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Dremel vs Angle Grinder for Cut n' Fold

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Old Sep 3, 2012 | 01:50 PM
  #1  
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Default Dremel vs Angle Grinder for Cut n' Fold

In the interest of doing some of the stuff to my Heep on my own volition I was going to tackle the cut n' fold for the front and rear wheel wells (not necessarily the rear 1/4s).

With that in mind, would a dremel be enough to make my vertical cuts in the rear as well making the horizontal trims needed to open the front wheel wells? I feel that a dremel is more capable of being used in a various positions vs. an angle grinder.


Was hoping to get some thoughts from people who have done/tried both or something as simple as "get an 18v grinder and stfu". I don't have the garage or time to sacrifice for major overhauls/installs but I do have a few hours here and there to make some smaller improvements.
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Old Sep 3, 2012 | 01:59 PM
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It will take forever with a Dremel.
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Old Sep 3, 2012 | 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by SeriousOffroad
It will take forever with a Dremel.
X2! Cutting my fenders I used about 20 dremel discs and ended up smoking the dremel in the process.
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Old Sep 3, 2012 | 02:59 PM
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Thanks guys. I live in a real small town and I knew I could get a dremel and cut off discs pretty readily but I have not seen larger 18v tools aside from drills. I'll poke around and see if I can't get lucky.

Need a de-burring bit also since the PO put a cowl-induction on and it looks like they just drilled out holes rather than using a hole-saw ?.?
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Old Sep 4, 2012 | 11:25 AM
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Stop by Harbor Freight's website. You can get a CORDED angle grinder and discs for $30 or less.

I've had mine for a few years now, it still works.
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Old Sep 4, 2012 | 11:43 AM
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I used a saws all with fine tooth blade 24tpi I think. Easy.
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Old Sep 4, 2012 | 11:58 AM
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i did a cut and fold yesterday. i used my dremel and 2 packs of reinforced dremel cut off wheels. i started out using a $5 pawn shop jigsaw and a good metal blade. hell, i used the jigsaw to cut the rear fenders and it worked better then i thought. plus i was able to get the dremel up in the quarter panel alot better then the angle grinder. but, use what you got.
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Old Sep 4, 2012 | 12:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Gee oh Dee
Stop by Harbor Freight's website. You can get a CORDED angle grinder and discs for $30 or less.

I've had mine for a few years now, it still works.
That's amazing. They've always been use and burn for me. My dewalt on the other hand has taken a few hundred hours of abuse over the last few years and still works great.
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Old Sep 4, 2012 | 12:15 PM
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I bought the HF grinder too, took off the guard (not advised) and slapped a 6 inch wheel on it (its super sketchy) but it will cut through anything, and I can get in tight places with it since it has the larger wheel and no guard!
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Old Sep 4, 2012 | 12:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Xj88
I bought the HF grinder too, took off the guard (not advised) and slapped a 6 inch wheel on it (its super sketchy) but it will cut through anything, and I can get in tight places with it since it has the larger wheel and no guard!
The guard is always the first thing to go. I started laughing when I read this, as I use a 6" wheel on my 4.5" grinders a lot also.
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Old Sep 4, 2012 | 12:32 PM
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Hell, i figured why not..so long as your careful and know the wheel is tight its not gonna fly off. The guard is really just for sparks. I havent ever used a guard on it haha!
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Old Sep 4, 2012 | 01:14 PM
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I have one cutoff with the guard and my air one without a guard. The air one is kinda scary at times, but will cut through most any steel, except stainless.
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Old Sep 4, 2012 | 01:26 PM
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My HF grinder has seen a LOT of use, and is still going strong. Even came with spare brushes for the motor. Just get the one with the paddle switch not the on/off switch.
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Old Sep 4, 2012 | 01:47 PM
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I used a hack saw to do the slits on my friends jeep turned out well
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Old Sep 4, 2012 | 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Kuro89
I used a hack saw to do the slits on my friends jeep turned out well
man that must have taken
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