Angle grinder is a multifunctional, but capricious tool that does not tolerate haste and carelessness. Breakdowns and failure are the result of careless handling or violation of safety regulations. And the most common problem when working with a grinder is jamming of an abrasive tool between the support flange and the clamping nut. How to unscrew the disk on the grinder without damaging the parts and the tool itself?

With open-end wrench and socket

Grind the working surface of the key at 17 to 4 mm in thickness. On the surface of the 24 mm socket, machine 4 protrusions so that they fall into the flange holes.

The open end wrench must be placed under the disc. Put the end head on the grinder nut and turn it with a ratchet in the direction of rotation of the circle.

Warming up

The clamping nut must be heated with a hot air gun or gas burner to make the metal more pliable. Then unscrew it with a universal wrench or by hand. But the risk of this method is that you can spoil the plastic parts and gearbox elements.

With a gas wrench

The shoulder when using a gas wrench increases, therefore, the moment of force also increases. With such a tool, it is easier to unwind jammed connections. But if you try too hard, you risk crushing the flange or breaking the spindle rotation lock.

Using a hammer drill in jackhammer mode

The puncher must be put into chiseling mode without rotation. A 6 mm drill must be placed on the end of the flange or rest against the edge of the hole. The task is to unscrew the nut, to move it from its place. After that, unscrew it with your hands or a key. During operation, you need to block the rotation of the spindle.

Disk destruction

Before unscrewing the nut on the grinder, you will have to completely crumble the disk. If it is already destroyed, you can break it with your hands. Solid circles can be sawn with a hacksaw or a metal blade. From the abrasive wheel should remain the inner metal ring and pieces that are not amenable to mechanical stress. Then you need to clamp a metal profile or any unnecessary plate in a vise, the thickness of which is less than or equal to the thickness of the disk (but not more). Then turn on the grinder and grind off the remnants of the abrasive to the landing sleeve. After that, the flange can be easily unscrewed with a universal key for angle grinders.

You can take care in advance that the tool is not clamped in the grinder:

The clamping nut for the angle grinder is included in the scope of delivery. And the most radical solution to freeing a jammed disc is to cut it and install a new one. You can find such fasteners in all power tool stores.

Angle grinder (angle grinder) or grinder has established itself as a very effective tool with which you can perform a wide range of jobs. However, during its operation, safety precautions should be followed, since the speed of the discs is very high and you can be injured. Judging by the numerous reviews, many home craftsmen have problems with discs, they often crack, and bite the nuts with which they are clamped. The reason for this may be the human factor or simply marriage. As a result, such a nozzle cannot be used for its intended purpose.

It would seem that there is nothing difficult in replacing the disk with a new one. Nevertheless, at this stage, the master is faced with a problem - the nozzle is tightly clamped with a fixing nut, which does not want to unscrew. How to remove a jammed disc from a grinder? What methods are used for this? What improvised means can be used if the standard key is lost? You will learn how to remove a clamped disc from a grinder from this article.

What is the cause of the malfunction?

Before being interested in how to remove the disc from the grinder, experts recommend understanding why the nut is biting on the angle grinder. It has been observed that this problem is predominantly observed in angle grinders, which have a significant disc size. A disk over 18 cm is considered large. Torque is generated during operation. Further, when the master begins cutting, there is a small blow. In other words, a force is exerted on the disk. If the size of the nozzle is not more than 12 cm, then this effect will be negligible. If the disk is large, then the nut is tightened more by inertia. As a result, it is not possible to dismantle it in the usual way. More information on how to remove the disc from the grinder is described below.

First way

How to remove a disc from a grinder if it is broken and tightly clamped with a clamping nut? Of course, you can try to use a special key for angle grinders or gas. However, judging by the reviews, having made tremendous efforts and wasting time, the master may not get the expected result. Dismantling is easier and faster. To do this, you need to completely break the disc with pliers. Due to the fact that small fragments will scatter during the work, the master will need goggles (mask) and gloves.

Then you need to take a metal plate, the thickness of which is less than that of the disk. With the help of this plate, its remnants will be ground off. To do this, you need to turn on the grinder, and securely clamp the metal piece with pliers. After performing these steps, the nut can be unscrewed even by hand.

