Appreciation post: I switched from a standard 4-inch grinder to a 5-inch for bevel prep and it's a game changer

I was working on some 1-inch plate for a pressure vessel last month, and my old 4-inch grinder was just taking forever to get a clean bevel. I was going through discs like crazy and my arm was killing me after an hour. My foreman, who's been at this for 30 years, told me to try his 5-inch Milwaukee. The difference wasn't just the size. The extra power and the bigger disc face let me get a much more even, consistent angle with way less pressure. I finished the same length of seam in half the time, and the bevel was smoother, which made the fit-up so much easier. I bought my own the next day. For anyone else doing a lot of heavy plate work, have you found a bigger grinder makes your prep work faster, or is it just about getting used to the tool?

3 comments

3 Comments

emmasmith1mo ago

It's the power, not the size.

jamie_clark1mo agoMost Upvoted

So you think it's all about the motor, not the bigger disc?

seth_martinez2116d ago

Gonna have to disagree a bit here. The bigger disc matters just as much as the motor. That extra inch gives you way more cutting surface to work with, so you're not burning through the edge of the wheel as fast. Plus it lets you keep a steadier angle without fighting the grinder as much.