kim819•3mo ago

Swapped from a 4.5 inch grinder to a 7 inch for beveling plate last month and it cut my prep time in half on a job at the Marathon refinery.

I used to spend forever chasing a clean bevel with the smaller wheel but the bigger one just eats through it way smoother, has anyone else made that switch and noticed a big difference?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancyw973mo ago

You see this with a lot of tools once you jump up a size. It's like going from a garden hose to a pressure washer for cleaning off a driveway. The bigger diameter gives you more leverage and a wider cut, so you're not fighting the metal as much. Same reason a full size pickup handles a load better than a midsize one, sometimes the extra size just makes the job feel easier.

finleyh893mo ago

@nancyw97 feels like you're overthinking it honestly. It's just a bigger tool.

lilykelly2mo ago

Oh boy, that pressure washer comparison really hits the nail on the head, @nancyw97. I have to wonder though, does that extra size ever make the tool awkward to handle in tight spaces? Because that's my main hesitation with stepping up in size. I work in a small shed and I can barely swing a full size tool around without banging into shelves. I've got a buddy who swears by his bigger set for the leverage, but he's also got a three car garage where he can lay everything out flat. I guess it depends on whether you value raw cutting power or maneuverability more. Just seems like there's always a tradeoff with these things.