There
are four basic types of Angle Grinder wheel categorised by
application or use, and two different shapes to suit both the
application and the mounting flanges or different machines.
 The four wheel types are:
Metal Cutting Wheels - for cutting steel pipe, reinforcing rod,
mesh, angle iron, sheet metal, flat and round bars and other
ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
Masonry Cutting Wheels - to cut bricks, pavers,
concrete, earthenware pipes, tiles, compressed sheet, sandstone,
marble, terrazzo, etc.
Metal Grinding Wheels - for grinding ferrous
metals such as steel, annealed iron and welds.
Masonry Grinding Wheels - to grind concrete,
stone, bricks and ceramics. These wheels are also ideal for cast
iron and non-ferrous metals.
Different Shapes
The two shapes of wheel are the flat and the depressed centre,
also known as raised hub.
Flat wheels are for cutting only, and there are
sizes available both for circular saws and angle grinders. Larger
diameter wheels (12"- 16") are for chop saws, demolition
saws or fixed (factory type) machines.
Depressed centre (or raised hub) wheels are for
angle grinders only and are available in either cutting or
grinding specifications.
Generally the term depressed centre applies to
cutting wheels and raised hub refers to grinding wheels. They are
similar in appearance, but raised hub grinding wheels are
considerably thicker and more robust.
The reason there is a choice of either a flat or
depressed centre wheel for cutting applications when using an
angle grinder is that different machines have different flange
arrangements to hold the wheel in place. A machine with straight
flanges of equal diameter will only accommodate a flat wheel,
while a machine with one of its flanges hubbed will only be able
to safely hold a wheel with a similar shape. There is one
exception: 100mm (4") angle grinders generally have two
small, straight flanges and on this size only, either a flat or a
hubbed wheel can be mounted.
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