If the special key that comes with the angle grinder is not lost, then it will be easier to cope with the task. For those who are interested in how to remove a disc from a grinder, experts advise first of all to fix the spindle. It is on it that the disk is located and pressed with a flange. It is dismantled with an open-end wrench. To make this technically possible, the flanges are equipped with special holes into which the key pins are inserted.

To fix the spindle, you need to press the button, which is located on the body on the back of the disk. During operation with an open-end wrench, the latch must not be released, otherwise the spindle will continue to turn. If the disc in the grinder is spinning clockwise, the open-end wrench should be turned counterclockwise and vice versa. It is important that the flange succumbs and budges. Now it can be unscrewed completely and put aside. Then the old disk is removed and replaced with a new one.

How to remove without a key?

The disk of the grinder, judging by the numerous reviews, can be dismantled using a large pipe wrench, which is popularly called a gas wrench. First of all, the master needs to dilute it so that it can completely wrap around the flange. While turning the gas key with the flange clamped in it, the spindle is held by some metal object. According to home craftsmen, this method is considered very effective. If he did not help, then experts advise to "tap" the nut with a metal bar or a thin chisel. The spindle is also fixed. The nut will start moving if you lightly tap on the flange at the very edge. Strikes should be made in the direction in which the disc is spinning. According to experienced masters, this method cannot be called safe. The fact is that you can damage the flange, namely the holes into which the pins of the open-end wrench are inserted.

Dismantling with a nail

It will not be difficult to remove a damaged disk with a key made from a nail. According to experts, its optimal size is at least 100 mm. First, the nail must be bent into a U-shape. It is important that the distance between its ends corresponds to two holes in the flange. Then, using a hacksaw from the "hundred", you need to carefully cut off the hat and the point. Now the homemade key can be inserted into the flange, fix the spindle and unscrew the mount. If it so happened that the nut was tightened very tightly, a larger lever will be required. It is necessary to insert another "weave" between the two vertical ends.

What else can be done?

If the above methods did not work, then the nut will have to be heated with a gas burner. Under the influence of high temperature, the nut will expand and begin to turn. You can also use a rather barbaric method, namely, sawing the nut with a hacksaw. Then you have to buy a new one. Some craftsmen use WD-40 penetrating lubricant. It is used for processing threaded connections. Judging by the reviews, after a few minutes the nut can be scrolled.

Finally

Although many methods have been invented to solve the jam nut problem, it is best to prevent breakage. Many masters independently equip angle grinders with washers. For the manufacture of such gaskets, cardboard or tin is suitable.

The main spare part of an angle grinder (angle grinder) is a replaceable cutting tool. An abrasive disc that rotates at high speed cuts, grinds or polishes materials. For metal processing, circles are made of abrasive chips, steel milling cutters are used for wood, and metal discs with diamond coating are used for stone. Special nozzles - brushes, petal emery wheels further expand the capabilities of your angle grinder. Next, we will find out what types of disks are, how to properly remove the old one and install a new one, and also consider possible problems that arise during the replacement process and ways to solve them.

Types of discs for grinders: how to choose the right one

The industry produces grinders and discs for them in standard sizes: 115, 125, 150, 180 and 230 mm. Angle grinder from 180 mm is used for cutting stone. The most common size of machines for home and summer cottages is 125 mm, most discs and nozzles are produced for them.

Attention! Always select a disc that matches the size of your angle grinder. You can put a disk of smaller diameter in the angle grinder. But removing the casing and putting in a disk of a larger diameter is extremely dangerous!

We offer to divide the discs according to their purpose: cutting, grinding, sharpening and peeling. Let's consider each type in detail.

Cut-off

We cut through the metal

Inexpensive disk for steel of the Luga plant

Cutting materials is the most common task in repair and construction, a simple abrasive wheel for metal will easily cut steel bar, roofing iron or plastic. These wheels are made of corundum (crystalline alumina) or electrocorundum (synthetic corundum).

Sawing a stone

The budget disc for stone is produced by the Luga plant

To cut stone, we recommend taking a special disc - they use a different abrasive - silicon carbide. He will cope with white silicate brick and slate. But red brick, tiles, and even more so concrete - they won’t succumb to it - you need to take a diamond disk.

