Angle grinder disc for GRP ?

electrosys said:
Yeah ... I reckon the 'fixing a hole' thing is a ploy to buy what is, after all, probably the ultimate in 'boy's toys'. After that, it'll be a welder - and then there'll be no stopping him ...
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Not that keen to buy one. This may be the only thing I use it for.

I should be getting rid of stuff not buying more ... It's all going to end up in a skip in a few years time.

Got a welder! Ought to get rid of that really.

Just realised that there are 100mm "mini grinders" suitable for one handed operation. That's what I need. May hire one. The disc I have is 100mm.
 
capetown said:
Vic,
Just a thought.

Could you use a Dremel?
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A bit too small I think. I have a cheapy version, bought on a whim because everybody on here seemed to be saying how useful they are. Not yet used it !

Its a 2¼" diameter hole and the recommendations are to chamfer 12 times the thickness of the GRP so even on a hull that's not all that thick there is quite a bit of material to remove.
 
A 4.5 inch (115mm) is the more versatile as there's loads of disks and accessories for this size.

Thirty pounds gets you a machine and optional nylon backing pad.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cag122-grinder
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/104-14m-nylon-backing-pad

plus 80 grit disks for a pound each

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/r...-1166ECF9E804?da=1&TC=SRC-115mm sanding disks

These small grinders with sanding disks are one of the most versatile boat tools ever. I wouldn't leave home without one!
 
Yep wouldn't be without one, apart from cutting and prepping fibre glass, I use them for sanding wood and fitting joints. You can get mini chainsaw wheels for shaping wood, circular saws, the list goes on
 
TimBennet said:
A 4.5 inch (115mm) is the more versatile as there's loads of disks and accessories for this size.

Thirty pounds gets you a machine and optional nylon backing pad.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cag122-grinder
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/104-14m-nylon-backing-pad

plus 80 grit disks for a pound each

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/r...-1166ECF9E804?da=1&TC=SRC-115mm sanding disks

These small grinders with sanding disks are one of the most versatile boat tools ever. I wouldn't leave home without one!
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I agree. The 115 mm is much more versatile and still an easy one handed tool. 100mm is ok for delicate work. As I said previously, buy two. Once you have used an angle grinder and it fails you will feel naked with out one for immediate use.

Rubber pad with varying grades of grit discs. I use 36 for glass work and 80 for finishing. Save the old blunt 80 grit for linishing steel etc. Try the new 1mm cutting discs for stainless steel, they are magic.
 
Right then

tomorrow off to the industrial estate at Royal Tunbridge Wells.

B&Q for some bits and pieces I want from there. Hobbycraft for SWMBO and Toolstation for grinder

get one... one only... 115 mm angle grinder, with a standard metal grinding disc, some "sanding" discs and backing pad.

mustn't forget some new goggles.

lets hope my daughter wants a "used once only" angle grinder for her next birthday.
 
..and rigger's gloves.

B&Q Angle Grinder

£15, can't be any good. Not so. Unless you use them every day they last ages. I have hammered several to death over the years, but actually they have had a hard life and stand up very well.
 
Old age

High Vic Yes it is ironical that the older we get the more complete and sophisticated set of tools we collect just at a time of declining number and type of jobs we do. Don't worry just go with the flow. olewill
 
Lakesailor said:
£15, can't be any good. Not so. Unless you use them every day they last ages. I have hammered several to death over the years, but actually they have had a hard life and stand up very well.
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Having built 7 grp hulls I've got through quite a few angle grinders. I currently own 4 of the 115mm and one 230mm. The cheapo Power Devil ones are noisy and ugly but perform better and longer than the more expensive ones.

I have several types of disc - grinding, metal cutting, stone cutting, diamond and sanding. The types I recommend for boat building are metal cutting for actually sawing through GRP, they are around 2-3mm thick and are only used edge-on. For abarasion, the fibre sanding disc with rubber backing pad in 24 grit will chew through grp pretty effectively but isn't so vicious you'll make holes where you didn't want them.

All the above comments on safety gear are correct but I'd add that it is a good idea to apply barrier cream to your hands first to block the pores and wash off in cold water afterwards - hot opens the pores. GRP dust is one of the most effective itching powders known to man :)
 
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