Grinding disc
Heavy material removal and rough weld shaping. Thick and depressed-centre, worked at a shallow angle to the surface. Produces a coarse finish. Not for cutting.
Fabrication Station equipment
Angle grinder
and discs.
Grinding, cutting, finishing and surface cleaning require different attachments. Read the disc label and match it to the machine, material and task.
Access and preparation
- Complete the Fabrication Station angle-grinder training before use.
- At least one other person must be present in the workshop when you use an angle grinder.
- Wear the eye, face, hearing and clothing protection demonstrated in training.
- Check the guard, handle, cable or battery, and workpiece restraint.
- Confirm that the disc speed rating is not lower than the grinder's no-load speed.
Choose the attachment
Cutting disc
Cutting bar, sheet and section. Thin and rigid. Use the edge only and never apply side load, which shatters the disc.
Flap disc, flat
Blending, deburring and finishing with the face flat to the work. Gives even contact across a wider area. The grit determines the finish.
Flap disc, angled
The conical face suits working at an angle, along edges and into corners. More aggressive on a narrow contact area than the flat type.
Diamond disc, continuous rim
Smooth unbroken rim for tile, stone and other hard non-metal material. Cuts more slowly than a segmented rim but leaves a cleaner edge with less chipping.
Diamond disc, segmented
Slots between segments clear debris and help cooling, so it cuts masonry and concrete faster. Leaves a coarser edge than a continuous rim.
Wire wheel
Removing rust, scale, paint and surface contamination without shaping the metal. The radial form suits edges, corners and weld seams.
Wire cup brush
The cup form covers larger flat areas faster than a wire wheel. Wear eye and face protection, as wire brushes shed strands in use.
Inspect before every use
- Reject cracks, chips, deep gouges, warping or uneven wear.
- Read the intended material and use markings; do not rely on colour alone.
- Check any date or storage-life marking required by the manufacturer.
- Ensure the bore, diameter and attachment type match the grinder.
- Store attachments dry and protected from impact.
Typical finishing sequence
- Use the correct grinding wheel only where heavy removal is necessary.
- Stop the machine and wait for it to come fully to rest.
- Change attachments using the demonstrated isolation procedure.
- Use a suitable flap disc to blend the rough surface.
- Inspect the result before removing more material.
Stop if something feels wrong
Unusual vibration, poor cutting, visible damage or shedding wire are reasons to stop immediately, isolate the tool and ask a technician.