Bought a cordless grinder, but what way to cut?

[tommyzooom]

So I bought a Makita 18v grinder, and it could be a game changer.
I'm using a Marcrist akkumax blade after being recommended one on here. So far so good.
The only drawback is I'm coming home dustier, even though it's cut outdoors, but the blade as supplied is on the left, throwing the dust towards me.
I'm thinking of rotating the headstock, so the blade's on the right, which will throw the dust away.

Who's done the same?

 

[Old Mod]

I'm thinking of rotating the headstock, so the blade's on the right, which will throw the dust away.

Just rotate guard to see how it feels before voiding your warranty, sure switch will be underneath, but good way to try.
It’s typically a stone masons way of using a grinder, it’s not only safer if it kicks back, it throws dust away from you and is easier to see cut line.
And tbh you can control the blade far more easily than when pushing.
I had been using a grinder that way for years until I moved over to thin porcelain.

 

[Spare Tool]

All sounds a bit cack handed to me, well if your right handed anyway, good for the dust but not great for cutting on the line, must take some getting used to...

 

[Old Mod]

All sounds a bit cack handed to me, well if your right handed anyway, good for the dust but not great for cutting on the line, must take some getting used to...

No not at all Andy, in fact seeing your line is much easier.
You view it from back left side of blade, rather than leaning over grinder. 😁

 

[Spare Tool]

Confused now as that's how I see the blade as it is normally in right hand, flip the guard and turn it over then you'd have to look over right hand....no?

 

[Old Mod]

Confused now as that's how I see the blade as it is normally in right hand, flip the guard and turn it over then you'd have to look over right hand....no?

No 😊 as you pull grinder toward you, your line is visible between blade and stock, the back left side of blade, which when pulling, is actually the leading edge of the blade, cos you’re cutting backward.
I’m sure not all stone masons are doing it wrong mate. 🤣🤣
[automerge]1569710683[/automerge]
Yes when you’re pushing, as long as your blade is to the right of the line you can see it, (not always possible to be on the right unless you compensate with line measurement) but if you are, you’re stood to left of grinder, which means it’s not a natural position to be in to push forwards in a straight line.
Therefore the stock can fluctuate in its position cos you’re pushing a heavy weight forward against the blade.
Whereas, when pulling, the weight is pulling the blade, therefore pulling in a straight line is easier than pushing in straight line. 🤣
It’s easier understood whilst trying it or being demonstrated mate.
And anyway, if it snags while pushing, the grinder is ripped from your paws, taking it god knows where. If you’re pulling and it snags, far less likely because of angle of stock in relation to wheel, the grinder is forced into your body and instinctively your grip is tightened and makes for a much safer recovery.
Any more questions mate? 😁🤣🤣

 

[Dumbo]

🤯 . . . .

 

[J Sid]

I cut the reverse way, have done for years, dust sent away start away from you and pulling towards you for straight cut and turn round for mitres.
The only time you really need to watch what your doing is when you get to the last bit of the cut, close to you, it will / can grip and kick.

 

[Spare Tool]

No 😊 as you pull grinder toward you, your line is visible between blade and stock, the back left side of blade, which when pulling, is actually the leading edge of the blade, cos you’re cutting backward.
I’m sure not all stone masons are doing it wrong mate. 🤣🤣
[automerge]1569710683[/automerge]
Yes when you’re pushing, as long as your blade is to the right of the line you can see it, (not always possible to be on the right unless you compensate with line measurement) but if you are, you’re stood to left of grinder, which means it’s not a natural position to be in to push forwards in a straight line.
Therefore the stock can fluctuate in its position cos you’re pushing a heavy weight forward against the blade.
Whereas, when pulling, the weight is pulling the blade, therefore pulling in a straight line is easier than pushing in straight line. 🤣
It’s easier understood whilst trying it or being demonstrated mate.
And anyway, if it snags while pushing, the grinder is ripped from your paws, taking it god knows where. If you’re pulling and it snags, far less likely because of angle of stock in relation to wheel, the grinder is forced into your body and instinctively your grip is tightened and makes for a much safer recovery.
Any more questions mate? 😁🤣🤣

Good explanation but I'm too long in the tooth to change my methods now I think... 😂

 

[Bill]

I am confused as to what you guys are talking about - I have my grinder in a verticle position, open blade surface facing away from me and cut in the direction of the blade rotation. I see the mark line to my right and all the dust goes away to my left. My blade guard is set across the grinder body at 90°

 

[Old Mod]

Good explanation but I'm too long in the tooth to change my methods now I think

So why bloody argue with me then! 🙈🤣🤣
[automerge]1569759280[/automerge]

I am confused as to what you guys are talking about - I have my grinder in a verticle position, open blade surface facing away from me and cut in the direction of the blade rotation. I see the mark line to my right and all the dust goes away to my left. My blade guard is set across the grinder body at 90°

Photos or it didn’t happen haha 😂

Sounds like an episode of ‘Soap’ haha

 

[Spare Tool]

Wasn't arguing, just didn't realise there was so many different ways of using a grinder
[automerge]1569759897[/automerge]
@Dan how come if you try and post with full stops it says they are forbidden?

