4" Wheel on a die grinder?

[woodjames]

I tried a 4" sewn wheel in both my die grinders - 1 el cheapo and 1 Ingersal Rand, both bogged down considerably. Am I just pushing both tools with the larger diameter, or is it time to get a new die grinder.
I've seen people run them in angle grinders as an alternative, just prefer to stick with air.

[baz]

I tried a 4" sewn wheel in both my die grinders - 1 el cheapo and 1 Ingersal Rand, both bogged down considerably. Am I just pushing both tools with the larger diameter, or is it time to get a new die grinder.
I've seen people run them in angle grinders as an alternative, just prefer to stick with air.

maybe a little bit of both, but i think even a new die grinder will have a hard time with 4 inch wheels , i usually get away with it when the tool is new and that is with a 4 inch narrow buff (3/ and 160 psi air

[FigureLLC]

yeah, i try to get away with the same thing. in fact i tried again today. ended up putting it back in the tool box and using the real buffer. i think the problem with die grinders is that they're high-rpm / low-torque, like a 2-stroke motor. they like the revs.

[Rasper]

I use little 1 or 2 inch buffs on die grinders and they are great for hard to polish places. 4 inch: no way. No torque. You can stop them with your bare hand. You want electric for torque. Electric motors develop their maximum torque at a stall, whereas piston motors and turbines develop their max. torque at speed. It's one reason why diesel/electric locomotives took over from steam. A steam locomotive can pull anything it can start moving; a diesel/electric, (or all electric), can start anything it can pull.

R

[woodjames]

Good analogy. I'll have to track down some smaller wheels. It seemed to be a good idea with the 4" wheel, as it had a 1/4" center hole, and I made a 6" extension from a 1/4" bolt, and it reached everywhere I needed it to. It just didn't work without torque behind it. I put a 1/2" hole'd wheel on an angle grinder, and it was much stronger, but didn't have the reach.
Thanks!

I use little 1 or 2 inch buffs on die grinders and they are great for hard to polish places. 4 inch: no way. No torque. You can stop them with your bare hand. You want electric for torque. Electric motors develop their maximum torque at a stall, whereas piston motors and turbines develop their max. torque at speed. It's one reason why diesel/electric locomotives took over from steam. A steam locomotive can pull anything it can start moving; a diesel/electric, (or all electric), can start anything it can pull.

R