What Is the Best Carving Disc for Your Angle Grinder?

As woodworkers, we can often find ourselves producing many projects with square corners and a large majority of flat surfaces. This is fine for the majority of projects. However, we’re sometimes required to explore our wood shaping capabilities.

Power carving is known to provide an excellent way of introducing some contoured surfaces into a woodworking project. It can also open up Pandora’s box when searching for designs that aren’t readily available when using traditional shop tools.

Nonetheless, the wide array of tool options available can make it challenging to identify where you should start pursuing power carving. One of the most common approaches is to add a wood carving disc for angle grinder.

You might already have an angle grinder that you use for other applications. If not, we recommend the Bosch 4-1/2-Inch Angle Grinder 1375A. Its compact and lightweight design is ideal for woodworkers and includes a powerful 6.0-amp motor.Although this narrows your choices to the types of carving discs you can purchase, you’re likely to find this approach still provides you with a significant range of options. The goal of this article is to help you understand the various carving discs you can get. This helps you pick the best carving disc for the objectives you wish to achieve.

Wood Carving Disc for Angle Grinder – Top 6 Reviews

You’re likely to encounter six common styles when searching for a carving disc. When selecting one of these discs for your angle grinder, you should evaluate each disc for its ability to perform the functions listed above and the safety associated with each unit.

The primary safety factor that you should consider is the tendency for this disc to suddenly pull or ‘grab’ when working in a non-ideal cutting environment. This might include engaging two opposing surfaces at once or working on a knot.

The top 6 types of carving discs we’re going to discuss are:

• Kutzall Extreme Shaping Disc

• ARBORTECH Turbo Plane

• King Arthur Tools Lancelot 14-Tooth Disc

• Graff Speed Cutter

• ToolCool Shaping Disc

• AxPower Six-Tooth Carving Disc

Let’s dive in!

Kutzall Extreme Shaping Disc

This disc provides a unique rasp-like design and includes tungsten carbide teeth. This feature is equipped to abrade the surface instead of cutting it. You can have a satisfying experience when shaping wood with this disc. This is because the design offers a controlled and user-friendly contouring experience.

The shaping disc is built to maneuver through softwood, hardwood, tight spaces, and knots without challenging the operator’s ability to maintain control. The teeth can extend to the edges, tapering carefully to a gentle rim that can be used for detail work. This exceptional controllability allows you to achieve the shape that you desire without any learning curve.

However, the rasp design doesn’t provide a smooth surface commonly associated with planning-style discs. Nonetheless, the sanding required when using the Kutzall Extreme Shaping Disc is minimal. This abrasive action causes the disc to produce dust instead of shavings, which creates a messy working environment.

The stock removal performance of this shaping disc is good. Yet, it doesn’t match up to the turbo plane. If you’re searching for higher performance, Kutzall also provides a more aggressive tooth geometry in the design of the brand’s ‘coarse’ model.

The ARBORTECH TURBO Plane

This high-quality carving disc is designed to operate similarly to a planer. It includes carbide cutters welded onto a stable steel frame. Additionally, the cutters are equipped to provide a shearing action to the wood. This generates a convenient stake of wood shavings instead of dust, as it’s designed to remove stock.

The disc includes a turbo plane, which rapidly removes stock. Moreover, it excels at flattening uneven shapes while scooping out material. The cutters don’t extend to the top of the disc. Thus, the non-cutting top edge is commonly used for pattern cutting. An example might be a bearing on a router bit, which is handy for projects that include detailing a rocking chair seat.

However, the inclusion of a non-cutting top edge means that this Turbo Plane isn’t the ideal choice if you wish to perform detailed work. This is because such work requires cutting on the disc.

Nonetheless, a well-liked feature about this turbo plane is that leaves a superbly smooth surface. You can typically expect the disc to be a little grabby when hitting knots, particularly when working with hardwoods.

