Recommend me a tool

[Chug]

I've been repairing my old Transit and have some areas that are impossible to get an angle grinder into and I got to wondering what tool other folks use in these awkward situations. I though about a dremmel but that would be slow, a thin belt sander maybe, again probably slow, So what tool do you use/recommend?

[Mike]

A multi tool can be useful.

[dumper]

We used to use a Draper Mini Air Die Grinder but the CP type we also had a bigger version as well they both had a 1/4 drive spindle we used to use high speed metal burr’s and grind stones of different sizes and shapes.

[Chug]

Would a multi tool be able to grind welds down though?

yeah I found out a tool called a die grinder is what welding/fabrication peeps use but they're not cheap, I see there is a Makita one for around £100...hmmmm.

[metalworker0]

Air powered Thin belt sanders is what i used in tight areas, there are two sizes of machine..small takes 10mm x 330mm belts and a larger one that takes 20mm X 520mm belts.

Belts are a problem if you buy cheap ones- even some expensive ones snap within seconds ....don't buy them from screwfix, ( lots of reviews saying hopeless - avoid)

I've done the research ..bought the bad ones ...so the info below is from my buying and using experience.

Replacement belts - There are some very good belts on ebay, two makes to look out for; as being very good.

Norton top make.
Silverline (yes silverline are a budget make ...but they seem to have it well sorted, for these small belts - they are the best .....most other makes of the small belts snap in seconds, Silverline ones don't, you get full use out of them right down to the backing cloth )

all the best.mark

[Mike]

Would a multi tool be able to grind welds down though?

yeah I found out a tool called a die grinder is what welding/fabrication peeps use but they're not cheap, I see there is a Makita one for around £100...hmmmm.

A plasma cutter it isn’t, but with the right blade it’ll do small bits.

[firststrike]

Would a multi tool be able to grind welds down though?

yeah I found out a tool called a die grinder is what welding/fabrication peeps use but they're not cheap, I see there is a Makita one for around £100...hmmmm.

We have a few of these at work, Dewalt and makita as you say not cheap but we did buy a cheap chinesium die grinder last year which has turned out to be a very good tool. The spanners it came with went straight to the scrap bin . The die grinders will remove weld almost as quick as a grinder with the correct carbide burr fitted ( not cheap either) but they are a brutal tool to use ( in the wrong hands) and you can be covered in sharp little burrs. Eye protection is a must.

[dumper]

If you get a die grinder definitely use a pair of safety goggles the carbide bits give off really little sharp hot bits of metal.

[marc1234567]

Air powered Thin belt sanders is what i used in tight areas, there are two sizes of machine..small takes 10mm x 330mm belts and a larger one that takes 20mm X 520mm belts.

Belts are a problem if you buy cheap ones- even some expensive ones snap within seconds ....don't buy them from screwfix, ( lots of reviews saying hopeless - avoid)

I've done the research ..bought the bad ones ...so the info below is from my buying and using experience.

Replacement belts - There are some very good belts on ebay, two makes to look out for; as being very good.

Norton top make.
Silverline (yes silverline are a budget make ...but they seem to have it well sorted, for these small belts - they are the best .....most other makes of the small belts snap in seconds, Silverline ones don't, you get full use out of them right down to the backing cloth )

all the best.mark

This seems like a very useful tool for tight spaces.

[MinorMatt]

I ended up using an air powered mini belt sander to grind down a knackered locking wheel bolt it took a little while but it did it

[metalworker0]

They are great tool , nice and precise, completely controllable and forgiving, you're going to be only be disappointed if you get bad belts, stick to silverline or norton belts and you will be ok. 40 - 60 grade for grinding down welds, 80- 120 for fine finishing.

Don't buy belts and store them for years ..as they also break when over 5 years old (glue deteriorates) ..so only buy fresh belts, when you need them.

The tools require you to regularly oil them , either with an inline oiler or you can put a drop of air tool oil down the inlet every 15 mins of use.

Note also: these tools require a large compressor of at least 8 cfm with tank. you'd probably get away with a small "aldi" tank type compressor, if you were prepared to wait a couple mins for every 30 seconds of use.

all the best.mark

[MinorMatt]

They are great tool , nice and precise, completely controllable and forgiving, you're going to be only be disappointed if you get bad belts, stick to silverline or norton belts and you will be ok. 40 - 60 grade for grinding down welds, 80- 120 for fine finishing.

Don't buy belts and store them for years ..as they also break when over 5 years old (glue deteriorates) ..so only buy fresh belts, when you need them.

The tools require you to regularly oil them , either with an inline oiler or you can put a drop of air tool oil down the inlet every 15 mins of use.

Note also: these tools require a large compressor of at least 8 cfm with tank. you'd probably get away with a small "aldi" tank type compressor, if you were prepared to wait a couple mins for every 30 seconds of use.

all the best.mark

I've got an electric one