How to remove a broken disc from an angle grinder

Notes and Tips

To reduce the likelihood of clamping the working disc on an angle grinder, smoothly load the tool in order to prevent the disc from braking when it comes into contact with the material being processed.

The disc should be installed on the spindle with the pattern (marking) outward (towards the clamping nut), since it is on this side that the disc has a wide metal washer. If the disc is jammed or broken, the movable clamp will be easier to handle as it will slide over the metal washer rather than the rough surface of the disc.

It helps to put a washer of cardboard or other not too hard material under the nut. But this method is not stipulated by the manufacturer of the tool, since this may disturb the balancing and the reliability of fastening the disc on the spindle is not guaranteed.

Use a blowtorch or gas torch to heat the retainer nut. The heat source in this case does not matter. The main thing is not to overdo it with heating, so as not to damage the spindle bearing.

How to avoid biting a nut and disc on an angle grinder

And a few words about preventing such unpleasant precedents again. You can use small cardboard spacers by inserting them between the disc and the nut. As a last resort, we use a disc of a smaller diameter, unless, of course, the nut is tightened from above. As a result, it will be possible to unscrew such a nut without any problems. It will not be squeezed, for a bite on the carving.

And another small video about a problem that I studied on my own experience.

How to properly place a disc on an angle grinder

Grinding discs have different diameters, different thicknesses and different uses. Some are made for metalworking, others for ceramics, and still others for woodwork.

A disc of a size that does not exceed the size of the protective cover must be installed on the angle grinder. The size of the disc to be installed is indicated in the instructions and on the marking table of the angle grinder.

The thickness of the disc is selected according to the technological parameters of the material being processed. All discs (grinding wheels) have their own classification. Disc shape, material abrasiveness, grain size, hardness, accuracy class and imbalance class are classified. It is the last value that is responsible for the fact that some discs begin to beat during operation.

The grinding wheel has a front and a back. The front side is the one on which the manufacturer’s markings and corporate drawing are applied. Face up when installed on an angle grinder.

Installs the disc in this way. So that during operation, sparks with particles of the processed material flew towards the worker. This is related to a safety issue. If the angle grinder breaks free from the hands, it will not fly towards the worker.

Therefore, it is imperative to wear protective clothing or a heavy apron when working with an angle grinder. Eyes and open parts of the face must be protected with a mask or at least goggles.

Chinim

There are several methods available to eject a disc:

• Saw or break the disc. You don’t even need to break it, but just grind it down to the landing sleeve. Then the nut should be unscrewed without effort with an ordinary universal wrench from an angle grinder;
• Gas key. Physics will work here, you just increase the lever, which means the applied force will be greater. Work carefully and do not twist the rotation lock;
• Perforator. The tool is transferred to the hammer mode, that is, without rotation. The 6 mm drill should be pressed against the flange end. The power of the hammer drill should be enough to move the nut. The angle grinder itself must be securely fixed, and the spindle rotation must be blocked;
• Heat. The problem with this method is that it can ruin the instrument. Use a gas burner or hair dryer to heat the nut. The metal will change the volume. Then unscrew the nut with the Allen key. Open-end wrench
• Take a 17 mm open-end wrench and grind off the walls so that their thickness is 4 mm. 4 lugs should be carved on the surface of the socket head so that they coincide with the holes in the flange. Place the key under the disc. Put the socket on the nut and turn in the direction of rotation of the disc.

How to unscrew a disc (nut) on an angle grinder, if it is bitten, jammed, does not unscrew

an angle grinder, or as it is called more popularly and in a popular way, an angle grinder, nowadays an indispensable and very useful tool. Without it, neither here nor there! And if it suddenly fails, then you have to dodge in every possible way, look for alternatives and think about restoring the instrument. At the same time, it is impossible to use an angle grinder for its intended purpose because of what seems to be a simple pad, when the disc cannot be unscrewed. Rather, the nut that holds this disc is not unscrewed. Here you can “break the wood”, namely, bend or break the key, damage the lock button, break the case, but never unscrew that same unfortunate nut. So, we will warn you right away, if it’s not too late If you suddenly do not unscrew the nut holding the disc with a key, then you need to change tactics. And it is precisely the cardinal method of unscrewing that our article will be devoted.

Step-by-step algorithm of actions

The circle is fixed on the spindle head with a lock nut with an M14 thread. In the standard configuration, there is an open-end wrench with special protrusions for engagement with holes in the fixing flange.