Dissolving the tree

These are also available for the grinder

Wood cutting blades are very similar to a circular saw blade. Actually, this is a disk for a circular, only a bore diameter of 22.2 mm is suitable for a grinder spindle.

Diamond

As you know, diamond is a very hard mineral, so diamond blades can easily cope with red brick, porcelain stoneware, and tiles. The main material that is cut with diamond blades is concrete.

Diamonds must be handled with care - the disc does not cut steel, it must not be overheated. After two minutes of sawing concrete, the disc will become very hot - take a break. Cooling slots are made around the circumference of the dry cutting disc.

They produce discs for wet cutting of ceramic tiles and porcelain stoneware. Water cools the disc and washes away dangerous dust.

How to choose the thickness of cutting discs

Every craftsman knows that the thinner the tool, the better. Less material goes into chips, it is easier to saw, the cut comes out cleaner.

Discs for angle grinders 115 and 125 mm are produced with a thickness of 1.0–2.5 mm. Discs 150 and 200 mm - 1.8–4.0 mm thick. Pressed corundum powder reinforced with synthetic mesh.

Attention! The thinnest disc (1.0 mm) “walks” during sawing and breaks easily, its pieces fly at high speed in all directions. Don't forget to protect your eyes and hands.

Grinding

The next most important work that the craftsmen entrust to the grinder is grinding and polishing. Similar processing is applied to metal, wood, plastic and other materials.

Petal circle on wood: dozens of emery petals quickly cut chips

The choice of grinding discs is very wide. If you are restoring a sideboard, a petal wheel will work to remove layers of shellac. It grips large surfaces and cuts a lot of material in one pass.

The sanding attachment is a plastic circle to which sandpaper is attached with Velcro

Another nozzle is screwed onto the grinder spindle. Sandpaper is attached to it on Velcro (Velcro). For coarse processing - P60 or P80, for finer processing - P120 or P180. With a decrease in grain size, grinding smoothly turns into polishing.

Alpaca wool polishing pad

Especially for polishing, there are nozzles in the form of pillows, felt or fabric discs. Before work, a polishing paste is applied to them, for example, GOI.

grinding wheels

In fact, there are special machines for sharpening tools - sharpeners. Nevertheless, the rotating disk of the grinder is able to correct a dull ax or cleaver, knife or scythe. Taking into account the wishes of the masters, the industry produces 115 and 125 mm grinding wheels for angle grinders.

Sharpening discs turn the grinder into a grindstone

The discs are made of coarse abrasive pressed into a thick plate (more than 5 mm) with a bulge in the center. If you install such a disk on a spindle, the flange hides in a recess and does not protrude above the disk plane. Coarse grinding wheels are also used for cleaning welds.

Roughing brushes and discs

Craftsmen renovating houses from the middle of the last century are faced with the removal of oil paint from the walls. Wire cutters are suitable for this work.

Not a single paint can stand against such a steel cup

Korshchetka is a cup, around the circumference of which are steel or brass harnesses. They differ in the thickness and rigidity of the wire - for coarse and fine peeling. The brush is screwed onto the spindle with an M14 thread.

Stone grinding disc cuts old cement evenly

After removing the oil paint, the curved concrete wall must be sanded. Only a Bulgarian can cope with such a task. The working surface of the diamond grinding disc is perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Synthetic diamonds cut and smooth concrete like sandpaper on wood.

How to make a replacement

It is already inconvenient to cut with such a disk

Discs for grinders are consumables; when cutting, they wear out pretty quickly. A worn disc needs to be replaced. Let's see how to do this using the example of our Interskol-115 angle grinder.

Attention! Before work, make sure that the machine is disconnected from the mains!

Step-by-step instruction

The disc is mounted on the grinder spindle with a clamping flange with an M14 thread. To unscrew the flange, an open-end wrench is included in the grinder kit. Its pins cling to the flange holes.

Open end wrench will unscrew the flange

To unscrew the flange, the spindle must be fixed. To do this, a latch is made on the side of the case opposite to the disk. When the button is pressed, the cotter pin enters the hole of the driven disk of the gearbox and prevents the spindle from rotating.

The button fixes the spindle

We insert the open-end wrench into the flange holes. With the right hand we press the lock button, at the same time we turn the key counterclockwise with the left hand and we move the flange from its place.

