully replace a random orbital sander: This power tool is unique because of its multidirectional movements and the smoother sanding results.

Belt grinders and belt sanders work in a similar way, so if you buy sandpaper belts for your grinder, you could actually turn it into a sander. However, when it comes to sanding a floor you will probably need a belt sander though, given that belt grinders are usually stationary tools.

The Conclusion: Which One Should You Buy – a Grinder or a Sander?

It depends on what you are up to: if you need a hand-held power tool that is versatile and offers both cutting and sanding functionality, consider going for an angle grinder (some call it “grinder/sander” as the functionality is largely overlapping).

However, if you do a lot of surface smoothening or woodworking, you might want to get a random orbital sander as well.

For belt sanders and belt grinders, the differences are more obvious: Belt sanders are ideal for woodworking and they are often mobile, so you could use them for floors or countertops. Belt grinders are often stationary and used for other, harder material than sanders.

Whichever power tool you decide to buy, make sure it meets the needs of your current and potential future projects and allows you to mount attachments and additional equipment.

The Best Angle Grinder For Wood, Metal, and

When we set out to determine the best angle grinder, it didn’t seem like a terribly difficult task. However, when we got our team together, it was quickly apparent that there are so many outstanding models out there. Angle grinders are a core tool and nearly every brand makes multiple models.

While we’ve done our best to narrow things down based on our experience, we haven’t been able to put our hands on every model out there. So if you have a grinder you love, let us and your fellow readers know what makes it stand out in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев section.

How to Choose the Right Angle Grinder

Choosing the right angle grinder for the job is mainly about size and performance. With three primary angle grinder classes (small, medium, and large), it’s all about which size wheel fits in the area you need to grind, cut, or polish.

When the wheel contacts the material, it then has to get the job done. An underpowered grinder might cut 1/4-inch steel plate or grind welds, but higher-performing ones are going to do it much more quickly.

From there, it’s about convenience and features. By far the most convenient way to go is to cut the cord and use battery power. The best cordless angle grinders keep up with corded models—even up to 9-inch models! The trade-off is a higher cost and limited runtime. On the other hand, electronic controls give cordless grinders some features that aren’t common on corded ones.

Here are some other features to look consider:

• Electronic braking
• Automatic kickback shut-off
• Advanced vibration control system
• Compatible shrouds for working with concrete/masonry
• Brushless motor (on cordless and corded models)
• Smart controls/tracking
• Three total side handle install points

Read up on angle grinder uses and how cordless technology is influencing them here.

The Best Angle Grinder Overall | Our Top Pick

DeWALT 60V Max FlexVolt 6-Inch Angle Grinder DCG418

At the end of the day, the tool you pick up the most is the best for the way you work since you use it so much. The one we pick up more than any other in our shop is DeWALT’s second-generation FlexVolt angle grinder. It has the performance (13-amp equivalent, 9000 RPM) and safety features we demand (kickback control and electronic brake) with the convenience of cordless operation.

One of the other things that sets it apart from high-performance grinders in its class is the ergonomics of its handle design. It’s a slim profile with a trigger rather than a paddle or slide switch.

Price: 229.00 bare, 319.00 (1 x 3.0Ah battery) and 469.00 (2 x 3.0Ah battery) kit options

The Best Cordless Angle Grinder

With DeWALT taking the top spot overall, that model is also our number 1 pick as the best cordless angle grinder. Here are three more options we highly recommend:

Milwaukee M18 Fuel 5-Inch Angle Grinder with One-Key 2883/2882

Milwaukee’s latest flagship small angle grinder has outstanding power with the brake and kickback control we’re looking for. Capable of using 4 1/2 or 5-inch wheels, both styles have a top speed of 8500 RPM.

The 2883 (slide lock) and 2882 (paddle switch) also include One-Key. While there are no control settings, it does offer tracking and inventory management, making it a great option for construction firms and shops that prefer help tracking tools from the crib.

