Flap discs

[DDA52]

I have used Lehigh Valley's as well, but won't recommend them. My standard disc I get from my LWS will last 5x longer...at close to the same price. You do get what you pay for in abrasives.

[Vicegrip]

I use a Walter brand. Kinda of expensive, but they work great. Also I like the ones with the hub in them, alll ready threaded so requires no wrench to change. You usually pay for what you get, but if you only use it once in ahwile cheap is OK.

i also like the Walter flap disks. You can swap them on and off the angle grinder and they stay concentric. Non threaded disks can and often get a little off center and when you use them some they get round and run smooth. If you take the disk off and then reuse it they are off center and cutting rough untill they wear in. I use standard grinding wheels for large area removal and then flp disks for finish or detail work. The Norton stuff at Home Despot are junk even the ones with hubs.

[HMW]

Here is the web site for the ones I use, and we use them at work also, very good get them from LWS. The cut off wheels are well worth the money, last lots longer than cheaper brands

http://www.jwalterinc.com/walter_us/...8&cbopgroup=45

[tacmig]

One thing I think we all forgot to mention is that we all have a different hand. I can make a disk last 2 and even sometimes 3 times longer than my guys who can grind down a chop saw cut-off blade in no time. I think that sometimes they have contests to see who can go through the most blades and disks in a week!? So I think that perhaps this thread may be a bit subjective in nature. However, I did notice that Monte may have been equally interested in our experience with flap disks as he is not a frequent user of them. To this I would say that for fine finish, flap disks are a must and as far as the actual disk itself I guess my advice would to start cheap and work your way up until you have found the brand that works for you..

TacMig

[tnjind]

tacmig,
You said it.

Cheap stuff works for me. But no sharp edges, easy pressure, pay attention.
They can last or they can go away quick depending on the person using it.

[fun4now]

FWIW: here is a side by side of a walter and a vally disk. keep in mind the walter is a 60 grit and the Vally is a 120, so that will have some effect in the thickness.
i very much like the walter disks but as a hobby guy or even a small business on a tight budget the Vally disks are a better option. they are a quality disk with good life to them. perhaps not as good as the walter but at a 4 to 1 price difference its hard to justify the walter's on a tight budget.

[Dmaxer]

FWIW: here is a side by side of a walter and a vally disk. keep in mind the walter is a 60 grit and the Vally is a 120, so that will have some effect in the thickness.
i very much like the walter disks but as a hobby guy or even a small business on a tight budget the Vally disks are a better option. they are a quality disk with good life to them. perhaps not as good as the walter but at a 4 to 1 price difference its hard to justify the walter's on a tight budget.

C'mon. That comparison is nowhere near apples to apples. The thickness of the grit coatings alone will account for the difference....even if both were the same brand. I like Lehigh Valley too. Let's try to be objective.

[fun4now]

i never said they were the same, did you read my post at all or just look at the pic. its just what i had on hand. i did mention keep in mind the walter is a 60 grit and the Vally is a 120, so that will have some effect in the thickness.

i may have an 80 grit in the vally i'll look tomarow 4 shore, it may even be an 80grit, i just know i had more 120's then 80's

[fabricator]

Anyone try the ceramic grain yet? I just ordered 26, 4-1/2 inch.(12 60 grit,7 80 grit,and 7 120 grit) gonna give them a try.they claim to last much longer. for $ 2.35 each that aint bad.
on a seperate note,dont wast your money or time with DETROIT INDUSTRIAL TOOL. those people continually call trying to sell me something.well this time when they said they have a new disk that performs as well as a flap disk but lasts twice as long and made in the U.S.A i said sure send me 25.well these look and grind EXACTLY like a standard 1/8 grinding disk.(they also claim that they were flexable) NOT! I payed $96 with shipping and they had china stamped on them.

[Handy560]

That whole thing with the advertising U.S. made and then being made in China really pisses me off

They play on our sentiments and of course I try to back up American workers when I can; sometimes even if it means paying a bit more.

I did a house for a guy who owned a big guitar company. He advertised "Made in USA" and someone found a "Made in China" sticker on one. Got sued and Feds fined him millions...

Of course, the same guy tried to stiff my for like $15K.

I wonder how "flexible" they'll think they are if ya shove them up their @ss.