A grinder falls under the category of power tools, and has a few different was it can be used. Such as grinding, shaping, smoothing, polishing and even cutting metals.
If you are in the market for new power tools, specifically grinders. You're gonna need to know what you're looking for. There is quite a big variety of power grinders on the market, and they vary in type, design and use. In this article we will expand on this subject to get a better grasp on what they are.
If you are in the market for new power tools, specifically grinders. You're gonna need to know what you're looking for. There is quite a big variety of power grinders on the market, and they vary in type, design and use. In this article we will expand on this subject to get a better grasp on what they are.
Types of Grinders
As with any tool, there are different types of grinders. The type of grinder you choose will highly be influenced by what you need to use it for. These types include:
Bench Grinders – As the name suggests, this specific type of grinder is stationary and needs to be placed on a bench (or you can buy a special metal 'stand' for bench grinders). This type usually includes two parallel grinder wheels on ether side. Over the wheels there are safety guards to prevent injury from propelling debris. And it features dust extraction vents.
Die/Straight Grinders – This type of grinders behave and work almost like a rotary tool. They have a straight shaft which allows for great precision. That is why it is mostly used for cutting, sculpting and shaping hard metals and for levelling weld spots. Their body is lightweight and wrapped in rubber moulds for better grip and comfort.
Right Angle Grinder – This is the most commonly used type out of all three. It is called a 'right angle' grinder because the grinding wheel is positioned at a right angle to the shaft of the tool. It is quite powerful and mobile, and can handle any job; heavy or light. It is mostly used for removing rust, blending and smoothing jobs.
Power Types
For power, grinders can rely on three types of options, and those include:
Pneumatic (Air) – This type of power is ideal for small businesses as most of them have air-compressors for air powered power tools.
Corded – The corded option gives you a constant supply of power, without the need of a compressor or a battery. It works on a power source of 110V.
Cordless – The cordless option gives you more mobility, but functions on a battery. That means that for heavier jobs you're gonna need a bigger battery or even two trips to charge the battery for re-use.
As with any tool, there are different types of grinders. The type of grinder you choose will highly be influenced by what you need to use it for. These types include:
Bench Grinders – As the name suggests, this specific type of grinder is stationary and needs to be placed on a bench (or you can buy a special metal 'stand' for bench grinders). This type usually includes two parallel grinder wheels on ether side. Over the wheels there are safety guards to prevent injury from propelling debris. And it features dust extraction vents.
Die/Straight Grinders – This type of grinders behave and work almost like a rotary tool. They have a straight shaft which allows for great precision. That is why it is mostly used for cutting, sculpting and shaping hard metals and for levelling weld spots. Their body is lightweight and wrapped in rubber moulds for better grip and comfort.
Right Angle Grinder – This is the most commonly used type out of all three. It is called a 'right angle' grinder because the grinding wheel is positioned at a right angle to the shaft of the tool. It is quite powerful and mobile, and can handle any job; heavy or light. It is mostly used for removing rust, blending and smoothing jobs.
Power Types
For power, grinders can rely on three types of options, and those include:
Pneumatic (Air) – This type of power is ideal for small businesses as most of them have air-compressors for air powered power tools.
Corded – The corded option gives you a constant supply of power, without the need of a compressor or a battery. It works on a power source of 110V.
Cordless – The cordless option gives you more mobility, but functions on a battery. That means that for heavier jobs you're gonna need a bigger battery or even two trips to charge the battery for re-use.
Grinder Terminology
There are words and terms used specifically for different functions when referenced toward grinders. Here are some terms you might hear and their meaning:
Wheel Size – The wheel size determines what size grinding wheel your grinder can support. This is usually printed on the manual or the grinder itself. The usual sizes will be 4'' or 9''.
Amps – This applies to corded grinders, and ultimately measures how powerful the tool is. The higher the apms on a grinder, the more powerful it will be and the more durable.
Rpm – This correlates to the speed of the wheel on the grinder. RPM stands for 'rotations per minute'. For example an RPM of 1,000 would mean that the grinder will do 1,000 rotations in a minute.
Switch – There are two main types of switches on a grinder; paddle and thumb switches. The paddle switch runs along the side of the tool and needs to be held pressed in order to use the grinder. While a thumb switch is a regular on/off switch.
There are words and terms used specifically for different functions when referenced toward grinders. Here are some terms you might hear and their meaning:
Wheel Size – The wheel size determines what size grinding wheel your grinder can support. This is usually printed on the manual or the grinder itself. The usual sizes will be 4'' or 9''.
Amps – This applies to corded grinders, and ultimately measures how powerful the tool is. The higher the apms on a grinder, the more powerful it will be and the more durable.
Rpm – This correlates to the speed of the wheel on the grinder. RPM stands for 'rotations per minute'. For example an RPM of 1,000 would mean that the grinder will do 1,000 rotations in a minute.
Switch – There are two main types of switches on a grinder; paddle and thumb switches. The paddle switch runs along the side of the tool and needs to be held pressed in order to use the grinder. While a thumb switch is a regular on/off switch.
