When do grinding discs wear out?

[Pookster]

Im having a tough time figuring out when to replace grinding discs. Cutting wheels are easy, when they become a 1" nub, replace it.

When do you replace grinding discs? I've been using the same one for 4 months... its gotten a bit slower to grind, but still grinds away... Is this supposed to become a nub too?

 

[4X4HIGH]

When it no longer "grinds". I have been using the same grinding disc on my angle grinder for about 8 years now. I got some awesome disc's from a friend that came from his work at an Auto manufacturing plant (NUMMI).

 

[noahrob]

I'm with Scott, I go until it don't go no mo...

 

[mechted]

As with all things, I think the best approach is to look at the consequence of failure: if the disk were to shatter while rotating at high speed, pieces of disk could go in all directions, and really cause some damage. Given that, and the cost of a new disk, I only run them down to about 60 or 70% before replacing. I may be needlessly burning money in the name of safety, but Im willing to pay it.

 

[tRustyK5]

Unless you've dropped the grinder and fractured the disc it actually gets less likely to 'fly apart' as it wears down (less disc diameter, same grinder rpm = less speed at the cutting edge of the disc.)

Rene

 

[Pookster]

ahh, so it DOES wear down. I was under this weird assumption that they dont actually wear away, but rather "dulls". I must just not be grinding enough.

Any hints on how to clean up the metal spparks that fly everywhere?

 

[goldwing2000]

Vacuum cleaner or a magnet.