On Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:44:50 -0500, Jim Elbrecht
wrote:

On Wed, 14 Dec 2011 19:36:32 -0500, "Robert Green"
wrote:

My recent padlock cutting requirement has led me to believe I need to
acquire something a little bigger and faster at cutting through metal.

Which is a more useful tool all around? An electric angle grinder or a 4'
long bolt cutter?

In *my* shop? 5 4" angle grinders [with different wire brushes and
cutters on 4 of them- and a spare in case one breaks. After all,
they are mostly $12 HF specials]


Didn't know they were so inexpensive.
What are you using them for?
Air or electric?
I do mostly auto wrench turning and never felt the need for one.
When I use a hacksaw or a Dremel cut off wheel on a bad bolt that heat
won't loosen, it's always in a place that's a tight fit.
If I did my own exhaust work anymore I might use one, but when I did I
can't recall ever having a big problem using wrenches and a hacksaw.
Once in a while I find myself cutting angle iron or bar stock with a
hacksaw - and I wish I had a band saw.
Don't use a power wire brush often, and either I use the one on my
bench grinder or chuck one in a drill.
Sharpen hand tools and mower blades on the bench grinder.
Haven't had to remove many padlocks.
If there was no bolt cutter handy, the few I've had to remove yielded
to laying a wrench on the body inside the shackle and one whack of the
hammer.
I was dumbfounded when Robert mentioned using an angle grinder to cut
off the head of a key.
Seems like massive overkill when a vise and hacksaw does that in 30
seconds.
Anyway, I'm just looking for some excuses here to buy an angle
grinder. Won't take much to get me there.

--Vic