Dewalt xp v.s. normal cutting wheels, and everything to know about it!

In my garage im not only doing mowers, im usually cutting and making something else. I don't have a very expensive fancy garage, just a typical two car like most people so grinder is my best friend.

Most of my "shop" expenses are grinder wheels and welding wire. Im 16, really not a big income, so I save money where I can. My grinder is a Hitachi 4 1/2" grinder, and is awesome, never had something go wrong. Anyways, the thick grinder wheels are rare to burn thru, I've gone thru one since I've owned the grinder, (9 months) and so cutting wheels are my big expense. The usual size ones I get are 4 1/2" x .045" cutting wheels. ive used two brands (skill and dewalt) and I totally think dewalt is the best.

Safety with this is a big issue also, im shure everyone of us has heard a horror story about these kicking back or wheels exploding. When you have something turning 11,000 Rpm the LAST thing you want is it blowing up in your face. I wear a full face mast grinder shield incase of it "attacking" my face-I've heard story's about it.

Now with these dewalt cutting wheels, they sell them in two different ways, and two different types. They have them at Lowes sold individually or in a 5 disk pack. The different types are the normal wheels and the new, XP (extended performance) wheels. Still the same size. I buy them in a 5 pack, saves on trips to the store and saves you about 80 cents (lol).

The normal wheels are $8.28 for 5 and $2.49 a piece. The XP wheels are $13.98 for 5, and $3.08 a piece. Ive tried both, PLENTY of the normal ones (probably like 40 something)  and tried the XP ones last weekend (5 of them).

Is it worth it? To me? Nope. the amount of wheels I go thru I really don't see a difference. Then really don't explode if they get caught, fairly tough, cut great, but both seem to last the same. I say save your $5.70 for the 5 pack or the  59 cents for one. Its just to much money for something that lasts about the same.

Here are some pictures to show a little of what im doing. (these were from the last two weeks)




Links:
XP 5 pack disks: http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=317412-70-DW8851B5&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3195489&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1
XP single disk: http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=292621-70-DW8851&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=1208605&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1
Normal disk 5 pack: http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=292629-70-DW8062B5&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=1208607&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1
Normal single disk: http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=178780-70-DW8062&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=1051371&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1
Hitachi grinder I use: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hitachi-G12SR3-J1-Angle-Grinder-115mm-730-W-110-V-/350861029822?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51b0f271be

i have a dewalt 4 1/2 angle grinder and i use the regular dewalt wheels. never has one exploded. the do wear rather quickly, but not too super bad

willis923 wrote:

i have a dewalt 4 1/2 angle grinder and i use the regular dewalt wheels. never has one exploded. the do wear rather quickly, but not too super bad

Yep, dependes on what you are cutting. 1/4" will make then disappear quick.

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

willis923 wrote:

i have a dewalt 4 1/2 angle grinder and i use the regular dewalt wheels. never has one exploded. the do wear rather quickly, but not too super bad

Yep, dependes on what you are cutting. 1/4" will make then disappear quick.

i was cutting bicycle spokes