Lancelot and Squire FAQ

Differences, Diameters
Safety and Myths
Using One and Two Blades
Universal Nut and Locknut
Angle Grinders
Safety Guard
Recommended Grinders
Tool Maintenance
Saw Chains

- North American Angle Grinders: 5/8″(16mm) and 7/8″(22mm)
- South American Angle Grinders: 5/8″(16mm) and 7/8″(22mm)
- European Angle Grinders: 14mm and 22mm. Some U.K shafts are 5/8″
- Japanese Angle Grinders: 15mm and 22mm. A 16mm center hole can be used with a bushing available from one of our Japanese distributors.
- Australian and New Zealand Angle Grinders: 14mm, 16mm and 22mm

Q: What is Lancelot’s diameter?
A: Both the 22 tooth and 14 tooth Lancelot diameters are 4″ (100mm).

Q: What tooth sizes does Squire come in and what’s the difference between them?
A: Two sizes. The finer finish model has 18 teeth, the 12 tooth is more aggressive with a slightly rougher finish. They were designed to be fitted in tandem, on top of any Lancelot or with each other, however, each model can also be used individually. They are available in the same center hole sizes as Lancelot.

Q: What is Squire’s diameter?
A: Squire’s overall blade size is 3-1/2″ (88mm) in diameter, 12mm smaller than Lancelot.

Safety and Myths

Q: Are the tools safe?
A: Yes. We have never had a chain break, discs crack or blades fly off the grinder, contrary to some of the myths out there. Not one has ever been returned through customer dissatisfaction or manufacturing defect. The simple truth is that the chain can’t break because it doesn’t move independently like a chainsaw, which rotates on a bar. The chain on every one of our products rotates as one unit locked between the top and bottom discs, the total assembly being secured by the lock nut which is further secured by its clockwise tightening when the motor turns anti clockwise. The chain can’t go anywhere as it spins in conjunction with the discs. Another design feature ensures the blades never heat up due to the cooling effect provided by the four holes and slots in each disc, maintaining their long life. The discs also have a patented anti kickback clutch action when the chain hits an immovable object like a nail or wire, however, do not force the blade and twist it in the wood during operation. Like any other cutting attachment, if twisted hard or rapidly against the sides of a deep cut you made in the wood, the forces exerted could induce a kickback. Let the tool do the cutting – it’s more than capable. We are very proud of our excellent safety record.

Please keep in mind that you must always use caution with a power tool. The biggest danger is complacency and lack of attention to the work. We have been told many times by users that they have been lulled into a false sense of security to the danger because the tools do such a fantastic job. You must always be alert and be aware that the blades travel between 10,000 – 11,000 rpm at three times the speed of a chain saw and with twice as many teeth! Used correctly, there’s nothing better or faster on the planet.

The Differences Between Using One And Two Blades

Q: Why do I need two blades? Isn’t one good enough?
A: With two blades you have more teeth, more versatility, more options, faster wood removal and shaping. You get to your final piece much quicker. Most people use two blades for their rough out carving then change down to one blade for detail work. But if your application only has need for one blade, choose either the 22 or 14 tooth Lancelot. You won’t be disappointed! It’s still blazingly fast.

Q: What center hole size do I need to fit two blades?
A: It is strongly recommended that you match center holes with the grinder’s shaft diameter. Check the grinders instruction manual or simply measure the shaft diameter. In most cases the shaft diameters on most 4-1/2″, 115mm and 125mm grinders are as follows:

- North and South American Angle Grinders: 5/8″ - European Angle Grinders: Predominantly 14mm but some grinders in the UK are 5/8″ (16mm) - Australian and New Zealand Angle Grinders: 14mm and 16mm - Japanese Angle Grinders: 15mm and 16mm.

Q: Can I mount two Lancelot’s or a Lancelot and Squire.
A: Yes, you can fit any two Lancelot’s together or one Lancelot and a Squire, in any tooth combination.

Q: What advantage is there in mounting two Lancelot’s?
A: 1) You get a 12mm wide cut with any two blades when cutting straight into or across the wood. 2) You can have anywhere from 28 to 44 teeth removing wood. 3) You will do incredibly fast, controlled wood removal and shaping. 4) All teeth are in contact with the wood when cutting/carving/shaping in a vertical position.

Q: I have a 14 and a 22 tooth Lancelot. What’s the best way to fit them?
A: Place the 14 tooth on first, then fit the 22 tooth directly on top and tighten both blades with the Universal Nut. The advantage is when using them on their face, the 22 tooth is the only blade in contact with the wood doing the work and gives you the nicest, finer finish.

Q: What advantage is there in mounting a Lancelot and a Squire?
A: 1) When you turn the blades at an angle on their face, similar to using a grinding wheel or a sander, the offset chain saw blades will all come in contact with the wood. 2) You can have between 26 to 40 teeth for either rough or fine removal. 3) They are great for removing large amounts of surface material, scalloping or convex shaping. 4) By cutting across the surface of the wood from left or right to center, (imagine removing bark from a tree or similar) you will rapidly remove huge amounts of surface wood. 5) When cutting vertically, this combination leaves unique bench or stepped cuts in the wood.

