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Die grinders are the most prominent member of the rotary tools family. A die grinder is a portable power instrument that’s primarily used for grinding metals. However, when used in addition to the right attachment, a die grinder can be a pretty versatile tool that can grind and polish sand, cut, or hone nearly any material.
A die grinder has a cylindrical-shaped grinding nose attached to its bottom. The grinding noise is used to buff, polish, smooth, and grind various metal surfaces to ensure optimal functioning. Die grinders can be used on either flat or curved surfaces. Die grinders are usually powered by compressed air or electricity and may achieve speeds of up to 30,000 RPM.
To help you understand why this equipment is useful, we’ll go over some of the most common uses of a die grinder. However, before jumping into that, let’s go through a few different types of die grinders out there.
Types Of Die Grinders
Depending on the size, portability, and function, there are several types of die grinders in the market. However, they can be classified into two major types.
- Bench Grinders: Bench grinders are suitable for sharpening hand tools, cutters, and blades. These grinders are pretty big, and you can not move them as they are stationary devices. Bench grinders are powered by large motors.
- Straight or Angle Grinders: Straight or angle grinders are portable and compact like a large screwdriver. The wheels on the grinders are used to work on large parts that don’t fit on a bench. Straight or angle grinders are powered by smaller motors. It rotates at speeds ranging from 4000 to 11,000 revolutions per minute.
6 Uses Of Die Grinder
Now, that you’re all caught up with different types of die grinders, there are a number of tasks that a die grinder can help you with, so here are some of the most common uses.
1. Eliminating Rust
If you deal with steel or metal machinery then you know how often they get rusted. Rusting not only decreases the efficiency of your equipment but may also permanently damage it. Basically, rust is a reaction formed by iron and oxygen in the presence of water. Keeping your tools rust-free is very important as it reduces the durability of your machinery and endangers the safety of users.
That’s when a die grinder comes in handy. A die grinder effectively removes rust and smooths out the surface of your metal machinery. Besides, die grinders can get rid of old, stubborn rust that has accumulated in your equipment over time. Many people might use sandpaper to remove rust, but a die grinder is faster and more effective than sandpaper.
2. Polishing Metals
Metals like stainless steel and aluminum are vastly used for various projects. If your project is left with rough edges, that will affect the overall appearance. Among many rotary tools, a die grinder is a handy tool for metal polishing. Welding, cutting, and fitting might take a long time to give your metal a refined appearance. However, with a die grinder, you just need to run the grinder over the rough edges of your metal until it’s polished. For this kind of application, protective equipment like goggles, and gloves are suggested.
3. Finish Non-Metal Surfaces
Even though die grinders are more popular with metals, with the correct attachment they can smooth out other materials as well. Many woodworkers use die grinders for a more professional finish. It is lightweight and simple to operate, plus it is intended for proficient use. You can speed up your slow grinding process by replacing your traditional sanders with a die grinder. Die grinders also perform well on plastic surfaces.
4. Sanding And Carving Wood
You may use a die grinder on woodworking projects to remove paint or finish, smooth off rough edges, or even create a pattern. Many people prefer to use die grinders over sandpaper, due to their effective smoothing benefits. In addition, woodworkers and carpenters mold wood into beautiful shapes and wonderful art pieces using die grinders with carbide burrs.
5. Auto Work
When fixing a collision-damaged vehicle, you may need to remove the surface paint in order to work on the bare metal. For this kind of repair die grinder is a great tool. Die grinders can remove paint from tiny places that even your sander cannot reach. In addition, installing a cutting wheel may be beneficial since it will allow your grinder to get into tight areas and remove sheet metal that needs to be replaced.
6. Sharpening Blades
A die grinder could be a perfect alternative for people who are not comfortable using a grindstone but still want to keep their blades nice and sharp. All you need to do is equip your die grinders with blade-sharpening attachments that will allow you to sharpen a wide range of blades. For example, you can sharpen the blades of knives, cleavers, axes, and other sorts of blades if you want. A die grinder is also very useful for sharpening the blade of a lawnmower.
A die grinder would be an excellent addition to your toolbox with all of these applications mentioned above. With the enormous array of attachments available for die grinders, you can perform almost any operation you can think of. Therefore, investing in a die grinder would be the smart choice if you’re planning on doing a wide variety of activities on different materials.
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