King Arthur’s Tools – Lancelot 14 Tooth

This Lancelot model includes a chainsaw style in the design, which aids in creating a cutting action capable of rapidly removing stock for any cut style. When doing this, the disc leaves a rough surface. One of the most well-liked features of this carving disc is that it excels at stock removal.

However, it’s also known for aggressively cutting, which generally leads to frequent jerking and grabbing. This makes it one of the most difficult tools to control. Its propensity to kick back and grab can be a problem for any new carvers, as these carving discs are difficult to control.

GRAFF Speedcutter

This Graff Speed Cutter is designed with a saw blade that optimizes carving functions. This is done by modifying the tooth positioning and geometry. Additionally, the carving disc offers versatility, as it doesn’t only perform all the specified carving functions (detailing, rounding, and scooping). It can also be used for occasional cutting duties with the inclusion of the 1/8” kerf. These duties might include lopping off a workpiece’s end that you’re carving.

Although this utility tool was adequate at concave shaping, flattening, and convex shaping functions, it doesn’t offer excellent performance. In most instances, this carving disc leaves a fairly rough surface. Additionally, we noticed it tends to grab a little on knots and hardwood. Nonetheless, it offers excellent control for detail work with its thin kerf.

MINGRUI Shaping Disc

Its unique and lightweight fan-style design provides controlled and slow stock removal. This disc is perfect for rounding or scooping over applications. Additionally, it leaves a nice surface behind. The disc’s gentle cutting action generates a safe carving experience.

When using it, you can’t detect any tendency for the tool to begin grabbing and creating an unsafe situation. Nonetheless, the large radius edges aren’t ideal for intricate work. Moreover, the manganese steel cutters are known to dull more rapidly than other tools. It’s also more challenging to sharpen these blades.

AxPower Six-Tooth Carving Disc

If you want a lower-cost planer-style tool, the AxPower six-tooth carving disc is the right tool for you. Its design is less refined and simpler than the turbo plane while having a smaller radius. Moreover, the carving disc has a more aggressive cutter profile. The teeth extend 3/16’’ past the disc’s base, which is larger than the turbo plane’s 1/16’’.

The exposed teeth length is associated with various safety concerns. Additionally, the build quality on this carving disc is low, as many customers complained about chipped teeth and other construction flaws.

Types of Angle Grinder Wheels

Angle grinders are versatile power tools that are widely used in various applications, from cutting and grinding to polishing and sanding. There are several types of angle grinder wheels available, each designed for specific tasks and materials. Here are some common types:

Grinding Wheels: These are the most commonly used wheels for angle grinders. They are typically made of abrasive materials such as aluminum oxide or silicon carbide. Grinding wheels are suitable for tasks like removing excess material, smoothing rough surfaces, and shaping metal or stone. Check on Amazon: DEWALT Grinding Wheel, DW4523.
Cutting Wheels: Also known as cutoff wheels or abrasive discs, cutting wheels are designed for precise cutting of metal, masonry, or other materials. They have a thin profile and are reinforced with fiberglass or other materials for added strength and durability. Check on Amazon: Dremel EZ456B- 12 pieces 1 1/2-Inch Cut-Off Wheels.
Wire Brushes: Wire brushes are used for surface cleaning, rust removal, and deburring tasks. They feature bristles made of steel wire or other materials, and they come in various configurations, including cup brushes and wheel brushes. Check on Amazon: Forney 72745 Wire Cup Brush, Coarse Crimped with 5/8-Inch-11 Threaded Arbor.
Flap Discs: Flap discs consist of overlapping abrasive flaps on a backing plate. They combine the functionality of grinding wheels and sanding discs, providing both stock removal and smooth finishing capabilities. Flap discs are ideal for grinding, blending, and finishing applications. Check on Amazon: WORKPRO 20-Pack Flap Discs, 4-1/2-Inch, 40 Grit.
Sanding Discs: Sanding discs, or abrasive discs, are used for sanding and finishing surfaces. They are available in different grits for various levels of surface refinement. Sanding discs are commonly used for woodworking, metalworking, and other applications requiring a smooth finish. Check on Amazon: POWERTEC 110680 4 x 36-Inch Sanding Belts, 80 Grit Aluminum Oxide.
Polishing Pads: Polishing pads are used for buffing and polishing surfaces to achieve a high-gloss finish. They are typically made of foam or felt and are used in conjunction with polishing compounds to restore shine to metal, stone, or other materials. Check on Amazon: SPTA 5-Inch Backing Plate for Polishing Pads, with 5/8″-11 Thread.