Price: 219 bare, 469 kit (2 x 6.0Ah High Output battery)

Bosch Spitfire ProFactor 18V Connected-Ready X-Lock 6-Inch Angle Grinder GWX18V-13CN

Bosch has a lot going on with their GWX18V-13CN angle grinder. It’s capable of using wheels from 5 to 6 inches and using the completely tool-free X-Lock interface, you can kiss your spanner wrench goodbye! As a 13-amp corded equivalent, the grinder’s BiTurbo brushless motor spins up to 8500 RPM.

In addition to electronic brake, kickback control, drop control, and restart protection features, this model is also Connected-Ready. Just add the Bosch Connected Module to gain Smart tracking and diagnostic communication.

This grinder is also available without X-Lock as the GWS18V-13CN.

Price: 249 bare, 399 kit (1 x 8.0Ah Core18V battery)

Makita 40V max XGT AWS-Capable 9-Inch Angle Grinder GAG10

The cordless large angle grinder group is ironically very small. Among the major brands, your choices are between Makita, Metabo, and Milwaukee. None of them are poor choices. However, our pick for the best cordless large angle grinder in Makita’s GAG10.

Using a single 40V max XGT battery instead of two 18V batteries for power, it kickback and brake safety features, and adds restart protection along with AWS. Makita’s Autostart Wireless System automatically turns on your vac when you pull the trigger, making this an excellent option for concrete and masonry work in addition to standard metalworking.

On the performance side, expect to run 7 or 9-inch wheels up to 6600 RPM. The tool also has an isolated rear handle to help absorb vibration and reduce fatigue in your hand and arm.

The Best Corded Angler Grinder

In order to get the kickback control and electronic brake we’ve been talking about, the best way to get them is with the electronic controls that come with a brushless motor. In recent years, a couple of brands have introduced corded brushless angle grinders that offer those additional safety features.

That’s a big deal to our team, plus you don’t have carbon brushes to replace. If those features aren’t a big deal to you, you might find the best corded angle grinder for you is something different than what we’re recommending.

Metabo HPT AC Brushless 5-Inch Angle Grinder G13BYEQ

Metabo HPT earns our pick for the best corded small angle grinder with its 5-inch AC brushless G13BYEQ. It uses a 12-amp brushless motor to spin the wheel up to 10,000 RPM. The paddle switch and electronic brake ensure the motor stops quickly if your hand comes off for some reason, and it has the built-in kickback control we prefer on grinders.

DeWALT Brushless 6-Inch Angle Grinder DWE43244N

For your medium size grinder, we like DeWALT’s 5-inch/6-inch DWE43244N. It’s a corded paddle switch grinder that takes advantage of a brushless motor. As part of DeWALT’s Performance Protect line, it has an electronic clutch with kickback control and an electronic brake.

For those of your working at height, there’s a lanyard attachment hook just below where the cord enters the housing.

Flipping over to the performance, the motor runs 13 amps and produces a solid 1800 watts of power with speeds up to 9000 RPM.

Metabo 9-Inch Angle Grinder WEPB 24-230 MVT

When it’s time to go big, we prefer Metabo for the best corded large angle grinder. In particular, we like the WEPB 24-230 MVT for several reasons. This 15-amp grinder is well-built and can handle wheels up to 9 inches with speeds up to 6600 RPM. Even though it’s not a brushless model, it does have a mechanical disk brake that activates if the deadman switch is released, if the wheel binds up, or even in an unexpected power loss.

The “MVT” designation on this grinder stands for Metabo VibraTech and includes an internal dampening system along with a vibration reduction side handle.

We also really like the rat tail handle design. Grinders of all sizes can have pretty wide handles that small and medium-size hands have a tougher time with. Metabo’s rat tail handle offers a much more ergonomic grip to hands of all sizes.

The Best Budget Angle Grinder

Ryobi 18V One HP Brushless 4 1/2-Inch Angle Grinder PBLAG01

Ryobi made a huge jump in performance with its HP Brushless line of cordless tools and the paddle switch angle grinder of the group is no exception. Paired with a High Performance battery, the brushless motor is capable of 9200 RPM using 4 1/2-inch wheels.