How to loosen angle grinder disk that is stuck. (jammed)

To unscrew the nut, you need to fix the spindle. For these purposes, there is a special retainer located on the back of the angle grinder. By pressing the button, you will fix the gearbox with a cotter pin, excluding the possibility of its rotation.

Insert the key into the holes. Hold the lock with one hand, and with the other turn it counterclockwise with a wrench, sliding the nut.

The direction of movement of the disc is usually clockwise. However, there are models that may be different. In any case, unscrewing occurs in the direction opposite to rotation.

When the nut is slid, it can be unscrewed without effort by hand.

After intensive work with the tool with metal inside the casing, you can find a build-up of burnt scale with abrasive. Use a steel brush to remove residues.

After cleaning, install the lower flange in place, while aligning the grooves of the spindle with the grooves of the flange. A gasket is placed on top.

If your model does not have additional spacers, then such washers can be prepared from plastic or thick cardboard. Next, you need to correctly place the disc on the angle grinder and close it with a similar gasket.

Important! Installable spacers allow you to easily unscrew the nut even if the disc is jammed or broken.

Turn the top retainer counterclockwise (counter-rotating) by hand while supporting the cutting wheel. In this case, you also need to tighten the spindle lock and tighten the flange until you feel resistance. Use the open-end wrench to hold out with a little effort. Do not overtighten the mount, otherwise you can overtighten the circle and it will warp.

Now you can continue to work. However, problems occasionally arise and it just does not work to unscrew the disc on an angle grinder. How to change the disc on an angle grinder in such cases, let’s see further.

Nut jammed. how to unscrew?

Removing a disc on an angle grinder, if bitten, is not so easy, especially without damaging the cutting element or tool. We will also consider several options.

With a nail

For these purposes, a 100 mm nail is best suited. It should be bent into a U-shape so that the ends fit freely into the holes of the clamping flange. The tip and cap are removed. By inserting a nail into the holes, the retainer is unscrewed. If the efforts of the hands are not enough, then add a nail or screwdriver in the form of a lever.

What way out of the problem is offered by experts and amateurs

What is a newspaper strip. This is a nut-sized paper washer. It is put on the installed disk, and a nut is screwed on top. This piece of paper was a stumbling block, because the safety inspectorate has always broadcast about the harmfulness of such a decision.

The representatives of the safety authorities treat the installation of gaskets made of any other materials in the same way:

• Cardboard;
• Paronite;
• Gaskets from various plastics;
• Rubber gaskets of various thicknesses.

But there is a solution that does not contradict the safety requirements, and allows you to install and remove the disk normally. This is a special nut that consists of two elements. a nut and a pressure washer. The use of such a nut does not require any shims, because the disc does not jam with it.

How To Free Up An Angle Grinder Disc That’s REALLY Stuck

If there is no special key at hand, then the craftsmen offer to do without the key. This does not mean that you can do without a key at all, but use a “gas key” or other device. To do this, clamp the retainer, clamp the nut with a gas wrench and unscrew it. This way you can replace a jammed disc, but this is a very inconvenient operation for one person.

There are also suggestions to clamp the disc with your hand and unscrew it like that. Perhaps, but it is unlikely that it will be possible to replace broken disks. It is better to use keys that are designed to remove and install disks.

Some foreign companies producing power tools, such as Bosh, produce angle grinders with easily removable nuts. They securely fix the disc on the tool shaft, easily and quickly removed to replace the disc.

Breaking the cutting wheel

You can unscrew a jammed nut by completely destroying the disk. If there is already damage, then you can break it with your hands, but most often this will not work. Better to take a hacksaw or metal blade and cut it. This leaves you with a center ring and hard-to-reach pieces. Having found a suitable plate, holding it in a vice, grind off the remnants of the abrasive on it to the metal ring. After that, it will be easily unscrewed with a standard key.

The most radical way to unscrew a jammed hold-down nut is to cut it. It is advisable to resort to it only in extreme cases. Of course, you can find a new one, but you have to spend your time and money. Spare clamping elements are often included with the angle grinder.

How to unscrew a disc on an angle grinder if you have a bite

This simple operation sometimes baffles even experienced locksmiths or users of an angle grinder. The reason is that the disc is fixed with a special nut. The nut has 2 or 4 holes, into which a special key is inserted. This key was always included with the purchase of an angle grinder. Perhaps he is now included in the kits.

