Can you use an angle grinder as a sander-is this a general question for many DIY enthusiasts who work predominantly with reclaimed or pallet wood? If you want to remove the excess materials, you have to use a sander as the best equipment for the work. Making the wood well-fit for your next project requires sanding the wood surface to make it smooth. Though an angle grinder might not be the ideal tool for sanding wood, it is one of the best versatile tools that can perform an excellent job in your wood workshop.
What Are The Key Differences Between Grinders & Sanders?
We can work with sander and grinders for different project surfaces. There is nothing to be confused about between the purposes of these tools as they work differently. They both have different attachments. It becomes challenging to choose between similar options for any home project. Let’s get into the discussion about the differences between grinders and sanders.
Grinders
You can find many different grinders available on the market. However, an angle grinder is the most popularly used. It can be with or without a chord and has a rotating disk at the edge of it. You can switch the discs and accommodate different projects like metal, wood, or other materials. It works very well for polishing as well. The versatility of this tool makes it so comfortable to work with too many workers. Grinders contain a handle on the side so that you can hold it while working. Grinders can cut through metal, strip metal, or polish surfaces.
Sanders
A Sander is a valuable tool for different kinds of woodworking projects. It has sandpaper to give the surface a smooth finish and remove paint or stain from wood. The belt sander looks belt-shaped and moves between the tool. There are palm sanders or orbit sanders, too, for other different works. Sanders is typically used to sand the excess materials, but grinders have multiple benefits.
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Can You Use An Angle Grinder As A Sander For Sanding?
Yes, it is possible to use an angle grinder for sanding. You can turn an angle grinder into a sander by attaching an abrasive flap disc. Then, you can use it for sanding wood, metals, or other things. However, using a grinder has some drawbacks too. It is recommended not to use a grinder to flatten an unsmooth surface. It would be best if you used an angle grinder only to remove excess materials fast and easily. There are two most applicable methods to apply an angle grinder to sand.
Method 1: Using Flap Disc
The first method is to use the flap disc, a sanding disc with some overlapping sections spaced across the disc’s surface. The flap discs can easily and quickly sand large areas within a short time.
Method 2: Using orbital sander attachment for an angle grinder
An orbital sander is a perfect device to use for top-down sanding. Turning the angle grinder into an orbital sander is possible with an accurate attachment. The small-sized orbital sander will allow you to do most of your project in a significantly less amount.
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How Can You Use An Angle Grinder To Sand?
There are several steps to follow to use an angle grinder to sand.
Step 1: Attaching the flap disc
After having the right flap disc for your project, you must attach it to the angle grinder. A flap disc operates similarly to a grinding disc.
Step 2: Wearing safety protections
Ensure you use the proper safety equipment like masks, gloves, glass, and ear protection.
Step 3: Matching the angles
It would be best if you switched in the grinder. Apply the flap disc properly to match the angle of the flap disc to the surface.
Step 4: Leave the disc to work
Applying too much pressure on the workpiece is prohibited. Too much pressure will tear the flap discs apart. As a result, it will cause gouging, and the burn marks are very stubborn to get rid of. So, always consider giving light pressure on the workpiece and let the disc do its work. While removing the top layer of the workpiece, use back and forth motion.
Step 5: Finishing sanding
Hopefully, you are successfully done with removing the surplus material with the disc. Now, switch to higher grit flaps and finish the rest of the work.
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What Are The Pros & Cons Of Using An Angle Grinder As A Sander?
From the above discussion, you can assume both the advantages and disadvantages of using an angle grinder as a sander. However, this section of this article is going to explore some specific pros and cons of using an angle grinder for sanding in a nutshell.
Pros
People like to use an angle grinder to sand surfaces quickly. The open design will let you work with the flap discs at any angle. A significant advantage of using a flap disc is that it is very cheap and durable under normal conditions. Changing out flap discs is a stress-free job. This tool’s easy access will help you quickly remove and install a new one securely in the proper place. So, it would be best if you had less time to attach and detach the flap discs. As a result, you will get more than enough time for your productive work.
Cons
Though the pros of using an angle grinder are so convincing, this tool has some limitations, too compared to traditional sanders. For example, it can’t work on an uneven surface and flatten the surface. Get yourself an accurate sander if you want a smooth and flat surface. Secondly, for larger surfaces, an angle grinder doesn’t work well. It lacks control, for which, in most cases, it creates damages or abrasion that are not likely to happen with orbital sanders or other devices.
Is Using An Angle Grinder Cost-effective?
People don’t only use an angle grinder to remove loads of excess material but also due to its cost-effective benefit. Flap discs make sanding too easy and cost around R26.00 at hardware stores and builders. So, you can easily understand how cost-effective it is to use an angle grinder.
Safety Measures For Using A Grinder As A Sander
Whatever you choose to use between grinders or sanders, you must be very careful what your project entails. Grinders are comparatively more dangerous and challenging to use than sanders. Grinders are so sharp that they can easily cut through hard metals. So, you must be cautious when choosing a grinder instead of a sander. Using sanders is comparatively risk-free. However, it would be best if you also were cautious about using a sander by wearing a mask so that you don’t inhale the dust or wood chips. If you are unsure about using both tools, consult an expert to help pick the perfect one for your home project.
FAQs
Is it an excellent way to grind wood with an angle grinder?
Yes, you can easily use an angle grinder to cut little wood pieces or curve a portion of the wood piece. Use a three-tooth wood cutting disc or a wood carving disc and choose the correct blade for your woodcutting project.
Why is an angle grinder called a versatile tool?
You can use an angle grinder for many projects like cutting tiles, stucco, pavers, rout out mortar, etc. You can even sand, polish, or sharpen something or a surface with a grinder. All these criteria of an angle grinder make it a versatile tool.
Is it an angle grinder capable of cutting everything?
An angle grinder is such a sharp and effective tool to cut through the outer layer of a Proteus plate. However, cutting the embedded ceramic spheres is not an excellent tool.
How thick of steel does an angle grinder cut?
An angle grinder can cut small-sized metal or wood with a thickness of around 2-3 cm. You shouldn’t use this tool to cut stone or concrete materials.
The Last Verdict
You might want to remove or sand a significant amount of surface wood away. At that time, turning an angle grinder into a sander was undoubtedly the best way to do this job successfully.
From the discussion in this article, you have got ideas about how you can use an angle grinder as a sander. You can use an angle grinder instead of a sander for smaller or medium-level tasks. However, since the procedures to use these tools are different, you must get acquainted with the application steps and safety measures.
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