What Can the HDII Cut? A Material-by-Material Breakdown
If you've picked up the HDII Handi-Disc and thought "what can't this thing cut?" that's the right question. The short answer is: not much. But knowing exactly what it cuts, and how, means you get cleaner results and a wheel that lasts.
Here's the full breakdown.
Why Diamond Changes Everything
The HDII runs 6 carats of 46-grit diamond across the surface and edge of a 4.5" - 9" disc. Diamond sits at 10 on the Mohs hardness scale which is the top of the chart. Anything below a 10 is going to give way before the wheel does.
That grit size matters too. At 46-grit, the HDII is more aggressive than a traditional diamond wheel. That aggression is what lets it move through hard materials quickly without loading up or burning on softer ones.
Stone, Concrete, and Masonry
This is the HDII's home turf. Granite, quartz, marble, and bluestone all cut cleanly. Standard concrete is no problem, and that includes concrete with aggregate like agate mixed in, the kind that chews through lesser wheels fast.
No lubrication needed. No special setup. Just run it.
Steel and Carbide
Any steel you put the HDII against, it's going to cut. Tool steel, AR plate, structural steel, it's all fair game.
Where it gets interesting is carbide. If you've got stump grinder teeth or bucket teeth that have gone dull, you can sharpen them with the HDII. That's not something a standard grinding disc can do.
Tile and Ceramic
Porcelain and ceramic tile cut well with the HDII. It's a practical option on job sites where you don't want to haul in a dedicated wet saw for a handful of cuts. The HDII on your angle grinder handles it cleanly.
Plastics, PVC, and Composite Decking
This is where the 46-grit aggression earns its keep. Softer materials like acrylic, PVC, and Trex composite decking can melt or bind on wheels that generate too much heat. You're not going to get that with the HDII. The heat doesn't build up, so you get a clean cut without melting or seizing.
Soft Metals: One Important Note
Stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and copper cut like butter with the HDII. But soft metals load into the wheel and the material packs into the grit and reduces cutting performance.
The fix is simple: use a cutting lubricant. A wax stick or a light cutting oil applied to the material before you cut keeps things moving cleanly. Or try out our cutting wax: Bad Dog Drool!
The Guarantee Behind the Wheel
Bad Dog Tools has been making cutting tools in Bristol, RI since 1988. If you manage to dull or wear out your HDII, it's covered by a lifetime guarantee. Send it back to us or bring it to one of the 250+ trade shows we attend every year, and we'll replace it. You cover return shipping, but that's it.
Ready to pick one up?
The HDII Handi-Disc is covered by a lifetime guarantee. Questions? Call us at 800-252-1330.
SHOP THE HDII HANDI-DISCFrequently Asked Questions
What materials can the HDII Handi-Disc cut?
The HDII cuts stone (granite, quartz, marble, bluestone), concrete, steel (including AR and tool steel), carbide, porcelain and ceramic tile, plastics (acrylic, PVC, Trex), and soft metals like stainless, aluminum, brass, and copper.
Do I need water or lubricant when cutting with the HDII?
For most materials like stone, concrete, steel, tile, and plastics, no lubricant is needed. However, water is definitely recommended to reduce silica dust. For soft metals like aluminum, brass, and copper, use a cutting wax or oil to prevent the material from loading into the wheel.
Can the HDII sharpen carbide teeth?
Yes. The diamond abrasive on the HDII can sharpen carbide-tipped tools like stump grinder teeth and bucket teeth, something a standard grinding disc can't do.
What do I do if soft metal loads into my HDII wheel?
Reverse the wheel's direction and make a pass across a piece of concrete. The concrete dresses the wheel and clears the loaded material out of the grit.
Is the HDII covered by a warranty?
Yes, by our same lifetime guarantee. If it dulls or wears out, Bad Dog Tools will repair or replace it. Bring it to a trade show or ship it back (customer pays return shipping).
Written by Joseph Strong on 15th Jul 2026 I’m JJ Strong, a mechanical engineer and third-generation tool designer at Bad Dog Tools, our American-made, family-run company built on durability and innovation. I grew up hauling booths and talking tools at trade shows before I could even drive. Now I design and build and improve our next generation of lifetime-guaranteed tools - our custom induction brazing system to our precision sharpening technology. On weekends, you’ll find me restoring my ’86 Land Rover Defender or ’54 Jaguar XK120 and seeing just how much I can build (or break) with Bad Dog Tools.