- Many people find a small, handheld grinder powerful enough for their needs. Projects containing a lot of detail require less power and finer control. The small handheld grinder, like a Dremel, provides just such attributes.
The Dremel company pioneered such tools in the 1930's. Today, many brands make this functionality available. Called "Dremel" in the same manner that carbonated drinks are "Cokes," these tools provide interchangeable grinding bits like conical, cylindric, spherical, flat grinders and cutting wheels. The bits start at 1 inch in diameter on shafts around 3 inches long. The diameter of cut-off bits average slightly over 1inch. Silicon carbide, aluminum oxide and diamond provide various grits and surface areas.
The grit determines how much material will be removed, how fast it cuts and the finish it provides. In metal, lower grits like 80 or 120 remove a lot of material and leave a rough finish. Grits in the 400 to 600 range remove far less material and leave a smoother, matte-like finish. Grits in the 1000 to 2000 range leave a polished finish without removing noticeable amounts of material. - While most grinding tools spin a bit disc or wheel in a circle, oscillating handhelds use a back and forth pattern. The same grit and hardness rules apply to oscillating tools as to the rotating tools. The tools offer handheld flexibility and power similar to the rotating handhelds.
- Handheld grinders with 4- to 9-inch discs require both hands for safe operation. Providing between .5 and 2.4 horsepower, these tools are capable of serious damage and must be carefully controlled.
These flexible tools, often called angle grinders, provide ample power and replaceable disks to match any grinding task. Silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, ceramic and various kinds of fiber provide options in grit and wheel hardness.
Wheel hardness relates to disc life and the material being ground. An increase in just one hardness level can double disc life. Hard discs work best on soft metals and soft discs provide the most efficiency on hard metals. - Mounted on a workbench or separate stand, bench grinders usually provide stationary functionality. These powerful machines range around 3/4 horsepower with two discs, usually paired medium- and coarse-grit wheels offering a variety of grinding options.
The discs for angle grinders fit most bench grinders. Using the maximum-sized disk on a given bench grinder provides the best results as well as longer disc life.
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