This is one of only a few grinders with a tool-free wheel removal. Ryobi’s FixTec flange nut has a flip-up section you can grab and twist to loosen or tighten with your fingers. If the nut happens to be too tight, there’s a spanner wrench you can use as a backup.

Even though this model is more expensive than some of the more budget-friendly options out there, its performance makes it an excellent value.

Price: 129 bare, 179 kit (1 x 4.0Ah High Performance battery)

Skil 8-Amp 5-Inch Corded Angle Grinder AG242001

Skil takes your basic grinder needs up a notch with its AG242001. As our top choice for the best corded budget angle grinder, this 5-inch paddle switch grinder is a bit more powerful than its competition with an 8-amp motor producing an impressive 12000 RPM.

It also features three handle positions and the spanner wrench stores right inside the side handle where you’re much less likely to lose it.

The Best Angle Grinder Brand

You can ask professionals which brand makes the best angle grinder and you’ll get a variety of answers. When we look at the grinders consistently doing the toughest jobs, no brand shows up as much as Metabo. The quality of Metabo’s engineering and design along with an incredibly deep line that covers the entire range of grinder needs makes it a top choice time after time. They’re more expensive than other professional brands, but that’s what we expect at this level.

Options From Brands We Trust

Best Craftsman Angle Grinder

Craftsman’s CMCG450 is a 4 1/2-inch brushless model that’s a solid value at less than 100 for the bare tool. It has performance primarily meeting the needs of serious DIYers and has a 3-position side handle with a spanner wrench that stores conveniently in it.

Best Flex Angle Grinder

Even though Flex has been around a long time as a brand, its 24V cordless system is one of the newest on the market. Their 5-inch brushless variable speed grinder doesn’t have a first-gen feel, though. With legitimate Pro-level performance and a comfortable design, kickback control reduces injury risk in a bind-up while the side handle absorbs vibration. It’s also the best value in the professional small angle grinder class.

This grinder is available with a slide switch or a paddle switch.

Price: 179 bare, 199 kit (1 x 5.0Ah battery)

Best HART Tools Angle Grinder

While Ryobi was our pick for the best budget cordless grinder, HART Tools makes a great case as another high-value pick with the HPAG25. Their brushless model boasts the same 9200 RPM as Ryobi and has a three-position side handle. The best part is the price—just 119 as a bare tool.

The downside is that it’s not sold as a kit with a battery and charger. However, you’re going to want more than just the grinder, so grab the brushless drill and impact driver combo to help you get started.

Best Kobalt Angle Grinder

Kobalt’s top grinder is the cordless brushless KAG 424B-03 (KAG 1724A-03 for the kit). It’s a 5-inch model with a paddle switch design that covers all the basics you need with a couple of bonuses. It has a three-position handle and the spanner wrench stores inside the handle so you have it when you need it.

The biggest story for Kobalt is the performance. The brushless motor and 6-cell 24V max battery system run your grinder wheels up to 8500 RPM with plenty of muscle to back it up.

Price: 129 bare tool, 219 kit (1 x 4.0Ah battery)

Best Porter-Cable Angle Grinder

Porter-Cable is back and Tractor Supply carries the entire line! With corded and cordless options, our top choice is Porter-Cable’s corded 7.5-amp grinder. It uses 4 1/2-inch wheels and has a 3-position side handle. The biggest deal is the price—it runs just 39.99 and has a 3-year warranty, making it one of the best angle grinders if you’re on a budget.

Best Ridgid Angle Grinder

Ridgid has several angle grinders to choose from with options on both the corded and cordless sides. If you’re on the hunt for something with a larger wheel and more muscle that doesn’t break the bank, check out the R10202. Its 15-amp motor powers 7-inch wheels up to 8000 RPM.

Not only does this model have a 3-position side handle, but it also has a rotating 3-position rat tail main handle design. No matter which way you’re cutting, you can get both hands in a natural, comfortable position so you can FOCUS on the cut instead of your grip. Plus, this powerful grinder retails under the 150 mark.

The Best Angle Grinder for Wood Carving

Most people don’t think of an angle grinder for wood carving duties, but there are accessories out there specifically for that purpose. One of the most helpful is essentially a wheel with chainsaw teeth on the edge. You can also use flap disks just like you do for metal.

