Abrasive Wheels, Grinding Wheels and Cutting Wheels
The term abrasive wheel is a general reference to abrasive discs that attach to tools such as angle grinders, or in the case of cutting blades, chop saws or cut-off saws. These wheels have an abrasive material such as diamond or aluminum oxide bonded to the disc.
Abrasive Wheels for Grinders and More
There are several common types of abrasive wheels for projects such as metal working, welding, masonry jobs and automobile body work.
Manufacturers design abrasive wheels for specific applications, tools and even working angles and maximum RPMs (rotations per minute). Make sure an abrasive wheel is right for your application and the tool you use. Follow all instructions for use and safety. Wear the specified safety gear, such as hearing protection, work gloves, safety glasses, a face shield and a respirator and set up dust extraction as recommended by the manufacturer.
Grinding Wheels Remove Material Quickly
Grinding wheels are a typical type of abrasive wheel for an angle grinder. The primary purpose of a grinding wheel is fast removal of materials like paint and rust and cleaning up welds. A grinding wheel removes material more forcefully than a flap wheel and leaves a rougher finish.
You can also find grinding wheels for benchtop grinders. These grinding stones are effective for sharpening and shaping metal.
Flap Discs Offer Less Aggressive Removal and Contouring
Flap disks for angle grinders feature overlapping abrasive flaps secured to the outer portion of the disk. Like grinding wheels, flap discs can remove rust and paint, but flap discs are flexible, allowing better contouring of a workpiece. They provide less aggressive removal of material so they give you a cleaner finish with a lower risk of gouging the workpiece.
Some types of grinding wheels and flap discs are good options for sharpening a lawn mower blade, but check your blade documentation for instructions. You can also use these abrasive wheels to sharpen handheld lawn tools, such as shovels. When sharpening any blade, make sure it’s secured in a vise. Maintain the original angle of the cutting surface and ensure you don’t remove too much material.
Wire Brush Wheels Remove Rust and Paint
You can handle lighter-duty material removal and weld cleanup with wire brush or power brush wheels. You can find brushes compatible with angel grinders and brushes that work with a standard power drill. Flat brushes are common and work for many applications, but cupped brushes let you work from a wider range of angles.
Diamond Cup Wheels Can Grind and Contour Masonry
Diamond cup wheels or cup discs fit to angle grinders to grind, contour and smooth stone, concrete and other types of masonry. Some types are suitable for cutting masonry products as well. Diamond cup wheels are typically metal wheels with, as the name suggests, diamonds bonded to the surface as the abrasive.
Sanding Wheels Smooth Wood Workpieces
Sanding wheels are typically accessories for power drills. They feature small pieces of sandpaper fitted around the edge of the wheel. Sanding wheels are available in different diameters and in different grits.
You may see grit specifications on some abrasive wheels. Low grit numbers remove lots of material quickly but leave a rough finish. Higher grit numbers remove material less aggressively but result in a cleaner finish.
Cut-Off Wheels and Cutting Wheels Cut Metal or Masonry
Cutting or cut-off wheels use their abrasive surfaces and the high speed of an angle grinder or power saw to cut through materials such as metal, masonry and tile. The abrasive material might be bonded to the entire disk or wheel or it might be affixed only to the edge. Smaller wheels are suited for angle grinders, but you can find larger wheels or blades that fit circular saws and 14-inch cutting wheels or blades to fit chop saws.
Paint Stripping Discs Help Prep for Repainting
Paint stripping discs or wheels are discs of abrasive fibers that can remove paint or rust and are flexible enough to fit contours on the workpiece. Some paint- and rust-stripping discs fit angle grinders while some work with standard power drills.
Abrasive Wheel Materials
Abrasive wheels use different abrasives to grind, sand or cut. Here’s a quick look at types of abrasives for abrasive wheels and some typical applications.
Aluminum Oxide Is a Common Abrasive
Aluminum oxide is a common abrasive for cutting, grinding and sanding. Aluminum oxide abrasive wheels are effective on steel and iron. This abrasive is typically more economical than other grinding wheel abrasive materials, but usually wears more quickly.
Diamond Abrasives Offer High Durability
Diamond abrasive wheels, including cut-off wheels and blades with a diamond abrasive, cut through masonry, stainless steel, cast iron and more. The hardness of the diamond material gives these abrasive wheels great wear resistance that translates into a long effective lifespan. In addition to cutting wheels and blades, there are diamond cup wheels that can grind masonry products.
Zirconia Alumina Is a Self-Sharpening Abrasive
Zirconia alumina abrasive wheels are effective for steel, including stainless steel, and are highly resistant to heat. Zirconia alumina grinding wheels are self-sharpening, meaning the particles fracture during use to continually create new, sharp edges. This feature gives zirconia alumina abrasive wheels and grinding wheels a good effective lifespan.
Ceramic Abrasives Self Sharpen and Produce Less Heat
Ceramic or ceramic alumina abrasive wheels also feature a self-sharpening abrasive. The material doesn’t create as much friction as other abrasives so it doesn’t build up as much heat. Less heat allows the material to last longer and reduces the risk of discoloring the workpiece. Typical applications for ceramic alumina abrasive wheels include grinding stainless steel, tool steel and even titanium.
Types of Grinding Wheels for Angle Grinders
When shopping for grinding wheels for angle grinders, you may notice a grinding wheel type designation. This specification tells you the shape of the wheel and the type of work it’s suited for.
Type 1 Abrasive Wheels Work Well on Flat Surfaces
Type 1 abrasive wheels or straight grinding wheels are flat and have the same thickness throughout the wheel. These are general-purpose abrasive wheels with applications that include grinding and cutting flat surfaces and edges. They can also be effective working with some angles. Type 1 grinding wheels can be suitable for angle grinders.
Type 11 Abrasive Wheels Allow Beveling
Type 11 abrasive wheels or flaring cup grinding wheels work on many types of masonry and metal. In addition to removing material, Type 11 abrasive wheels can bevel a workpiece.
Type 27 Abrasive Wheels Work for Low Angles
Type 27 abrasive wheels or depressed center grinding wheels are flap discs with a flat shape that’s best-suited for grinding and smoothing flat or low-angle surfaces.
Type 29 Abrasive Wheels Work for Greater Angles
Type 29 grinding wheels are flap wheels with a slightly curved surface, making them useful for grinding or shaping the edge of a workpiece. They’re often suitable for angles and contours up to 25 degrees.