How to Change Angle Grinder Wheels

Angle grinders are a very versatile tool, but mounting the disc can be confusing for beginners.  how to mount a cutting disc or grinding disc correctly

How to replace disc blade of Angle Grinder
Install angle grinder disc

How to Change Angle Grinder Wheels

What You'll Need

• Factory-made Spanners
• Screwdriver
• Hammer
• Vice grips
• Pliers
• New Disk

Replacing an angle grinder disk takes a little bit of know-how, but it is a simple job that will only take minutes to complete. There are a few different ways to change the disk on your grinder, depending on the tools you have available. The easiest method is to use the spanners included from the factory. However, if you’ve bought your angle grinder second-hand and the spanners are missing, there are other ways to change the disk without the factory-made spanners.

Step One – Disconnect Power

To avoid injury from accidental use, it is important to disconnect the power source from your angle grinder. For a corded angle grinder, make sure it is unplugged from the wall outlet. If you have a cordless angle grinder, remove the battery from the tool. Removing the battery will also make the tool lighter and easier to manipulate as you change the grinding disk.

Step Two – Remove Disk with Factory Spanners

Your new angle grinder will come with two distinct spanners that look like flattened wrenches. One spanner will resemble a normal wrench, while the other will look like a two-pronged fork. Insert the prongs into the two holes that appear in the drive bolt between the disk and the angle grinder motor.
Use the wrench spanner to secure the bolt on the bottom of the disk. Turn the pronged spanner in the opposite direction of the disk direction arrow (located on the bottom of the disk), using the wrench spanner to keep the disk from turning. There may also be a button on your angle grinder that will hold the disk in place. Turn the nut until the disk comes away from your angle grinder.

Step Three – Remove Disk with Improvised Spanners

Attach the vice grips securely to the bolt holding the disk to the drive bolt. Use the vice grips to keep the disk from spinning. Insert the screwdriver into one of the holes between the disk and the angle grinder motor (meant for the spanner prongs). Pull the screwdriver in the direction opposite the arrow on the disk. If the disk does not loosen right away, use a hammer to force the screwdriver to turn.

Step Four – Remove Disk with No Spanners

Using the palm of your hand, strike the disk in the opposite direction as the arrow on the disk. This should loosen the nut enough to remove it with your fingers. If all else fails, you can use pliers to break the old disk off in pieces. This will allow you better access to the drive bolt and attachment nut.

Step Five – Install New Disk

Put your new grind disk on the drive bolt in same way as the old one sat on the drive bolt. It is important to use a disk made for your particular make and model of angle grinder. If you are not certain, take the old disk to your hardware store and the sales staff will be able to point you in the right direction. Hand-tighten the new disk in the opposite direction from which you removed the old disk.

How to Attach a Wire Cup Brush to a Angle Grinder

If you've got a large metal object covered in paint or another material and you need to strip it down to bare metal, one option is using a wire cup brush installed on an angle grinder. By pulling the trigger on the grinder, the wire cup brush turns at a high RPM, blasting away the paint on the surface quickly. Installing the wire cup brush takes under a minute, and then you'll be ready to strip some paint.

Instructions
Unplug the angle grinder from the wall and place it upside down on a work surface so the trigger on the grinder is facing up.

Find the shaft lock, which is a button to the side of the angle grinder by the head. Push down the button and use the lock nut wrench included with the angle grinder to remove the bolt on the center of the grinder. Take off the nut, washer and any grinding discs present.

Hold down the shaft lock again with your hand. Thread the nut on the wire cup brush onto the threaded shaft of the angle grinder. Tighten down the wire cup brush onto the angle grinder using the wrench included with the angle grinder. Plug in the angle grinder and now the wire cup brush is ready for use.

How to Polish With a Grinder

An angle grinder is handheld tool commonly used to cut, grind or polish metal. All grinders allow for interchangeable attachments which perform different tasks. For example, a wire cup may be used to rapidly clean away rust and corrosion from a metal surface, or a diamond tuck-pointing wheel can help grind away old mortar. Your angle grinder can also serve as a highly efficient polishing tool once a pad is attached. Because of the fast rotational speed of most grinders, they should only be used to polish bare, unpainted metals.


Instructions
Put on your safety goggles and gloves to protect yourself from any stray metal shavings or dust. Check that your work area is well-ventilated and appropriately lit.

Secure your metal object in a clamp vise if it is small or lightweight. This guarantees that your piece will not move during polishing. If your metal object is very heavy or large, placing it in a vise may not be necessary.

Attach an 80-grit pad to the head of your grinder by screwing it clockwise onto the central mount.

Set the grinder to a medium speed setting and apply it firmly to your metal object. Apply the 80-grit pad to the object until you achieve the desired finish.

Remove the 80-grit pad and replace it with the felt polishing pad, which will provide a shiny luster to the object. Set the grinder to the next highest speed and apply the felt pad firmly to the metal. Polish until you attain the desired results.

Apply a thin coat of metal polishing compound to your object and allow it to dry for the time suggested by the container. Buff off the compound using the felt polishing pad at the same speed used in Step 5.


Tips & Warnings

Check that the polishing pad you purchase is compatible with your angle grinder. Though the pad need not be from the same manufacturer, it should be the same size as your other attachments.
Using a high speed setting to polish painted metal may cause irreparable damage. The fast rotational speed may result in burning, chipping or melting of the paint.
Angle grinders are very fast, very powerful tools and should be handled with the utmost care. Hold your grinder firmly and securely at all times to avoid personal injury.
Do not allow children or pets near your work area.