If you work with metal, you will be working with grinders. Grinders are necessary in almost every aspect of working with metal, in every part of the production and manufacturing process, as well as the repair and maintenance side of metal work. Sanding, polishing, cutting, grinding, and shaping are all done with the help of different types of grinders.
Angle Grinder: What Is It and How Does It Work?
Angle grinders are the workhorses of the grinding world, typically larger and more powerful than a die grinder and made to do the toughest of jobs. Using larger rotating disks, slower RPMs and bigger motors, angle grinders offer a versatile tool that is perfect for cutting, grinding, and buffing.
Die Grinder: What Is It and How Does It Work?
Die grinders are more agile and fine than angle grinders, giving you a fine tool that is better for precision work. They spin at higher speeds and use a variety of attachments to give you the ability to work in what would be typically tight spaces, such as small machines or on small parts.
Key Differences Between Die Grinders and Angle Grinders
- Application
Die grinders are used for finer work such as etching glass, deburring small metal components, and working with complex internal profiles. Angle grinders are meant for cutting and grinding on a larger scale, such as cutting metal rebar, grinding welds and other work that demands more power.
- RPM
Angle grinders spin at slower speeds, providing more power but less finesse. Angle grinder motors spin at 11-12,000 RPM whereas a die grinder will spin at speeds of up to 30,000 RPM.
- Power Source
Handheld power tools like die grinders can easily be powered with air or electricity. Angle grinders need more power and can be cordless but often come with an electrical plug to provide the necessary power to get the job done. The motor on a die grinder will often be less than 1 horsepower in comparison to the motor in an angle grinder that may be up to double that capacity.
- Design
As the angle grinder is meant for rougher and more aggressive cutting and grinding, they are outfitted with a side handle to help get the leverage necessary. Die grinders are much more compact, designed to be used fluidly, more like an artist’s paintbrush than a power tool.
- Size
The angle grinder is almost always larger and heavier than its smaller cousin, the die grinder. Die grinders can easily fit in one hand and are meant to be used in that way and angle grinders are meant to be used with two hands firmly planted on the tool. It makes sense that the finer tool, made for finer work is smaller and lighter while the more aggressive and powerful tool, the angle grinder, is larger and heavier.
Choosing the Right Rotary Tool for the Job
According to Shaun at Principal Power Tools “By understanding the key differences between angel grinders and die grinders, it is easy to choose the right tool for the job at hand”. Each tool has its own specific set of tasks in which they are superior, but they are both indispensable tools in the tool kit of the modern-day metal worker.