• Cutting Disks: Thin, designed to slice through material like metal or masonry. They should only be used for straight cutting.

• Grinding Disks: Thicker, designed for material removal and smoothing on the surface of the workpiece.

• Flapper Disks: Consist of overlapping abrasive flaps attached to a hub. They are used for aggressive stock removal, blending welds, and finishing, offering a combination of grinding and finishing in one product.

The diameter and bore size (arbor hole) of the disk must match the specifications of your angle grinder or cutting machine. Always check your tool’s manual for the maximum disk diameter and required bore size before purchasing.

Abrasive Accessories is a broad term that includes smaller abrasive tools and components not typically categorized as disks, such as wire brushes, sanding pads, quick-change disk systems, or specialized mandrels used with rotary tools.

• Diamond Blades: Many are designed for both wet and dry use, but some are specialized. Wet cutting generally extends the blade life and reduces dust. Always check the individual product description for its specific rating.

• Abrasive Disks (Cutting/Grinding): These are almost exclusively designed for dry use.

Diamond blades use industrial diamonds embedded in a metal matrix (segment) around the edge, making them highly effective and durable for cutting hard, non-metallic materials like concrete, stone, tile, and brick. Standard cutting disks use abrasive grains (like aluminum oxide or silicon carbide) and are usually consumed during the cut.

• Segmented: Has individual segments separated by grooves. Best for fast, rough cuts in concrete, brick, and block.

• Continuous Rim: Has a solid, smooth rim. Best for clean, chip-free cuts in tile, porcelain, and glass.

• Turbo: Has a continuous, serrated, or ridged rim. Provides a balance of speed and finish, suitable for hard materials and general purpose cutting.

The grit number refers to the size of the abrasive particles.

• Lower numbers (e.g., 40, 60): Mean coarser, larger particles, ideal for aggressive material removal (stock removal) and shaping.
  
• Higher numbers (e.g., 80, 120): Mean finer, smaller particles, ideal for finishing, blending, and surface preparation.

For optimal performance and safety, hold your angle grinder so the disk is at a 5 to 15-degree angle to the workpiece when using a grinding disk, and a slightly larger angle (around 15 to 25 degrees) for a flapper disk.

Always wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including:

• Safety glasses or goggles.

• Work gloves.

• Dust mask or respirator.

• Hearing protection.

• Ensure the disk’s maximum RPM (revolutions per minute) is equal to or greater than the RPM of your power tool.

No. You should never do this.

• A thin Cutting Disk is not designed to withstand lateral pressure and could shatter if used for grinding.

• A thick Grinding Disk will perform poorly and overheat if used for cutting, and is generally not safe for that purpose. Always use the right tool for the job.