According to the instructions for the angle grinder, you must press the lock, which is located on the back of the gearbox. When the shaft is fixed, unscrew the nut with a special wrench and change the disc. But it is difficult to unscrew the nut if it is not clamped. And it clamps it with such a nut almost always. An attempt to unscrew the disc leads to breakage of the retainer behind the gearbox.

Measures to prevent jamming

By taking care of the safe operation of the angle grinder in advance, you will save yourself the trouble of taking corrective action. Such events include:

• Placement of cardboard or plastic washers between disc, flange and spindle head. They do not allow the tool to jam, but even in the case of a corkscrew, they can be removed / melted and the element can be easily unscrewed.
• The abrasive wheel must be correctly positioned. To do this, place the front side of the circle on the support flange (picture to the gearbox). It must not come into contact with the clamping nut. In this case, the standard metal ring in the center will act as a washer that protects against jamming.
• Weld a regular nut on the clamping flange, which allows you to press the installed disc using a conventional wrench.
• Check the tightening torque. No excessive force is required to install the cutting element. Otherwise, it will jam under intense loads.

With a hammer drill or a drill in slotting mode

You can unscrew the disc on an angle grinder without a key using a drill or a perforator, having previously switched it to the jackhammer mode. A suitable drill is used as a working nozzle, most often 6 millimeters. Push the drill against the edge of the clamping nut hole, fix the movement of the spindle and move it from its place by short-term activation. This method allows you to turn away even very difficult snacks.

Heat

This is one way to remove the disc from the angle grinder without a key. The fixing nut is heated with an industrial hair dryer or gas burner. This will make the flange much easier to unscrew. However, there is a risk of damage to the plastic parts of the angle grinder or gearbox.

Breaking the cutting wheel

You can unscrew a jammed nut by completely destroying the disk. If there is already damage, then you can break it with your hands, but most often this will not work. Better to take a hacksaw or metal blade and cut it. This leaves you with a center ring and hard-to-reach pieces. Having found a suitable plate, holding it in a vice, grind off the remnants of the abrasive on it to the metal ring. After that, it will be easily unscrewed with a standard key.

The most radical way to unscrew a jammed hold-down nut is to cut it. It is advisable to resort to it only in extreme cases. Of course, you can find a new one, but you have to spend your time and money. Spare clamping elements are often included with the angle grinder.

Step-by-step algorithm of actions

The circle is fixed on the spindle head with a lock nut with an M14 thread. In the standard configuration, there is an open-end wrench with special protrusions for engagement with holes in the fixing flange.

To unscrew the nut, you need to fix the spindle. For these purposes, there is a special retainer located on the back of the angle grinder. By pressing the button, you will fix the gearbox with a cotter pin, excluding the possibility of its rotation.

Insert the key into the holes. Hold the lock with one hand, and with the other turn it counterclockwise with a wrench, sliding the nut.

The direction of movement of the disc is usually clockwise. However, there are models that may be different. In any case, unscrewing occurs in the direction opposite to rotation.

When the nut is slid, it can be unscrewed without effort by hand.

After intensive work with the tool with metal inside the casing, you can find a build-up of burnt scale with abrasive. Use a steel brush to remove residues.

After cleaning, install the lower flange in place, while aligning the grooves of the spindle with the grooves of the flange. A gasket is placed on top.

If your model does not have additional spacers, then such washers can be prepared from plastic or thick cardboard. Next, you need to correctly place the disc on the angle grinder and close it with a similar gasket.

Important! Installable spacers allow you to easily unscrew the nut even if the disc is jammed or broken.

Turn the top retainer counterclockwise (counter-rotating) by hand while supporting the cutting wheel. In this case, you also need to tighten the spindle lock and tighten the flange until you feel resistance. Use the open-end wrench to hold out with a little effort. Do not overtighten the mount, otherwise you can overtighten the circle and it will warp.

Now you can continue to work. However, problems occasionally arise and it just does not work to unscrew the disc on an angle grinder. How to change the disc on an angle grinder in such cases, let’s see further.

With a gas wrench

The use of this tool is justified by an increase in the applied torque due to the increased shoulder. It will be much easier with a gas wrench to unscrew a jammed connection. However, when eliminating biting, it is important to remember that if you apply excessive force, there is a risk of damage to the spindle lock or jam nut.