 

[Dan]

Say whaaaaaat?

It's the 5-word rule, they were being used as words. But it's clearly blocking all full stops lol

 

[Old Mod]

Say whaaaaaat?

It's the 5-word rule, they were being used as words. But it's clearly blocking all full stops lol

Not correct forum for this 😁🤣🤣

 

[Spare Tool]

I usually put a couple of full stops at the end of my posts..
[automerge]1569760036[/automerge]
There you go you sorted that quick.......😁

 

[Dan]

I usually put a couple of full stops at the end of my posts.
[automerge]1569760036[/automerge]
There you go you sorted that quick.😁

You need to just stick one really. lol

It's a sentence. Sentences end in one usually. 😉

 

[Old Mod]

I use my grinders right handed with the blade facing me but I pull towards me.
Can we see some pics please of the different ways we're cutting because I'm totally confused now?!

Are you saying you undercut with your blade then Mark?
Your bade rotates anti-clockwise with it on left side of grinder as you use it, but pull toward you?
So that your blade leading edge is actually the back of the blade?
Pics tomorrow

 

[One Day]

Are you saying you undercut with your blade then Mark?
Your bade rotates anti-clockwise with it on left side of grinder as you use it, but pull toward you?
So that your blade leading edge is actually the back of the blade?
Pics tomorrow

Yup. It works for me but I'm always open to
new ideas...

 

[Old Mod]

Yup. It works for me but I'm always open to
new ideas...
View attachment 110048

But why do you cut against the rotation Mark? If it’s polished doesn’t it chip glaze from underneath?

 

[Italy]

I am confused as to what you guys are talking about - I have my grinder in a verticle position, open blade surface facing away from me and cut in the direction of the blade rotation. I see the mark line to my right and all the dust goes away to my left. My blade guard is set across the grinder body at 90°

Same, but we are old 🙂

 

[One Day]

But why do you cut against the rotation Mark? If it’s polished doesn’t it chip glaze from underneath?

I've realised with this thread that nobody ever taught me the correct way to use a grinder to cut tiles! It just felt natural the way I do it.
I tried cutting with the blade opposite, so it's cutting onto the glaze rather than underneath it...
I can't see any advantage other than dust is thrown away...

 

[Italy]

 

[Italy]

View attachment 110061

View attachment 110062

Hard, very hard 🙂 .

 

[Bill]

This is what I do, the pencil line is to my right, so I just follow that with the blade cutting in the same direction.

 

[J Sid]

Never see one used like that Tom 😲

 

[Dumbo]

First cut I like to go with the blade rotation pulling along the cut . I haven't really thought about how I hold it
[automerge]1569860760[/automerge]
[QUOTE="AndyStileTiling, post: 957177, member: 44192]
I've just noticed I've lost my tta badge as well

 

[J Sid]

First cut I like to go with the blade rotation pulling along the cut . I haven't really thought about how I hold it
[automerge]1569860760[/automerge]

I've just noticed I've lost my tta badge as well

We are all apprentices now 🙈 nobody trust what we say anymore 😭

 

[Bill]

Never see one used like that Tom 😲

Safest way with two hands - no debris flying upwards towards my face and the dust goes away from me too. Any kickbacks are controllable with ease.

I don't understand why any of you would cut against the rotation of the blade - surely this can only stress the blade and motor.

 

[Dumbo]

Maybe bal will invent a way to use a grinder then it will british standard grinder technique

 

[Boggs]

What’s a grinder? 😂

 

[tommyzooom]

Well that escalated quickly!
I tried it today with the blade on the right, and I think it's much better. It was a bit strange as I didn't rotate the head, so the switch was on the wrong side.
One big advantage I see is ,with the blade on the right, your left hand can now hold the head/gearbox, so two hands on the tool.
I think it's the way to go, I'll rotate the head tomorrow . It shouldn't affect warranty as the option to change it is documented in the instructions