This Saturday I was forced to do a little mechanical work. One of my leaf springs snapped in half while carrying a heavy load. Luckily there was a local company who specializes in custom leaf springs! Getting a replacement set was not a problem. However, removing my old springs were. The bolt's were frozen in place. Impacting, heating, lubing, a lot of cussing, and maybe a little crying :'( did not do the trick! I was left with one option.... cut the old bolts out. I had my trusty DEWALT DC411 Angle Grinder, but no wheels. So I went shopping for a 4 1/2" cut off wheel. No major power tool suppliers were open after 12 on a Saturday, so I headed off to my local Home Depot. I bought up a Norton Type 1 cut off wheel and headed home. Not even half way through my first bolt the wheel was done!
So I decided to add in this article and go shopping for cut off wheels at the local big boxes! I went to Lowes, and all they had were two different Dewalt wheels. Model DW8062 High performance, and the Dewalt DW8851 Extended performance. I went back to Home Depot and bought another Norton Wheel Model 01617, and a Hilti Model 00253777. I also went to Sears and bought the Craftsman Model 28444. After that I headed off for my last stop at the local Harbor Freight, and bought the Central Pnuematic 5 pack Model 66394, and the Chicago Electric 10 pack, Model 45430.
Once I got home, I put them all to the test! I had some old #4, 1/2" rebar laying around, so I decided to use that for my cutting test. Not near as hard as my bolt's, but close enough to get an idea for the best BANG FOR THE BUCK!
Below are the specs, and a breakdown of "Price per cut" and the price I paid at my local big boxes! I understand that hot deals come along, or bulk pack buys! However this should give you an idea on some very common Type 1 Cut Off wheels, and there performance.
Starting from Best to Worst!
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Dewalt
Model DW8062
4.5" x .45 x 7/8"
13,300 Max RPM's
Made in Slovenia
$1.97
16 Cuts, $0.12 Cuts per Dollar.
<![CDATA[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/CHUqjuJ5fmc&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/CHUqjuJ5fmc&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0</a>]]> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago Electric
Model 45430
4.5" x .40 x 7/8"
13,200 Max RPM's
Made in Russia
$0.79
5 Cuts, 6.3 Cuts per Dollar. 
<![CDATA[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ncLrnnY_BdE&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/ncLrnnY_BdE&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0</a>]]> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Pneumatic
Model 66394
4.5" x .25x 7/8"
13,300 Max RPM's
Made in Russia
$0.99
4 Cuts, 5.02 Cuts per Dollar. 
<![CDATA[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/elB5n3sWO1s&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/elB5n3sWO1s&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0</a>]]> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sait
Model A60S-23101
4.5" x 0.45 x 7/8"
13,300 Max RPM's
Made in USA
$2.44
8 Cuts, 3.27 Cuts per Dollar.
<![CDATA[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vawsx7JZc0M&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Vawsx7JZc0M&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0</a>]]> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dewalt
Model DW8851
4.5" x .45 x 7/8"
13,300 Max RPM's
Made in Germany
$2.97
8 Cuts, 2.69 Cuts per Dollar.
<![CDATA[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/6g4OB2KLoQk&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/6g4OB2KLoQk&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0</a>]]> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Craftsman
Model 28444
13,580 Max RPM's
4.5" x .40 x 7/8"
Made in China
$2.99
5 Cuts, 1.67 Cuts per Dollar 
<![CDATA[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/KkblsaDS8qU&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/KkblsaDS8qU&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0</a>]]> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norton
Model 01617
13,580 Max RPM's
4.5" x .40x 7/8"
Made in China
$1.89
3 Cuts, 1.58 Cuts per Dollar 
<![CDATA[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/9GXdsw6enNk&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/9GXdsw6enNk&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0</a>]]> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hilti
Model 00253777
4.5" x .40x 7/8"
17,000 Max RPM
Made in USA
$3.58
5 Cuts, 1.39 Cuts per Dollar. 
<![CDATA[<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/2_ZMqRetr10&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/2_ZMqRetr10&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0</a>]]> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