Open end wrench inserted into flange holes

Our grinder rotates clockwise. If you have a different direction, remember - you need to unscrew in the direction of disk rotation.

If the flange succumbed, unscrew it by hand, remove and set aside.

Top flange removed

We remove the old disk. We don't need it anymore, we can throw it away.

Removed old disk

Remove the bottom flange.

Bottom flange removed

With intensive sawing, hardening is formed from the burnt particles of metal and abrasive from the inside of the casing. Use a steel brush to clean the casing.

The brush cleans the casing

We install the lower flange on the spindle, making sure that the flats on the flange coincide with the grooves on the spindle. Put a pad on top.

Bottom flange and gasket installed

If gaskets are not attached to your angle grinder, such a washer can be cut out of cardboard or tin.

We put the disk in place, close it with a second gasket.

New disk installed

Thanks to the gaskets, if the disc gets stuck in the material and breaks, you can still easily unscrew the flange.

We twist the upper flange by hand against the direction of rotation of the circle (in our case, clockwise), holding the abrasive disc. With your right hand, hold down the lock button and twist it with your hand until you feel resistance. We insert the open-end wrench and twist a little more, no more than a quarter of a turn. It is not necessary to tighten the flange too much, the disc will warp.

Disc replaced, angle grinder ready to go

This completes the disc replacement, you can continue sawing. Sometimes when changing a disk, obstacles arise in the way of the master. What to do in such situations - we will consider further.

Video: how to remove the old and install a new disk

Possible difficulties in the process

What to do if there is no key

The open-end key is not tied to the grinder and may well be lost. How to unscrew the flange in this case?

1. We make an open-end wrench from a nail. We take a “weave” nail, bend it in the shape of the letter “P” so that the distance between the vertical posts is equal to the distance between the holes in the flange. Cut off the tip and head with a hacksaw. We stick the resulting “key” into the flange holes and unscrew the mount, not forgetting to fix the spindle. If the nut is tightly tightened and there is not enough finger strength, we insert another nail between the vertical segments - the lever will be larger.
2. We use the gas key. We take a large pipe wrench, it is also called "gas". With such a tool, plumbers twist steel pipes. We part the key so that it clasps the entire flange. We try to move the nut from its place, securing the spindle. The gas key has a huge shoulder. If you apply force, the spindle lock will break.
3. Knocking out the nut. Take a metal bar or a thin chisel. Fix the spindle. Tap the edge of the hole in the flange in the direction of rotation of the disc. So you can move the nut out of place. This method is not the safest: the tool damages the flange and breaks the key holes.

Disc broke, flange jammed

Let's imagine that the master makes an anvil from a steel rail, cuts out the point with a grinder. The disc is skewed in the material and jammed. The motor continues to run and tightens the flange tightly. All work has stopped. How to change the disk, if now it does not unscrew?

1. We disassemble the gearbox. We unscrew the mount and remove the gearbox housing. We hold the spindle shaft with a gas wrench or pliers, twist the flange with a horn or other gas wrench. The disk is not affected by this method, you can also remove a normal, good disk. The method works even if the spindle lock is broken.
2. We use two gas keys. The method does not require parsing the grinder. Carefully break out the rest of the disk to get to the bottom flange. With the first gas key we clamp the upper flange, with the second key we hook the lower one. We turn in opposite directions.
3. We heat the nut with a torch. We heat the sunken nut with a portable gas burner. The nut will expand from heating and can be easily unscrewed.
4. Cut the flange with a hacksaw. Some craftsmen prefer to cut the stuck flange with a hacksaw. The method is barbaric - you have to buy a new nut.
5. Lubricate threads with penetrating lubricant. Spray the stuck nut with WD-40. It penetrates into narrow gaps and threaded connections. After a five-minute break, try to move the nut with a wrench.
6. Cut out the rest of the disk with a hacksaw. We break the disk with pliers, while it is possible. We remove the protective cover, insert a hacksaw into the slot and cut out the remnants of the abrasive wheel. Delicate and reliable method. It does not require parsing the grinder and hard impacts on the tool. The master must have patience, as the method will take up to an hour. The abrasive quickly erases hacksaw blades, they will need several pieces. The advantage is the preservation of the guarantee for the angle grinder, there is no risk of breakage.

