Angle grinder available for a dismasting.

[xyachtdave]

Interesting regarding Skillsaw, I'd say the example I had the misfortune to use was awful. Hitachi C7 and C9 were way superior in ergonomics and balance.

These days of course cordless is the way, my 54 volt Dewalt plunge, recip, chain and circular saws are so good, I've not plugged in for a couple of years. That's proper first and second fixing full time.

I do think some of the modern Milwaukee tools appear very similar to Hilti, I wonder if manufactured in the same facility.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Milwaukee Tool Company, the US leader in professional construction tools.

Opinions differ: Top 10 Power Tool Brands in the World 2020, Best Power Tool Brand, Power Tools Market Factsheet

 

[vyv_cox]

Milwaukee Tool Company, the US leader in professional construction tools. I suspect they may have been the first to bring these to market, more or less inventing them, as Skillsaw did the portable circular saw. They are available in myriad variants now, but these are the originals (I have both). In the US they are known in construction circles by these trade names, much like nylon.
View attachment 145536

View attachment 145537

I suspect our definitions of 'workshop' differ somewhat.

 

[thinwater]

Opinions differ: Top 10 Power Tool Brands in the World 2020, Best Power Tool Brand, Power Tools Market Factsheet

Milwalkee and Skill were "traditional" leaders. I fully agree they have fallen behind. For example, mine are 30-40 years old and the design has barely changed, with most parts still interchangeble on the old models. Others moved forward with better ergonomics. But back in the day they were known for being impossible to break and powerful, if not always the easiest to use ... which is why construction companies liked them and why mine still work.

 

[thinwater]

Opinions differ: Top 10 Power Tool Brands in the World 2020, Best Power Tool Brand, Power Tools Market Factsheet

Note that DeWalt is the pro line for black and Decker. Same address. They tried rolling out a "pro" Black and Decker line, but it only took when they changed names. I have some DeWalt tools that have just been treated horribly. Sparks, industrial use welding, steel and fiber glass dust, left out in the rain. But I'm about to replace the sander because it is just not ergonomic or efficient. The grinder is a tough SOB.

 

[Neeves]

I only posted as a cautionary post as I recall a number of people said they kept an angle grinder on board - specifically in case of dismasting. If it had been me I would have kept some of the stainless slitting blades - as our rigging is stainless. It appears that when the time comes they may be a complete liability, the slitting blade and the angle grinder, as it is going to be wet and the last thing you need when there is a mast grinding your hull is to have a useless blade (for whatever reason). Blades are not quick to change in the first place. There are blades that do not have a propensity to shred - attach one to the angle grinder - though a segmented blade is a worry in itself, for other reasons. I was only cutting the end of the pipe to have a clean end, I filed down the cut end, there was no tension during cutting - no binding - and I have cut copper pipe in the past - the difference was the moisture (possibly combined with heat). Makita appeared to recognise the problem, immediately.

I'm happy with the explanation from Makita. I'm happy they immediately recognised and accepted the issue. I have no criticism of Makita - I was using the blade in the wrong environment. I'm happy that in future I will be aware and know that there are alternatives. I am thus not ignoring their comment and making a guess why they might be wrong. I'm happy I described the situation accurately - just don't use the thin stainless cutting blades in a damp or wet environment.

I do know there are other options, sold under various names, but I have found that an angle grinder, battery circular saw or a hack saw suits in most application - and I'm not to invest in another device that I may only use once every 10 years.

Jonathan

 

[john_morris_uk]

I only posted as a cautionary post as I recall a number of people said they kept an angle grinder on board - specifically in case of dismasting. If it had been me I would have kept some of the stainless slitting blades - as our rigging is stainless. It appears that when the time comes they may be a complete liability, the slitting blade and the angle grinder, as it is going to be wet and the last thing you need when there is a mast grinding your hull is to have a useless blade (for whatever reason). Blades are not quick to change in the first place. There are blades that do not have a propensity to shred - attach one to the angle grinder - though a segmented blade is a worry in itself, for other reasons. I was only cutting the end of the pipe to have a clean end, I filed down the cut end, there was no tension during cutting - no binding - and I have cut copper pipe in the past - the difference was the moisture (possibly combined with heat). Makita appeared to recognise the problem, immediately.

I'm happy with the explanation from Makita. I'm happy they immediately recognised and accepted the issue. I have no criticism of Makita - I was using the blade in the wrong environment. I'm happy that in future I will be aware and know that there are alternatives. I am thus not ignoring their comment and making a guess why they might be wrong. I'm happy I described the situation accurately - just don't use the thin stainless cutting blades in a damp or wet environment.

I do know there are other options, sold under various names, but I have found that an angle grinder, battery circular saw or a hack saw suits in most application - and I'm not to invest in another device that I may only use once every 10 years.

Jonathan

As I have a Makita 18v angle grinder under my bunk for exactly the emergency job you allude to, I’m grateful for your post and I’m going to check the blades/discs I’ve got on board.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Note that DeWalt is the pro line for black and Decker. Same address. They tried rolling out a "pro" Black and Decker line, but it only took when they changed names. I have some DeWalt tools that have just been treated horribly. Sparks, industrial use welding, steel and fiber glass dust, left out in the rain. But I'm about to replace the sander because it is just not ergonomic or efficient. The grinder is a tough SOB.

I’ve had Dewalt tools as well but I’ve now moved to Makita everything and note that in UK and from my travels in Europe, I’m not alone. Every tradesman I see seems to have Makita power tools.
Draw your own conclusions about whether Milwaukee are still the professional’s No 1.

 

[penfold]

Unless the pipe was very rigidly held by pipe clips etc just the act of severing the pipe may cause enough of a pinch, or if you apply pressure with the grinder; I have had similar disc failures when pinching has occurred, mostly cutting steel. I am sceptical that water would affect the disc's integrity that quickly, it's not made of cardboard, particularly as the ruined disc resembles every shattered disc I've ever suffered, pinched or otherwise; if I can gather enough round tuits I will conduct a test.

 

[Neeves]

Unless the pipe was very rigidly held by pipe clips etc just the act of severing the pipe may cause enough of a pinch, or if you apply pressure with the grinder; I have had similar disc failures when pinching has occurred, mostly cutting steel. I am sceptical that water would affect the disc's integrity that quickly, it's not made of cardboard, particularly as the ruined disc resembles every shattered disc I've ever suffered, pinched or otherwise; if I can gather enough round tuits I will conduct a test.

Whether my disc failed as a result of water or not is not entirely relevant. What is relevant that chopping stainless rigging on a yacht when there is slightly more water than in my copper pipes is not an environment where the discs I was using is recommended. In fact Makita say do not store in a damp environment, do not use in the presence of water. They sell segmented blades where water may be present - use them.

I worked in a technical part of the brick industry, refractories for steel furnaces. We had dry blades for cutting bricks made from CaO and segmented steel blades (water cooled/lubricated) for bricks based on MgO, Cr, clay etc. I never liked the segmented blades as there was always a chance of something being caught in the gaps between the segments .

Jonathan