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Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
With regard to 4.5" AO wheels -- I see Norton has Metal, Gemini, Clipper and Bluefire. Anyone familiar with these and able to shed some light on quality differences between the lines? I usually use Metabo Super Slicers and Sait, both of which work well, but also see I can get Norton Metals for $1.50/ea in bulk. Just don't want to invest only to find out these are simply teasers.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
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Originally Posted by
golem
With regard to 4.5" AO wheels -- I see Norton has Metal, Gemini, Clipper and Bluefire. Anyone familiar with these and able to shed some light on quality differences between the lines? I usually use Metabo Super Slicers and Sait, both of which work well, but also see I can get Norton Metals for $1.50/ea in bulk. Just don't want to invest only to find out these are simply teasers.
Just buy a small pack and try them out. $1.50 still seems a little on the high side for cut off wheels. I could be wrong though. I try and avoid using them... loud and messy... I'm still going through a 25 pack I bought from Tractor Supply on clearance a few years ago. I forgot what I payed, but it was under $15.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
No way I would buy anything but brand name abrasives.
ESPECIALLY cut off wheels. Norton, Walter etc. are all good
I only use Klingspoor…
this is what I pay in Canadian dollars….
https://images.platforum.cloud/uploads/202...836f678eb5.png
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
Appreciate the replies!
Yeah, $1.50 isn't as value oriented as can be had but cut-offs (as Lis2323 stated) are one item I really try not to bargain bin simply for the safety factor. My comfort zone dips down to Dewalt's at about $1.25/ea if I'm in a pinch. A number of years ago I purchased a small pack of HF disks on a whim...and not yet has one been spun, call me chicken. ;-)
The Norton's are difficult to find in small quantity unless you want Bluefire which can be found at Lowes. I'm just hoping someone has had hands-on with their Metal RightCut line and can offer either a thumbs-up or down.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
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Originally Posted by
Lis2323
They're actually pretty decent wheels. I haven't had any issues with them. I like them more than the DeWalt wheels I had before. They cut a bit faster - of course, that's because they're more friable, but it's a decent trade off.
Edit: I think I payed around $2 a piece for the DeWalt wheels... $1.75? Felt like I was getting ripped off.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
3M Cubitron II 66351 4½" x 0.045" x ⅞", $2/pc. and never look back. :) Don't get me wrong, I still have some regular aluminum oxide cut off wheels that are not 3M cubitron, but they're mostly just back-up's.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
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Originally Posted by
Oscar
LOL!!! I was literally about to post a link to those wheels.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
Quote:
Originally Posted by
golem
With regard to 4.5" AO wheels -- I see Norton has Metal, Gemini, Clipper and Bluefire. Anyone familiar with these and able to shed some light on quality differences between the lines? I usually use Metabo Super Slicers and Sait, both of which work well, but also see I can get Norton Metals for $1.50/ea in bulk. Just don't want to invest only to find out these are simply teasers.
Metal is there bottom line. Gemini is the next step up. Followed by Bluefire. Norzon is the top-of-the-line. Never heard of clipper. The Bluefire is a good cutting disc. 3M™ Cubitron™ II Cut-Off Wheels are also very good.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
Ive used plenty of the bluefire in 6" size, really good cutting, long lasting disc. Used some 4.5" Gemini, ok I would say.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
I just purchased by a box 25 type 27 24 grit 4½" wheels
I use for all my needs cutting and grinding in {Steel , wood 🪵 , plastic and concrete.}
I have a wire wheel too.
Dave
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
Again, thanks for the replies!
For flappers I strictly use Lehigh Valley's Zirc as they cut fast and last quite a while. The one thing I've never used is Zirc or Ceramic cut-off disks and would love to, especially Cubitron II at $2.00/ea. Only problem is, that link provided doesn't work for me and a web search provides no results less than $4.50/ea.
Yeah, Norton Metal is bottom line but if Norton is the premium product it's touted to be I remain curious as to where might that line fits in compared to the usual culprits (Dewalt, Metabo, Sait, etc.)? Speaking of durability, performance, lifecycle.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
3M Cubitron II disks cut fast and last a long time. If you really enjoy working with your grinders, buy something else.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
Ok, I let you guy's talk me into it. ;-)
Just ordered a 25/ct carton of 66531's for $52. Scary thing is it's eBay so well have to see how genuine it is. At least it ships from Illinois.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
Quote:
Originally Posted by
golem
Ok, I let you guy's talk me into it. ;-)
Just ordered a 25/ct carton of 66531's for $52. Scary thing is it's eBay so well have to see how genuine it is. At least it ships from Illinois.
Congratulations! :D
I can't imagine anyone is out there selling counterfeit Cubitron wheels.
Ceramic abrasives (like the ones you just bought) seem to last wayyyyyy longer than aluminum oxide or silicon carbide on my belt grinders. I had a 36 grit ceramic belt on a 4" belt grinder and I used it heavily for a year. It's still sharp, too. I just need to retape the seam where it started to split (my fault).
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
For the 4-1/2" zip wheels, I just use the HFT cheapos. They seem to work fine for my purposes. For the 7" zip wheels, I use Metabo Slicers. Unlike grinding wheels, I don't notice all that much difference in zip wheels, although I've never really tried the $$$$$ ones...most of my metal cutting is done with a Portaband.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
I dont notice much difference in any of them. Before plasma and cordless sawzall used a lot of them, now only rarely.
I used a few of those HF of old days and they were not as good as I recall, they were not costly but the new they got seem to work about as good as most do. I was doing job yesterday, I mention to the guy,, people think its the welding but its often really the grinding makes all this come out so well. I really got a start on learning to grind in a nuke where it was constant. I can near sharpen a razor blade and a 1/4 drill bit with a 4 1/2 and its really my go to tool and really profeccient with it so I got to wonder sometimes,,,, if this works well for me why doesnt it seem to or why the fuss for others?