Video: how to change the grinder disk if the key is lost

What are cardboard spacers for?

It's very simple and very important. To ensure that the flange always unscrews easily, a gasket must be placed between the abrasive disc and the flange. Or two - on each side of the disk.

These circles ensure that the flange does not get stuck.

Such discs can come with a grinder or you can cut them yourself.

Factories produce thin and thick abrasive discs, metal cutting wheels, and nylon brushes for angle grinder spindles. All these spare parts turn the angle grinder into a universal tool and reveal its capabilities from an unexpected angle. For example, a grinder turns into a grindstone. It is not difficult to change the disk, but the master must be aware of some features of the process in order not to get into a difficult situation.

The angle grinder is a versatile power tool. With it, you can cut steel profiles and wood, process concrete and stones, perform grinding and peeling work, sharpen hacksaws. And for each operation there is a certain circle. For example, a thin cutting wheel for a grinder cannot be used to grind surfaces - it will quickly break. How to put the disc on the grinder correctly when grinding and breaking the circle or switching to another type of work?

According to the instruction manual, replacing the disc on the grinder should be done as follows.

1. Unplug the power tool cable from the socket.
2. Press the spindle lock button.
3. While holding the grinder stopper button, unscrew the flange nut using an open-end wrench. It is necessary to turn the key for the angle grinder in the direction of rotation of the disk. If it is difficult to press the button with one hand and use the key with the other, ask someone close to help you.
4. Remove the old disk from the spindle shaft.
5. Install a new disk.
6. Secure it with a nut manually or using the same universal wrench. At this point, the stopper must be held with the other hand. Do not over tighten the nut.
7. Turn on the grinder in the network for 30 seconds at maximum speed. If the disk rotates freely, without beating, without touching the protective cover, you can start working.

An open-end wrench must be included in the delivery set of the angle grinder. Cheap grinders often come with a key of poor quality. It can break quickly (however, this happens with the tools of leading manufacturers). In the end, the key can simply be lost . How to properly install the disc on the grinder in this case, without having the right tool at hand?

The most reliable way is to simply buy a new key. You can take a standard one, for a specific flange for an angle grinder, or a sliding one, with the ability to adjust the jaws. But keys for grinders are not sold in all hardware stores, and finding the right tool can be difficult. We bring to your attention a few tricks with which you can change the disk on the grinder without a universal key and save your nerves and money.

How to change a disk on a grinder without a key?

Method 1. Use the gas key. Grasp the nut with a pipe wrench and carefully unscrew it without applying much force. Disadvantage: you can crush the nut, break the rotation lock.

Method 2. Make a homemade key for the grinder. To do this, you need a long nail (at least 100 mm). It is necessary to cut off the hat, the tip and give the nail a U-shape. It should be bent in such a way that the “tool” racks fall into the flange holes. If the nut is tightened tightly, insert any metal bar between the nail posts and, holding it with both hands, rotate the structure in the direction of the circle. At this time, you need to press and hold the spindle lock button. The method is safe, but it takes time and additional tools - a hacksaw, a vice, a hammer.

Method 3. Chisel tapping. Before changing the disc, you can treat the spindle shaft with WD-40 fluid and wait at least 15 minutes. Then put the tip of a thin chisel at an angle to the hole of the flange nut and gently tap on the entire surface of the hole with a metal hammer. Sooner or later, due to slight tapping, the nut will break, and it will be possible to unscrew it manually. The disadvantage of this method is that the holes can be damaged and the flange damaged.

Method 4. Heat up the nut. If it is difficult to unscrew the angle grinder nut with your hands, you can heat it up a little with a gas burner or autogenous. You need to unwind the flange with gloves so as not to burn yourself. This is the most risky of the proposed methods. It is possible to overheat the bearings and oil in the gearbox of an angle grinder.

Lastly, I would like to mention a few important points regarding the replacement of the disc on the grinder.

The main thing is that when changing a disk on an angle grinder, do not violate safety precautions and perform all manipulations with the tool turned off from the network.

