Discs for Screwfix angle grinders

If it helps at all I am on my third one of these tools (only paid for one the rest have been returns). On the first the switch jammed, in the on position, the first time I switched it on. The switch has also failed on the second replacement. So far the third still seems to be working........

I think seven quid is just too cheap for a power tool and you'd be better off with almost anything else. That said I did manage to get the one job that i wanted a grinder for done so I can't complain too much (though I probably will).

Cheers

Mark Spice

Somewhere.

I was wanting a safety rope when up on the roof, so I drilled through the ridge tiles from below, and posted a rope through. Worked well, and diddn't even dislodge anything. Hammer is oh so much better than any "ordinary" drill. Going to get a more thourough workout when the 1m*24mm bit arrives from ebay to drill through the rather thick wall, to enable putting in conduit for satellite cable (resiting away from house) mains electric to garage in a more logical manner, and possibly outside tap too. I'd really like a 1m*40mm drill, but prices of those are a little silly. And then going to get a very serious workout taking off all the slabs from the side of the pond, to fix them down properly.

I agree with you in broad outline. However allowing for the fact that for some of us the MTBTheft is at least as significant the MTBFailure this modifies the situation a little.

Many of the power tools I buy are used fairly infrequently so if they do a good enough job I'm happy to forego some quality to save on theft risk. (This applies even to hammers an Estwing may be the best by far but it is also apt to become self-propelled).

Another thing to mention is that in many cutting tools the blade is much more than half the influence over the entire performance. So a cheap tool with a good blade is almost as good as that blade in an expensive machine. E.g. Circular saws - put a Freud blade in a Ferm unit and try it.

Inevitably the cheap tools come with cheap cutters.

IME the tools that have to be really good (because every job uses them):

Others get used much less. Ferm Angle grinder - used a few times a month going strong after >12 months. Transformed by using a norton diamond blade.

Ferm jig saw. £20 - a few times a month. Nearly as good as my old Bosch £90. Can be 'persuaded' to take Bosch blades

Ferm planer £30 - dissapointment. Not much used.

Ferm circular saw - transformed with Freud blade.

Cheap Sanders flat and delta - good enough.

However if most of the jobs I did were carpentry or decorating the evaluation would change.

For holes bigger than 25mm you really need to be looking at diamond core drills. You can buy expsensive extensions £25 for 250mm or you can notice that the drive thread is 1/2" BSP and use an length of old steel pipe with a 1/2 F-F coupling on one end.

Had a Bosch green 4" grinder for a while now and apart from having to take it to bits when the switch arm started sticking/not working it's taken everything I've done with it.

Cut a Manta up with it, cut slabs with a diamond blade, wire brushed till the brush wore out etc etc.

I did buy some discs from Screfix and they were absolute garbage, lasted no time at all so as most people have said you do get what you pay for with power tools.

Mark S.

I know. I'd like, but even hiring a diamond drill of the appropriate size is a bit expensive, compared to the bits from ebay.

For one hole, nope.

I'll manage with 25mm holes, if I can't enlarge the holes with the chisel working from both sides, then I'll probably just live with the fact that the hole isn't quite as big as I'd like.

If it's sandstone, then this should be easy, if it's granite, it probably won't.

I reckon the 25mm*1m bit should also be handy for digging holes for stuff.

Hmmm ... or for the money you save from not *buying* the extension you can buy your own pipe thread cutting kit and make your own anyway (assuming no 'old' threaded pipe laying about )

Do they do a 1/2" BSP to SDS adaptor Ed? ;-)

(Joking aside you can buy odd SDS drills in the market these days for pence and shank from one could be grafted into a 1/2" F-F coupling universal extension kit!) ;-)

All the best ..

T i m

Oh, do use a diamond blade, not the conventional grit ones. The difference in performance is huge. Toolstation do them for a fraction of the price of screwfix. Toolstation.com.

Regards, NT

Forgot to mention, make sure you get indirect vented safety goggles, dont use the cheaper direct vent ones. Too many people get nasty eye injuries from the cheap direct vents, they just have holes in the side. Indirect vented ones have plugs in them so theres no direct entry path for the red hot particles that grinders throw off in huge amounts. /Never/ use one with no eye protection. Screwfix do indirect vented ones.

Ear defenders are a good idea too, though not as important as the eye stuff.

Regards, NT

Earplugs at least. It's easily loud enough to cause serious hearing damage.

Mine turned up today. Machine is 91763, Kinzo 4.5", and discs are 15309,

Both fit together fine.

Is this one of the "very cheap but might just hang together" Ferm ones, or the "so cheap and nasty we are going to give them away with cutting discs" Kinzo ones?

I have a couple of Ferm tools which are OK - never fancied the Kinzo!

Check out tolstation.com - they do dry diamonds at reasonable prices. I'm considering buying smaller diameter diamonds (I have about 35mm and

Yes that's the drive arbor Screwfix part 10297 (say).

It is probably a slight abuse of a good SDS drill to use it as a dry diamond driver. It is likely to be terminal for a cheap SDS drill.

For some reason all the catalogues and bigger suppliers seem to think that no one needs anything between 52 and 78mm diameter.

The diamonds are too rich for me. If I was needing to do more than one hole, maybe... I'm slightly considering the TCT ones. Yes, I'd need to stop every 50mm, and break out the core, which will be interesting...

They are probably OK for light DIY use, that is not being used continuously or pushed too hard.

cheers, Pete.

I will report back eventually when I have had a chance to use it (if the damn thing ever turns up).

I paid the £4 for Saturday delivery and Lynx have allegedly got the package but it hasn't turned up.

The nice lady at Screwfix virtually offered to go outside and slit her wrists to expunge some of the awful shame brought upon her company by this dreadful failure, but still I don't have my little package of assorted tools.

Bummer.

I suppose I will have to watch the Grand Prix instead :-)

I really only want the angle grinder to cut down some trowels and stuff in an attempt to make a good finishing tool for the 30mm plater strip between my picture rail and the ceiling.

It would also be a useful thing to have for grinding the heads of bolts, and I might have a try at wire brushing rusty metal (as opposed to using an electric drill).

So light occasional use. Mainly, I have never had one and this is a cheap(ish) way to find out how useful a tool it can be. If I find a constant need then I can upgrade. The discs will fit a more expensive/higher quality item and all I am laying out is £6.99.

I assume my full face mask from Screwfix (the visor like thing which folds back over your head - a bit like a welding mask) is suitable as eye protection whilst grinding?

Cheers Dave R

If you've ordered a knotted wire brush for it make sure you are covered up when you use it and wear the visor!!

I use mine a lot and it still gets you when a strand of wire pings off the visor or stabs you in the leg...

Mark S.