Every bonded abrasive disc carries an expiry date, typically three years from manufacture. The resin that holds the abrasive together absorbs moisture over time, and a weakened disc is one that can burst at eleven thousand revolutions a minute.
Store them flat, dry and out of sunlight. And discard any disc that has been dropped hard onto concrete — the crack that matters is not visible.
The questions welders ask
Is an expired disc definitely dangerous?
Not definitely, and the risk is not worth the euro it costs. The failure mode is a disc shattering under load, which sends fragments at the speed of the rim. Manufacturers print the date because they cannot warrant the bond beyond it.
Last reviewed 2026-08-14