Replacing a disk in normal mode

Regularly operating an angle grinder, you need to constantly change the wheels, which are a consumable. If the tool is already inconvenient to work, then the worn out abrasive wheel should be replaced.

Important! Be sure to check the disconnection from the mains to avoid personal injury.

Open-end wrench and socket head

In this case, the existing standard tools will have to be slightly modified. a 17 mm open-end wrench and a 24 mm socket. The key thickness is grinded down to 4 mm. 4 protrusions are machined on the head, falling into the holes of the fixing nut.

After preparation, the key is placed in the space under the disc, and the head is put on the flange of the angle grinder and rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation of the wheel. After that, it can be easily removed and replaced with a new one.

Tapping the nut

This method is similar to the previous one, only you can use a suitable metal rod or chisel. After fixing the spindle head, tap on the edges of the clamping holes in the direction of the wheel movement. Slightly moving the lock from a dead center, you can unscrew it by hand. However, the method is not the most harmless for the tool. the mounting holes for a standard key are damaged.

Solution to the problem

If the nut does not lend itself to the standard way of unscrewing (using a special wrench), you can resort to the following methods:

• Use a pipe wrench instead of a special Bulgarian.
• Putting the angle grinder on its “back” and putting on a standard wrench, apply sharp blows to it with a hammer. Attention! During this operation, it is not recommended to press the locking button, but to prevent the spindle from rotating, it is necessary to hold the disk with your hand.
• Similarly to the previous method, only a barb or center punch must be placed in the holes for the spikes of the key. Attention! Do not press the locking button, but hold the circle with your hand.
• Similar to the previous two methods, but the blows must be applied with a perforator without a rotation mode. Attention! The release button. do not press, and the disc to hold the disgust with your hand.

If these gentle methods have not led to success, you can resort to drastic methods:

Completely break the cutting disc with pliers. Grind the rest of the circle down to the nut itself. While the machine is in operation, grind off the remnants of the cutting disc with a metal plate that is thinner than the circle and can freely pass into the gap between the cork nut and the thrust washer.

After the circle is ground down to the center ring, the lock nut will be unscrewed in the standard way. Attention! This method requires great care. Also, this method is not suitable for wheels that are not erased (diamond, grinding, brush, etc.).

Increase the size of the clamping nut by thermal expansion using: electric arc welding, gas torch, blowtorch, hot air gun, alcohol ignited in key holes. After heating, the nut can be easily unscrewed in a standard way.

As you can see, before irretrievably cutting off the stuck nut with another angle grinder, you can try to remove the disc using less traumatic tools.

The essence of the problem

There is no problem with idle rotation of the cut-off wheel, especially if the wheel is relatively light and the tool has a soft start function.

After a set of revolutions at the moment of contact of the cutting disc with the surface to be processed, the following chain of instant actions occurs:

• The disc, meeting enormous resistance of the material being processed, loses speed, that is, it slows down.
• The rotor of the engine for the first moments continues to rotate by inertia at the same speed and pulls the gears of the reducer, which carry the spindle along.
• The thread of the spindle head is screwed more strongly into the lock nut, which is pressed into the cut-off wheel.

That’s it, an abnormal situation has appeared (excessive tightening of the corkscrew nut), which is caused by the following factors:

• Large diameters of cut-off wheels.
• High power electric motor.
• The massiveness of the rotor.
• Large depth of cut (working load).

Unscrewing the nut securing the cutting disc is now difficult.

Removing a disc from an angle grinder

Any work, especially with mechanisms, often leads to emergency situations, the solution of which is not provided by the manufacturer. But ingenuity, sleight of hand, resourcefulness and knowledge of basic physics will help to cope with most difficult cases.

The angle grinder loves to surprise with over-clamping the cut-off wheel. Angle grinders with powerful motors (the power consumption of which exceeds 2000 W) are especially tried in this matter.

How to play it safe

If the problem of excessive self-tightening of the nut has already occurred, then the repetition of this situation can be prevented in three ways, with different degrees of effectiveness:

• Install the cutting disc “face” (picture) to the gearbox.
• Place a thick washer made of paper, cardboard, linoleum, plastic, etc. under the clamping nut.
• Use for fastening the disc not a standard nut, but purchased or manufactured separately. It is a set of a hex nut and a non-removable, freely rotating washer of a larger diameter. Unscrewing it in all cases is much easier than the one that comes with an angle grinder.

