subject: So how much is that $1 Buck cutting disc SAVING you??? [print this page] So how much is that $1 Buck cutting disc SAVING you???
When I go to prospective customers they are immediately aware that I'm not a salesman. Some folks are born to sell, take for example my Pop's. That man can sell a pig a "Ham Sandwich". Me I have to work hard at selling. That's why when I started this business, I picked products that "Sell Themselves"
How doe's a product like a simple abrasive cutting disc sell it's self??? Well it go's something like this.
Lets take a commonly used item in the metal fabrication industry. For this example I'm using a type 1 4.5 x .045 x 7/8 inch cutting disc. First is an off brand disc (made by a contract MFG) that sells for $.99 cents. The second is a top quality disc made in the USA by a small company with limited brand recognition. They have only one, state of the art manufacturing facility, long term dedicated employees, top notch research and development, but don't have a "Global Presence" or million dollar marketing budget. There disc sells for $2.85 MSRP. So which one will save you the "Long Green"$$?. How can a disc that cost almost 3 time the price save you money? Here is the answer.
I took a piece of 3x3/8 scrap (in this case a worn out lawn mower blade) and mounted it in a vise. I mounted the 4.5x.045x7/8 $.99 disc on my trusty Fein wsg 14-125 5 grinder. I made 4 cuts across the profile of the scrap stock. When I finished the 4th cut I noticed a rapid increase in vibration when the grinder reached max rpm after cutting clear of the metal. I stopped and dismounted the disc, and notice a small hairline crack appearing at the edge of the mounting flange, so much for maxing out this disc.
I then mounted a Flexovit USA 4.5x.045x4/8 "Extra Fast Cut" disc. Since the other disc failed before it's maximum usage I had to make the same number of cuts, and here is the results. This is no BS, no Smoke and mirrors, just a simple comparison test.
First lets talk about the MONEY! Which one will save you the most $$$. Both discs started out at exactly 4.5 inches in outside diameter, although the $.99 disc measured out at .042 thickness, not the .045 as labeled. After 4 cuts on 3 x 3/8 stock by both discs hear is whats left.
The $.99 bargain disc lost 4 times the disc life of the of the $2.85 Flexovit disc! $.99 x 4 = $4.00$2.85 x 1 =$2.85
That's just the material cost, let not forget the labor. It take's 1 minute to SAFELY dismount, inspect, and mount a new disc on the grinder. At a conservative industry standard of $35 an hour (wages, benefits, and overhead) that comes to $.58 per disc change.$.58 x 3 = $1.75So Now that $.99 cutting disc has now cost you $5.75 in consumables and labor, and that's only if your workers have the extra discs in there reach. Add the time it takes to go to the field truck/tool crib, take a leak, sneak a smoke, or check there voice mail/text messages, and that adds even more to labor costs and lost productivity.
Now for SAFETY. The $.99 discs failure most likely was caused by 1 of 3 factors. #1 disc thickness was less than speck, 2 disc doe's not have metal reinforcement ring in mounting hole, or 3 operator error. I might have inadvertently applied too much side tork on disc. Hear is the hairline crack.
This is a simple benchmark test and in no way simulates regular usage in the field, but like I said this is no BS or smoke and mirrors, and I will be glad to prove it. I will come to YOUR SHOP with a sample and you can do this test using your labor and tools. Just give me a shout at 252-560-2114 or email me sales@ncabrasives.com