Most of the wood carving wheels are 4 or 4 1/2 inches, so a small angle grinder is your best bet, and we highly recommend a model with kickback control. The trick here is to make sure your grinder isn’t underpowered since this can be a very aggressive application. If you have spare batteries and a Rapid charger, cordless can be a convenient option. However, the unlimited runtime of a corded grinder is our preference.

If you don’t already have a grinder in mind, give Metabo HPT’s G13BYEQ as our pick for the best corded small angle grinder.

The Best Angle Grinder for Tile Cutting

If you’re going to cut tile, granite, or other masonry with your angle grinder, you need to use a dust shroud and connect a dust extractor. A collection system keeps the dust from getting into your lungs while also pulling it away from your cutline.

There are several add-on shrouds you can buy that take the place of the grinder’s guard. Our top recommendation is DeWALT’s DWE46125 cutting shroud for small angle grinders (84). If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution, DeWALT’s DWE46123 includes the cutting shroud with a grinder in one package for 219.

Price: 84 (shroud only), 219 (grinder and shroud)

The Best Angle Grinder for Concrete

Similar to tile cutting, the best angle grinder for concrete has plenty of muscle behind it, a shroud to help collect the dust, and has the unlimited runtime of corded AC power.

Check out Makita’s PC5010CX1 for a 5-inch grinder with a concrete shroud as an all-in-one tool. Its 12-amp motor has 1400 watts of muscle and there’s a vibration-dampening spring system to make the job less fatiguing.

If you’re on the hunt for the absolute best in concrete cutting and polishing on an industrial level, take a look at what US Saws has to offer. The Mark III Dust Buggy is ideal for cleaning out joints. For floor prep, the TC-7 Stand-Up Edger lets you tackle the edges close the walls where your larger concrete polisher isn’t the best option. Incidentally, both use Metabo grinders to get the job done.

The Best Angle Grinder for Cutting Metal

The best angle grinder for cutting metal can be virtually any of the grinders we’ve recommended. It’s all about your expectations for performance, features, and budget. What makes a big difference here is choosing the right accessory for the job.

You have two major options: abrasive wheels or diamond wheels. Abrasive wheels are significantly cheaper, while diamond wheels last much, much longer. If you do a cost-per-cut analysis, diamond wheels end up being a better value if you don’t mind the upfront cost.

If you prefer abrasive cutting wheels, we like the performance and life we get from Makita, and they have both standard and X-Lock wheels available. Another one to keep your eyes on is DeWALT’s Elite Series.

For diamond cutting wheels, it’s tough to beat Diablo for both standard and X-Lock arbors. We also use Lenox MetalMax diamond cutting wheels frequently.

Angle Grinder Safety Tips

Angle grinders can spin up to 10,000 RPM or more. When something goes wrong on the business end, it can be catastrophic, sending shrapnel into your face and body, hurting bystanders, or damaging material and equipment around you. Here are some angle grinder safety tips to prevent it:

• Always wear eye protection—no excuses!
• Consider wearing a metalworking apron
• Wear cut-resistant gloves
• Never work without a guard in place
• Use a braking grinder when you can
• Get a grinder with kickback control
• Consider a paddle switch instead of an on/off switch
• Wait until the wheel stops moving before you set the grinder down

How We Make Our Choices

As we considered the dozens of quality grinders available, there were several things we prioritized to help us make our recommendations.

Performance

At the end of the day, performance is still the number one priority. We’re looking for grinders that have enough torque to keep their RPMs high and continue to work quickly when the going gets tough.

Size and Weight

When it’s an option, our team reaches for the lightest, most compact tool that still gets the job done with confidence.

Safety Features

Braking grinders with kickback control are two of the top safety features we look for. Any other innovations that improve safety also earn big bonus points.

Additional Features

After safety features, other design elements that make the job easier help improve a grinder’s overall score.

Price and Value

We’re big on value. It’s not about paying the least amount of money possible, it’s about getting the most you can from the angle grinder that fits the budget you have.

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