A few years back my Kids got me a DeWalt Angle Grinder Kit. I've used it a bunch of times but last weekend it was a heavy duty job I used it for. The "sample" cut off wheels it came with worked very well at quickly cutting through the 4" steel tubing the Basket Ball Net was erected with, however when I installed it I filled the tube with concrete for long term stability. There was also a concrete "ball" underneath. It held up quite well for 23 years but since it had rusted and wasn't being used any longer I decided to cut it down.

I only had two of the 4.5" cut off wheels and while they worked well the interior concrete wore out the wheels after a while. I took a trip over to the local H-D and picked up a 5 pack which carried the same spec's as the ones that came with the Angle Grinder Kit however once I stared using them I noticed they wore out much faster. I read the spec's again, compared and the new & old ones were both 4.5" x 0.045" x 60 grit - and THEN using a magnifying glass I found the difference! The ones that came with the Kit were made in Germany and the 5 pack I purchased at H-D were made in ........... you guessed it, China. Anyway, after finishing the job with a Sawzall and metal cutting blade & an air powered Die Grinder the Basketball Net was down, cut into small pieces and done.

The moral of the story is bring either good glasses or a magnifying glass with you when you buy replacement cutting wheels. I found a box of 25 DeWalt German made cutoff wheels on Amazon for $36 bucks which is a bit more than the Chinese version but they last way longer!

The reason I bought DeWalt brand wheels at H-D is because the original ones worked so well! I realize there are other brands, but the ones that came with the Kit actually worked so well I specifically bought a box of 25 of them on Amazon and should have them in a few days.

I was unaware that DeWalt markets the same spec. wheels from two different vendors however that explains why the Chinese made ones were so cheap. My suggestion is that when looking for blades, cut-off wheels, sanding belts that we all pay more attention to where they are made. Yes - some Chinese made stuff will get the job done, however when it comes to Drills, Sanding Belts, Grinding Wheels I find that either American & German made stuff is so much better and lasts much longer. I wanted to post this for any who are still unaware that it might be prudent to read the label closer than I initially did.

Had you post here first and "reach out" , member DEWALT could have given you the correct information.
You could just buy wheels from:


Stanley
Black and Decker
Craftsman
Irwin
Mac
Porter Cable


All one big happy conglomerate!

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Still Running Against the Wind

The Chinese wheels will come apart and are a hazard. Adjectives removed.

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Dum vivo cano

I love the .045 cutting wheels have lots of them from little ones for my die grinder to 4 1/2 and 6". I usually get them as left overs from jobs. Already charged to the job and the project manager I often work under gives them to me.

You need to be really careful with them no matter where they are sourced. Lots of things can effect wheel life. Just the amount of pressure you put on them changes that a lot. Any side loading is bad. Jamming them is bad, If you drop it inspect it carefully. They can and will come apart, even the best grades. Guards, glasses and gloves.

Thanks for the heads up. I have used the cheapo HF wheels on occasion and they cut slower and wear quicker and shatter more than good quality units. At .50/pc is it a better value? Probably not when you factor in your efforts and safety.
Buy good cutting tools.

The HF sanding belts I have had pretty good luck with though.

Those blades always worried me.i use the diamond wheels

I go to Harbor Freight and buy their fine Chinese Products. They come on the same boat that Lowes and Homers do,


I wear full Kevlar Body Armor. Not sure where that is made though!Dang lost my Gloves!

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Still Running Against the Wind

Years ago early imported products from Japan were cheap and didn't last long but the quality is much better now. It seems China made products are following the early Japan products in that the quality is very poor.

The MIC Wire wheels are also a hazard...the wire bristles come flying off in all directions. I wear safety glasses, but that doesn't stop being stabbed through my T-shirt by those little suckers. Rule3 has the right idea.....

In reality when using a grinder (bench or hand) I wear one of those full face flip up shields, (made in China)


Especially with a wire wheel!!


Years ago we whined and complained after stuff made in Japan. The Japanese stuff was far better than some of this China stuff.


At a garage sale just the other day I picked up a camera tripod that was heavy aluminum (for my chronograph). Would be a $100 plus tripod today. Made in Japan, very good quality. Paid a Dollar.

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Still Running Against the Wind

The day my Kids gave me the Angle Grinder I DID go out and buy a high quality full face shield (with anti fog coating) and a few extra replaceable shields for it.

When ever I use power tools I do wear the full face shield, ear protection, glasses under the shield and most times gloves unless I have no choice in the matter. Unlike some guys, I have left the safety guard ON the machine just in case.

It's a shame we can't even buy parts for tools anymore without bringing along a magnifying glass!

