Angle Grinder

[Scottland]

I am also a welder/metalworker and have found my angle grinder to be an invaluable aid to woodworking as well. The labels on the 40 and 60 grit layered sandpaper wheels say they can be used on wood, and they seem to do quite nicely. The problem I am having is they seem to get clogged-up like an over-sanded piece of wood when I used them on harder end grain (right where I need them the most). The result is a loss of effectiveness and it burns the wood. Is there a good way to avoid this or to clean-out the sandpaper? Or is there a better wheel to use?

[Josef]

I found that regular cleaning with a wire brush did the trick. I don't use the layered one though, just the straight sanding disc. Joe.

[Donsexton]

Here are some ways to really put your side grinder to work. Allow the chainsaw discs and the structured carbide wheels to do the heavy cutting they won’t clog and they cut very fast. I mean they destroy wood at a high rate of speed but they need to be respected. The chainsaw wheels should be used on a grinder with the guard in place and a paddle switch just in case you bind it the thing will shut its self off. Yes to your question you can buy a cleaning brick it’s kind of like a big pencil eraser for the sanding discs.