Bolt/ Cable cutters

[Vicente]

Just to advocate for the devil, would a steel wheel be worse if it did fall apart while working? With the normal wheels, I feel like they are light enough to not come flying through my helmet mesh guard and my safety glasses.

If it did maybe, but the odds of one of those steel wheels breaking is incredibly miniscule in comparison to the composite wheels, if you haven't seen pictures of accidents from angle grinder wheels breaking I recommend looking it up.
The steel they use for those wheels is carefully selected for toughness and durability and not hardened to the point breaking is very likely to occur you could put a huge bend in them before they should break.

 

[flushcut]

Kickback potential is higher with the metal discs as well as decibel levels. Fiber wheels explode if they bind and can go thru a mesh face screen even embed themselves in safety glasses. Neither one is perfect, IMO.

 

[Vicente]

Kickback potential is higher with the metal discs as well as decibel levels. Fiber wheels explode if they bind and can go thru a mesh face screen even embed themselves in safety glasses. Neither one is perfect, IMO.

I've cut a lot with the steel disc's never had an issue with kickback use both hands and keep the guard on, neither kick back or noise is any worse than a chainsaw, the Diablo blades are thinner than the ridgid ones with a smooth edge so lower chance of kickback.

 

[Dan Cobb]

I've cut a lot with the steel disc's never had an issue with kickback use both hands and keep the guard on, neither kick back or noise is any worse than a chainsaw, the Diablo blades are thinner than the ridgid ones with a smooth edge so lower chance of kickback.

I like the diamond coated steel discs as well, both metal cutting and masonry cutting. I really like that the diamond discs last a very long time.

 

[ATH]

Maybe I need to try again...I tried a diamond disc but it was the Menard's brand (Masterforce, maybe?). It was decidedly slower. I'll look for a Diablo blade.

 

[evo]

Just to advocate for the devil, would a steel wheel be worse if it did fall apart while working? With the normal wheels, I feel like they are light enough to not come flying through my helmet mesh guard and my safety glasses.

It’s not uncommon for a composite cut off to imbed 1-1.5” into a 2x4.. I’ve seen a .22 do less
Granted I’ve never used a steel wheel other than for cutting tile, but I would say a composite is much more fracture prone, the smallest of Knick or inadvertent bump or drop can crack em

 

[colb]

It’s not uncommon for a composite cut off to imbed 1-1.5” into a 2x4.. I’ve seen a .22 do less
Granted I’ve never used a steel wheel other than for cutting tile, but I would say a composite is much more fracture prone, the smallest of Knick or inadvertent bump or drop can crack em

I've cracked some composite ones. Seems to be a function of how well I keep it aligned in the kerf.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

On advice in another thread about cutoff discs I tried a few different brands and configurations. Previously I’d used Pferd fiber discs and really liked them

The convincing feature to change over to discs with diamond or other grit was that the disc didn’t loose diameter like fiber discs. Having the depth of cut stay full size is soooo nice!

I’m not sure which brand I’m using now. Diablo performed well The difference in price is so small I’ve found that the ones that cost a little more perform
Better

My tinkering mind was put in motion when sparks came into the discussion.

My Rube Goldberg Engineering idea would include a water bottle with a drip tube/valve to quench the sparks like is used for cooling machine cutters. Lol. Probably easier to use a toothed cutter rather than abrasive though. If anyone runs with my idea don’t forget my royalties in your pricing schemes lol!