Yes ,most iof it is JUNK!
Even the "good" stuff is not so good anymore


I have my Fathers older USA made hand tools and no comparison to what is out there today.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I bought a DeWalt 7.5 inch circular saw. had the made in America lable on it. But under all that it said assembled in the U.S. from global materials. So that leaves one to ponder where all these global materials come from?. Saw the same label on some other Dewalt products. Frank

I was in the middle of the job - no time for computers as I just needed to "ger 'er done". :

Yup! However at least they are assembled and inspected in America. SILL not as good as 100% made here but better than nothing. It's just so tempting for Company's to make higher profits buying parts for penny's on the dollar. That is why when I replaced all my Cordless Tools with corded versions (yes, I went backwards) I bought either "new old stock" or "used but in pristine condition". Just like vintage Smith's, they're still available. I did pay more for what I got than if I had bought brand new ones made over-seas, but at least I got quality.

My DeWalt Angle Grinder that the Kids bought me is made in USA - although like you stated from "Global" parts. They didn't go through the efforts I did because they are from a different generation and don't understand the difference.

My SKILL 20V LI cordless drill (from COSTCO) with free extended warranty is made by Robert BOSCH Tools in Malaysia
Skill is part of Chervon



Does that mean it is better than Chinese made?


It's a BOSCH


"Life is like a Box of Chocolates"

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Still Running Against the Wind

I was converting a 3shot Rem Sportsman to 5shot. To do this
you have to drill out 3 prick punches in the mag tube. I had set
of Blue Hawk bits, from Lowes. Run 1/8" bit into punch mark and
the bit was so soft it conformed to shape of punch mark. Made in
China. Christmas coming up, beware of name brand gift sets made in China. I was at Lowes last week, they have Craftsman
tools now. Socket set on sale, sure enough made in China. All you
are getting is a guaranteed replacement. Tool are the same as you would buy in a Dollar Store.

You need to go to a quality welding supply store, like Airgas , the wheels will be cheaper and you will have more of a selection. You also need to make sure the wheels are made for the kind of materials you are cutting, different metals will use different wheels.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, check the rpm on your tool and make sure the wheel is rated for more rpm than your tool. Most wheels and wire brushes I've seen at home depo are not rated high enough for my tools,

I've purposely stayed away from the Welding Supply because I'm afraid of what I'd buy there!

Yea, the Angle Grinder I have runs at 11,000 rpm and the Cut Off Wheels are rated to 13,300 so I'm OK there. They are stamped Stainless and Ferrous Metals - so that's good too.

I have two different types of Grinder Wheels on my 6" Bench Grinder. One Silicone Carbide and one Aluminum Oxide so I can grind Steels, Aluminum, Brass, Bronze etc. Both are 60 Grit as that seems to be my go-to with almost no exception. Before converting to the 2 different types I had a course wheel (36 grit if memory serves) which I never ever used so I got rid of it.

In 1959 I watched my dads new grinding wheel come apart and hit him in the head. It was new, properly stored in a light oil and just installed. It didn't kill him but he spent the rest of the afternoon putting on a guard. The best safety item with a power tool sits between your ears.

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Front sight and squeeze

Trick for testing a grinding wheel. Tap it with a wrench, if it goes " Ding" it's good, if it sounds dull thud, its cracked.

For future reference, they make wheels for cutting and grinding concrete. The wheel material is different.

The DeWalt circular saw I bought is a corded version. Just didn't want to get soaked for the 20 volt batteries and charger. If we loose the juice then my 6kw generator is the backup. Plus the corded version is just cheaper that the battery version. Just went through my assortment of older corded power tools. While I keep the majority in the house I had one of the huge lockable rubber maid tubs out in the garage. Sanders, couple of drills, and stuff like that. They didn't fair well being in the heat and humidity being in the garage. Was able to clean and test run a couple of the sanders, including an old sears belt sander, a Ryobi drill,Porter Cable drill, Porter Cable router and a few other tools. The two drills had the outer insulation sheath crack, but I had a roll of 3m rubber self bonding tape so that took care of that. Some of the stuff I cleaned and test run will go to my home health care nurse as they are going to build an addition on their house. Told her that the day that they don't work chuck them in the trash. The belt sander tension adjustment lever was stuck so sprayed some oil on it and kept working it back and forth. Now works pretty good. Frank

Grinder story/ I am a member at the blade forum and used to spend a lot of time there. Anyway a member, I will call Bubba, had one of those huge old sandstone wheels you sit down and petal with your feet, Bubba has an ID. He puts a pulley on it and installs a motor. Ended up with a big chunk of concrete busted out of the floor and a nice sized hole in the roof. Darwin missed the mark and Bubba was not hit by any flying stone.

Checking the RPMs is a really really good idea. The cutoff wheel that fits you saw might not like your grinder.

I think that Dewalt is owned by Black and Decker. Maybe that's why Dewalt isn't as good as it was.

What happens if you tap it with the wrench and then it cracks?

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'Merica!