Q: What is the most versatile combination?
A: Three blades and one Universal nut. Get one of each Lancelot 22 and 14 tooth, and one Squire either 18 or 12 tooth. This way you have 1) the ability to mix and match combinations to suit your different applications, 2) use them individually for detail work and 3) get a fine or rough finish.

Q: What combination takes out the most wood?
A: Two 14 tooth Lancelot’s.This combo also provides great lateral control in cutting from left to right, right to left and repetitive side to side motions across the top of the wood.

Q: Can I use Lancelot and Squire as single blades?
A: Yes.

Universal Nut and Manufacturer’s Locknut

Q: Can I use the locknut that came with my grinder to tighten two blades?
A: No, you cannot. You can use the manufacturer’s locknut to tighten one blade only. Their locknut has a 22mm shoulder which will not allow it to tighten two blades. We designed the Universal Nut with its flat base and hexagon head specifically for the purpose of holding any double blade combination. Using a 13/16″(21mm) spanner, socket or crescent wrench, its much easier than manufacturers two pin spanners. It can also be used to tighten other accessories.

Universal Nut

Q: Is it easy to fit the blades? A: Yes. Once you’ve read the safety instructions you should be carving in less than five minutes. All you need to tighten the blades with the Universal Nut is a 13/16″(21mm) spanner, socket or crescent wrench. Our unique, custom tooled Universal Nut features a strong recessed back that also SECURELY tightens ALL Galahad and Holey Galahads to 4-1/2″ Angle Grinders.

Angle Grinders

Q: What’s the difference between an angle grinder and a disc grinder?
A: Nothing, they’re called one or the other and either of the above. Same beast, different name!

Q: I don’t have an angle grinder. What do I need?
A: The answer is “what do you want to do – use one or two blades?? Depending on your country, 4″ and 4-1/2″ grinders or 100mm, 115mm or 125mm grinders can be used. But read on!

Single blade use only: If you only ever want to use one Lancelot or Squire blade on its own you can use a 4″ or 100mm angle grinder. The blade you select must have the 5/8″ (16mm) center hole. It is important to note that with one known exception, with a 4″ and 100mm grinder you are limited to using a single blade and cannot fit a tandem combination. They’re way too underpowered for two blades. The one exception we know of is Makita Model 9501B, 10,000rpm 4.0Amp 10mm shaft but you need to order part number 224291 – 1 inner nut to fit two blades. The nut has to be specially ordered from the Makita dealer.

For tandem, dual, double blade or two blade combinations: Again, different terms meaning the same thing! You can use any 4-1/2″ or 115m and 125mm angle grinder for any tandem combination. We recommend that you use two blades with either 5/8″, 14mm or 15mm center holes, depending on your country.

For all round versatility we highly recommend using a 4 -1/2″, 115mm or 125mm angle grinder. That will allow you to fit any tandem combination as well as using them as single blades. Nearly every 4 -1/2″, 115mm and 125mm grinder is suitable for use with our blade accessories – the exceptions are certain 4 -1/2″ Skil models with a 3/8″ center shaft. While our accessories will fit all except the Skil power units, we highly recommend angle grinders that have a paddle switch versus those with a thumb controlled on/off slide switch.

Q: Why do you prefer the paddle switch over the slide switch?
A: For two major reasons. Reliability. In testing and demonstrations, slide on/off thumb switches have failed on nearly every above mentioned manufacturer’s grinders, which we then generally take in for repair. Sometimes, however, the cost is prohibitive.This downtime is a major inconvenience especially when you’re working on a weekend project and you only have one grinder. Switch failure occurs over a period of time. None of the paddle switch grinders we’ve used have failed. Ease of Operation. Depressing a switch with thumb/fingers curled around the switch is slightly easier than reaching for a thumb switch located on the top of the grinder.

In expanding this response, paddle switch grinders are easier to operate using the on/off switch on the side of the grinder. The switch is depressed with the thumb or two to three fingers, depending on the manufacturer, versus the thumb controlled on/off slide switch located on top of the grinder body. Some manufacturers have paddle switches with a locking switch. With these machines you have two choices: 1) by depressing the paddle switch and then depressing the locking switch at the base of the grinder, you do not have to hold the paddle switch down continuously while working. Any sensitive pressure on the paddle switch then shuts the motor off or 2) you can choose to hold the paddle switch down without utilizing the lock switch. When you release pressure on the paddle switch, the motor turns off, and the accessory spins slowly to a stop. Let’s also make this clear. Contrary to some opinions, a paddle/kill switch will not bring any accessory to an immediate stop. Any and all accessories fitted to angle grinders, regardless of the type of on/off switch, will spin to a complete stop up to nine seconds after the switch to the motor is turned off. An important point is that there is no noticeable difference in performance with our blades using a grinder with either a paddle or thumb slide switch, which is why we state either style is suitable.

Q: Can you recommend any specific grinders?
A:Yes. Our top picks are the following 4-1/2″ angle grinders: Rigid R1001, Porter Cable 7406, Bosch 1710A, all Milwaukee’s – 6140, 6142 6148, 6148-6, variable speed 6154, Black and Decker Industrial and Pro models, Makita 9527PB, and Hitachi G12SE. They all have the paddle switch feature and any tandem combination of two KAT blades can be used on these power tools.