If I dont notice a night and day difference or if it doesnt seem to matter then how much might it to the hobby crowd? Where do some even find the occasion to run the grinders enough to be able to tell? I mean no disrespect when I say hobby, I understand some of the skill level to be as good and better than a lot of "professionals" , I only refer to it in terms for duty cycle and application. A lot of that question is met with non answer,,, its a real question though. Lets say a guy bvuys some of the best grinders in the world and can power them full blast continiously and put the best wheel they make on them,,,, what does he grind in a 2 car garage in the suburbs? Grind a plate to test a wheel?
Build a whole trailer from used steel or z pipe, same thing, hand cut, clean, all afternoon and all week and change out 1 wheel.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
Quote:
Originally Posted by
golem
Again, thanks for the replies!
For flappers I strictly use Lehigh Valley's Zirc as they cut fast and last quite a while. The one thing I've never used is Zirc or Ceramic cut-off disks and would love to, especially Cubitron II at $2.00/ea. Only problem is, that link provided doesn't work for me and a web search provides no results less than $4.50/ea.
Yeah, Norton Metal is bottom line but if Norton is the premium product it's touted to be I remain curious as to where might that line fits in compared to the usual culprits (Dewalt, Metabo, Sait, etc.)? Speaking of durability, performance, lifecycle.
My bad, I dunno what happened when I pasted the link. Just be sure to come back to this thread to say I was right. :)
Oh and they work exponentially better the faster they spin. On my cordless grinder that spins 8500 RPMs they do a good job. On my pneumatic grinders that spins 12,000 RPMs and all I can say is dayumm! I wish 3M made a 13,000 RPM grinder to take full advantage of the RPM limit of the 4½" disc size.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
I have a good sample of cut off discs from about a dozen manufacturers. I have even more than the ones in these pics.
Three different Norton, multiple types from Walter, Pferd, Pearl, Osborn, Tiger, etc.
Some are .063, .045, and .040 thick.
Some are made for aluminum, others steel and stainless. Some ceramic, AO, etc. Match the disc to the material.
Cubitron are great discs.
If you can run 5 inch discs, do that. Also use a scoring motion instead of a plunge cut where the whole disc stays in the cut. Scoring is better for the disc and makes it last many times longer.
There is a difference in quality between HF/Chinese knock offs and name brands. Your technique will actually make just as much if not more than a difference.
https://images.platforum.cloud/uploads/202...de0d481131.jpg
https://images.platforum.cloud/uploads/202...8cd0f3e1d1.jpg
https://images.platforum.cloud/uploads/202...f46c0b3ed4.jpg
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
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Your technique will actually make just as much if not more than a difference
This is so true. Thats a nice collection,,, everyone has to collect something, might as well be grinding wheels. I use air on them ostly and havew about half a dozen to fit electric I keep around for portable. Been years since I even use one. I got a couple for the truck for use with battery grinder.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
I don't just collect them, I use the heck out of them.
I just got lucky and recieved nearly all these as free samples when I attended several Fabtech conventions.
I expect to get more this year as well.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
I spend enough on my Walter Grinder wheels, flap disks and wire wheels. I don't use cut off wheels enough to spend big money on them. But for the last 6 or seven years these have served me well. They last, don't shatter and are cheap.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
The entire Cubitron II line of abrasives is phenomenal. We use the 72" 80 grit belts on our belt sanders and the first day they gave us some to "try out" we were hooked. Their 80 grit 1" diameter roloc discs for angled die grinders are equally awesome.
We run the 3x.035 Cubitron II cut off discs here at work (pn 66514), they monster through 0.080"-0.100" thick Inconel 718 and 6AL4V Titanium like it's made out of butter. The old aluminum oxide ones we had you could get maybe a couple inches of cut out of before the disc was eaten up.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
Quote:
Originally Posted by
psacustomcreations
I have a good sample of cut off discs from about a dozen manufacturers. I have even more than the ones in these pics.
Three different Norton, multiple types from Walter, Pferd, Pearl, Osborn, Tiger, etc.
Some are .063, .045, and .040 thick.
Some are made for aluminum, others steel and stainless. Some ceramic, AO, etc. Match the disc to the material.
Cubitron are great discs.
If you can run 5 inch discs, do that. Also use a scoring motion instead of a plunge cut where the whole disc stays in the cut. Scoring is better for the disc and makes it last many times longer.
There is a difference in quality between HF/Chinese knock offs and name brands. Your technique will actually make just as much if not more than a difference.
Nice set of discs that you use, just missing the 3M Cubitron II's :)
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
The type of wheel depends on the line of work your doing.
I do structural steel all I need is a 24 grit and I one wheel for all my needs.
If doing finish work need a great paint you need more than one grinder and wheels.
I use cord type power tools it easy to drag a cord. Batteries have to short of life.
If doing hobby work a battery will great having a few tools you can switch batteries around to get job done. Buy down side is when battery dies you may need to buy a new tool.
Dave
Quote:
Originally Posted by
golem
Ok, I let you guy's talk me into it. ;-)
Just ordered a 25/ct carton of 66531's for $52. Scary thing is it's eBay so well have to see how genuine it is. At least it ships from Illinois.
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Re: Norton AO cut-off wheels choices
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Oscar
Nice collection, just missing the 3M Cubitron II's :)
Not there because I used them. [emoji3]
They were some of the first ones I used. I made it a point to get some of the Cubitron II at Fabtech.
I will use up these other freebies before I buy more. I am kind of cheap that way.
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