It’s important to select the appropriate wheel for your specific task and material to ensure optimal results and safe operation. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and safety guidelines when using angle grinder wheels.

What should you not cut with an angle grinder?

Angle grinders are powerful tools that are capable of cutting through a variety of materials. However, there are certain materials that should not be cut with an angle grinder due to safety concerns or potential damage to the grinder itself. Here are some examples of materials that are generally not recommended for cutting with an angle grinder:

Material	Explanation
Concrete or Masonry with Rebar	Cutting through concrete or masonry that contains embedded steel reinforcement (rebar) can pose a significant risk. The high-speed rotating disc of an angle grinder may cause sparks and potentially damage the grinder or lead to dangerous situations if the disc gets caught in the metal reinforcement.
Glass or Ceramic	Angle grinders are not suitable for cutting glass or ceramic materials. These materials are brittle and prone to shattering when subjected to the high-speed and intense pressure generated by an angle grinder. Dedicated tools such as tile cutters or wet saws are better suited for cutting glass or ceramic.
PVC or Plastic Pipes	When cutting PVC or plastic pipes with an angle grinder, there is a risk of the material melting or warping due to the heat generated by the disc. It’s recommended to use dedicated tools like pipe cutters or saws specifically designed for cutting plastic materials.
Hardened Steel	Cutting through hardened steel, such as hardened bolts or hardened tool steel, is challenging for most angle grinder discs. Hardened steel requires specialized cutting tools like carbide-tipped saw blades or abrasive cutoff wheels specifically designed for cutting hardened materials.
Thin or Small Workpieces	Angle grinders are powerful tools, and using them to cut thin or small workpieces can be risky. The force and vibration generated by the grinder can cause the workpiece to move or get caught in the disc, leading to potential injury. It’s advisable to use appropriate clamps or fixtures to secure small or thin workpieces before cutting.

Always consult the manufacturer’s guidelines and safety instructions for your specific angle grinder model. Additionally, use the appropriate cutting disc or blade recommended for the material you intend to cut. If you’re unsure about whether a particular material is safe to cut with an angle grinder, it’s best to seek guidance from professionals or experts in the field.

What Are the Basic Functions of a Carving Disc?

A carving disc can perform four basic functions, which help woodworkers employ the necessary techniques to their projects. Nonetheless, the build quality and design of a carving disc play a role in how effective it is at each task. These functions include:

Cutting detailed lines – This is helpful when creating shadow or face lines.

Flattening an irregular shape – These shapes are typically found at the bottom of a log and the carving disc can be used to cut the log into boards on a bandsaw.
Rounding over or chamfering – You want to use a carving disk if you wish to create a convex shape around any wooden edges.
Scooping out any material – A carving disc can be used to create a concaving shape in any piece of wood. This process is commonly done when removing the bulk of material for a tray or a bowl.

Wrapping It Up

When looking at these options, we believe the best carving disc for your angle grinder is the Kutzall Extreme Shaping Disc. This is because it offers outstanding control while you can perform carving while gaining a safe operation.

The innovative design offers a non-intimidating introduction for newbies wanting to experience power carving. Moreover, the disc’s durability and performance are also bound to attract production users.

For those looking for a more economical option, we recommend picking the Graff Speed Cutter. This product provides excellent versatility. Otherwise, you might find the ToolCool more suitable. It’s known for offering a safe experience when performing gentle rounding and scooping. Both of these come at a reasonable price point.