NOTE: DEWALT MODEL 28402
We DO NOT recommend the 4-1/2” De Walt angle grinder, model 28402 for use with our blades.  (This grinder replaced the DW402).  It has the following major drawback.  The spacer/adaptor with a 7/8” raised round shoulder is attached to the body of the grinder at the bottom of the shaft. The limitation is that you can only fit one 7/8” (22mm) center hole blade at a time.  You CANNOT fit two blades as a tandem combination on this angle grinder. The single blades are limited to Lancelot model #’s 47814 or 47822 and Squire model #’s 37812 or 37818. Another note of warning – you cannot use DeWalt’s Quick Change Locknut – the diameter is too large to fit in Lancelot’s top disc and will not secure the blade safely on the shaft. You must tighten the blade with King Arthur’s Tools Universal Nut # 13750 (5/8”).  The diameter is designed to fit securely in any of our discs and securely tightens the blade to the 28402.  However, we strongly recommend you stay clear of this grinder, unless you already own one and still want to use a single blade.  There are other, far more suitable angle grinders that are compatible with our discs.

Dewalt 28402 NOT RECOMMENDED	LIMITATIONS Spacer fitted to body	ONLY single 7/8″ (22mm) blade will fit
LIMITATIONS Note short shaft threads	DeWalt Locknut WILL NOT WORK Diameter is too large for disc	Only KAT Universal Nut will secure SINGLE blade to this spindle

Safety Guard

Q: Why do I have to change the position of the safety guard?
A: For safety, optimum performance and carving in a comfortable position. The recommended way is the only way. For detailed information refer to the safety instructions “Warning: Safety Guard” .

Q: Can I work without a safety guard?

A: No, no and heck no! It’s not good for your health or safety. If you want to remove the safety guard for any reason, don’t use our blades. Running them without a safety guard is done so at your own risk. Please don’t under any circumstance!Q: Is it easy to change the safety guard?

A: Depending on your model grinder, it should take a few seconds with a simple turn to the left, or less than a minute if you need to make a screw adjustment. One exception is the Makita 4″ or 100mm angle grinder. Please read the next

Q: I have a 4″ Makita which has two screws securing the safety guard at 90 degrees. What do I need to do to change the position of the guard to 45 degrees?
A: This particular machine is the only one in the world that has this type of safety guard and requires an adjustment to change its position. Do NOT use Lancelot® or Squire® Saw Chain Blades on any 4″(100mm) angle grinder that requires this type of safety guard modification. This includes any and all 4″ (100mm) Makita grinders.

Angle Grinder And Chain Maintenance

Q: Should I keep my grinder clean?
A: Yes, because Lancelot and Squire remove wood shavings and sawdust so quickly. We highly recommend you air blow the body and the on/off switch clean on a regular basis as part of your normal maintenance. This will prevent shavings and sawdust accumulating in the motor windings. Additionally, if you own a thumb slide on/off switch grinder, blow under the “off” section of the switch, but only when the power is disconnected. It’s very important to keep the switch clean. If shavings accumulate under the “off” section, during operation when you depress “off”, you may experience the switch will stay locked “on” and you’ll be pressing the switch rapidly backwards and forwards until it switches off. It’s in your best interest to keep it clean.

Q: Do the chains require oil?
A: No, the only maintenance required is to sharpen the teeth. Because the chain circlet is securely locked in place between two discs and does not move independently like a chainsaw over a bar. The only parts that wear are the teeth. This is fully explained under “Safety – Are The Tools Safe?”

Q: What do I use to sharpen the teeth?
A: A standard 5/32″ or 4mm round chain saw file. You can also use a power sharpener. Some users have also said a 1/8″ file works well with the 22 tooth Lancelot and 18 tooth Squire. A good tip is to mark the first tooth on either side so you know where you start and finish. If not, you could resharpen several teeth twice and get a little frustrated in the process!

Saw Chains

Q: Is the chain replaceable?
A: Yes. We recommend having one or two spare sets on hand. It’s more convenient and saves time to replace a dull chain with a sharp one rather than sharpening blunt teeth on the job. Sharpen blunt chains in your downtime so keep your productivity up.

Q: Will a 22 tooth chain fit the 14 tooth Lancelot, or an 18 tooth Squire fit the 12 tooth? Are they interchangeable between models?
A: No. Chain is not interchangeable between different models. You must get replacement chain specific to your Lancelot or Squire tooth models. Because of the difference in fine and course tooth sizes, the discs are manufactured to match the specific chain diameters and center hole diameters.

Q: What’s the difference in chain pitch between the 22 and 14 tooth Lancelot, and the 18 and 12 tooth Squire?
A: The 22 tooth Lancelot and 18 tooth Squire are 1/4″pitch Micro Chisel: the 14 tooth Lancelot and 12 tooth Squire are 3/8″ pitch Xtra Guard. All chains are specially manufactured for King Arthur’s Tools by Oregon Chain.