You can also apply several of these methods at the same time.

Owners of low-power (up to 1800 W) and light angle grinders need not worry. This problem does not threaten them.

What to do if the disc is jammed (bitten) on the angle grinder?

Anyone who has experience of intensive work with an angle grinder has probably at least once encountered such a situation.

This usually happens if the disc is pinching between parts, it stops or breaks, and the angle grinder motor continues to rotate and thus permanently tightens the nut.

So what can you do if you bite a disc on an angle grinder?

Each master has his own secrets. Especially for you, we learned a few of them and now we will share the most common ways to get out of the situation.

remove the disc from the angle grinder

This method is used in extreme cases.

remove the disc from the angle grinder

First, figure out which way to unscrew the nut.

The flange must always be folded in the direction in which the disc rotates.

For this kind of work, you will need either two gas keys or two clamps.

Here’s what you need to do: destroy the remnants of the disc, fix the washer located behind the disc with one key, unscrew the flange with the second.

Discs for an angle grinder differ in the following main features:

For the best understanding, let’s take a look at the main types of angle grinder discs and define their application:

• Cut-off wheels. These are the most widely used angle grinder consumables. Their main purpose is to work with metal, stone and wood. A variety of cutting wheels for an angle grinder are diamond discs. This is a heavy-duty tooling for the processing of materials with increased strength, such as reinforced concrete, tiles, porcelain stoneware, marble.
• Grinding and roughing discs. As the name implies, this type of disc is used for grinding various materials, for example, polishing products made of stone, or for removing (peeling) the top layer, for example, removing a layer of rust or old paint coating.

Cut-off wheels for an angle grinder, in turn, have their own subspecies, such as:

The purpose of each type of disc usually corresponds to its name.

Among the grinding discs, there are four main subtypes. flap, wire, diamond and bakelite-based grinding discs (straight, T41 profile and disc-shaped, T27 profile).

• The flap disc is made from sandpaper. Its main purpose. it is the elimination of an existing coating such as old paint, primer or paint coat. Also, with disks of this type, wood products are polished.
• Wire discs are used by artisans to remove rust. They can also remove other types of stubborn dirt.
• Diamond discs are used for stone polishing.
• Disc pads are made of plastic or rubber and are used to polish metal surfaces.

Please note: in the process of working with most discs, a special paste or lubricant is used, which contains finely ground abrasives. They are mainly used for sanding surfaces such as, for example, car body parts.

To install a new disk, after cleaning the casing, you must perform the following actions:

Remember that you need to tighten no more than a quarter of a turn, since if the flange is too fixed, the disc will become unusable.

After all the actions taken, you can safely continue to perform work.

One of the most frequently asked questions about mounting / dismounting accessories of an angle grinder sounds like this: “Which side should I put the disc on the angle grinder?”.

Usually, inexperienced masters ask such a question. Is it possible to set the circle on the wrong side. Yes. Firstly, if the disc is not flat, but, for example, a petal disc, then you will not be able to install it incorrectly, if the petals are located incorrectly, you just need to twist the casing and the handle on the angle grinder. That is, the question disappears by itself.

If the circle is still flat, then you should be guided by its label, the so-called “shirt”.

If the angle grinder rotates towards itself, the disc should be installed with the “jacket” outward, if the disc rotates away from itself, then, accordingly, it must be installed with the “jacket” inward.

If you do not adhere to this algorithm, there is a high probability that the disk will fail very quickly or immediately deform.

The main question: How to choose the right disc for an angle grinder?

When choosing accessories for an angle grinder, first of all, you should decide on the type of proposed work. The choice of the type of disc will depend on this. We also want to mention that when choosing a consumable, be sure to take into account the power characteristics of each specific model. Examine the labeling. Often, it is printed on the disc itself and includes a set of symbols by which you can determine the relevance of this consumable to perform the intended work.

Also, focus your attention on such a parameter as the diameter of the disc. In no case should it exceed the size of the protective cover on the particular tool model. The size range of discs is usually represented by the following diameters: 115, 125, 150, 180 and 230 mm. The most common diameters are 125 mm. and 230 mm. They are optimal for most types of work and the capabilities of the tool itself.

Among the grinding discs based on bakelite, the most popular discs with a thickness of 6.00 mm. This parameter depends on the total diameter of the disc. The relationship is as follows: the larger the diameter of the disc, the greater its thickness and vice versa.