When working with an angle grinder or, as we used to call it, with a grinder, it happens that the nut fixing the disk is clamped. In most cases, this happens with abrasive cutting discs for metal. This situation is familiar to many, and you can’t call it pleasant. There may be several reasons for this, but the main one is the jamming of the disk as a result of improper operation with the device. If you are not yet familiar with the article “How to cut with a grinder correctly”, then I recommend reading it by clicking on this one. In today's article, I will talk about how to quickly and easily unscrew a clamped nut on a grinder without damaging the tool and your nerves.

How not to try to unscrew a clamped nut

A clamped nut on a grinder is always unpleasant. Such a problem makes it impossible to work with the tool, and it takes a significant amount of time to solve it. All this is reflected in the mental state of a person, as a result of which we begin to get nervous and do not quite logical actions. I want to say that there are a number of ways to unscrew a clamped nut on a grinder that you should not use (well, of course, if your power tool is dear to you, and you don’t want to buy a new angle grinder soon).

• The nut has holes that serve to unscrew it with a special key, as well as provide ventilation and counteract excessive heating. Some "comrades" put some kind of core or hairpin into these holes, after which they hit it with a hammer. According to their logic, this method will help unscrew the clamped nut. Perhaps this will happen (and that’s not a fact), but it’s clear that the load on the gearbox will be crazy. The result is an ambulance replacement of one of the main structural elements of the grinder.
• A similar situation occurs when the same nut is welded on top, but larger, and with edges. After that, they clamp the latch and try to unscrew it with the help of a hefty collar or take a large shoulder. The result can be a broken retainer and licked teeth on the gearbox.
• Someone is trying to heat the nut with a gas burner or cutter. This method very rarely helps, and you will definitely violate the chemical properties and strength of the metal. If you need to unscrew the nut in any way, it is easier to take another grinder and cut off two parts from opposite sides. So she will loosen up and definitely succumb.

An easy way to loosen a jammed nut

And now, let's look at the most gentle way to unscrew the clamped nut on the angle grinder. I will not say that this method is a panacea for such a problem, but of all the existing possibilities, it is the most optimal.


First, you need to find a piece of metal, up to 1 mm thick. I recommend getting a plate that is even thinner, around 0.8mm.

It needs to be clamped down. The dimensions of this product do not play a special role. Whatever is at hand, then take it. The main parameter is the thickness. If you take a metal thicker than 1 mm, then nothing will come of it.

Next, you need to break off the remains of the disk. Most likely, a piece flew off from him. To do this, you can use your hands or ordinary pliers. It is necessary that one nut remains, and the remains of the disk are not visible.

You should get it like in the photo. Only a small part of the abrasive disc remains, which is sandwiched between two nuts. We need to extract it too.


Next, you need to very carefully insert a metal plate between the two nuts, where we have a piece of disk left. So let's start cutting. Now you understand why the metal should be thinner than the disc itself, clamped in the grinder.


After a while, the remnants of the disk simply wear off. You will feel it immediately, after which you need to turn off the grinder.


After performing such manipulations, unscrew the nut on the grinder even by hand. It is very important to clamp the sheet of metal in a vise. Never hold it in your hand. The most important thing is safety. Yes, and during this process the nut gets very hot, keep this in mind.

How to prevent tightening the nut on the grinder

Unscrewing a clamped nut on a grinder is quite realistic, but it is better to prevent such a problem from occurring. Of course, you can try to work with angle grinders extremely carefully and simply prevent jamming and rupture of the disk. But we are all human and often make mistakes.


There are a number of special nuts that can be easily unscrewed in the event of a clamp. Their cost is about 200 rubles. You can get acquainted with such a product at this link http://got.by/371i3w.


In addition, you can buy a special gasket that is placed between the disc and the clamping nut. Its price is only 70 rubles, you can buy it at this link http://ali.pub/371iel. You can make this gasket yourself by cutting it out of paranit or an ordinary newspaper.

Outcome

I hope my article today was clear and useful. Now you know how to quickly and easily unscrew a clamped nut on a grinder. The most important thing is to be careful and not give in to emotions. It is better to think twice than to buy a new power tool or spend money on repairs.

If you are not familiar with my colleague's article " Wooden toilet in a private house, then you can read it on this one.

Write in the comments how often do you tighten the nut on the grinder?

Instructions