41/2 grinders

[David Maddux]

My Porter Cable grinder wore out after over 15 years of service. What is everyone else being satisfied with these days? I was thinking of trying a Dewalt. Dave.

 

[Paul from MI]

I've had good service with all the other Dewalt stuff I own, and seen some good deals on their grinders lately. I think I'd try it. My old Makita is still going strong after nearly 20 years.

 

[Cliff(VA)]

A couple of years ago one of our members ran a real torture test on 4 1/2" grinders. You might find the thread enlightening to read.

Cliff (VA)
jmixigo Grinder Torture Test

 

[Fawteen]

At my previous job, I was the assistant maintenance manager. Our shop did a LOT of metal fabrication and we issued 4.5 grinders to all our maintenance guys. Makita, Hitachi and Milwaukee could take the load. The DeWalt's our tightwad purchaser tried lasted about 2 weeks.

To be fair, he bought the cheapest DW's he could find, but he wasn't long going back to the $100-$200 class tools mentioned above.

 

[glennster]

i have 2 milwaukee 's that have given good service, also have a metabo, which is really a nice grinder but on the spendy side. the metabo has a soft start, when you pull the trigger, it spins up slow so you dont get the initial "torque twist".

 

[RodinNS]

I doubt that there's any of them that will really stand up today.
What I do... I have a 7" Hitachi that I've had for 15 years or more now. That does the heavy grinding and takes the abuse. That's a grinder that I can LEAN on and it keeps going. If it lugs too much it trips a 15 amp breaker.
Problem: it's too damn heavy for light, fine work or tight quarters.
For that stuff I have a 5" Dewalt. I went with the 5" because it has a 7 or 8 amp motor as opposed to 5 amp or so on a lot of the 4-1/2" grinders... so it takes quite a good load. It's still a small grinder tho. Manuverable, etc. This one also has a paddle trigger which is good for some things and a pain for others. Your mileage may vary. I just find it ahrd to lock and keep locked when I don't want to hold it all day.
It's probably about a 100 buck grinder.
I also have a 20 buck Mastercraft, again with a 8 amp motor. It's got lots of power but it's heavier than the Dewalt, harder to hold and vibrates like hell... Quality... not nearly as good in my opinion. Both are made in China.

Rod

 

[redtom]

Metabo is still my choice

 

[rustyfarmall]

(quoted from post at 04:47:55 08/04/10) I've had good service with all the other Dewalt stuff I own, and seen some good deals on their grinders lately. I think I'd try it. My old Makita is still going strong after nearly 20 years.

I second the motion on Makita. I've got two, one is set up with a wire cup brush, the other is set up with the grinding disk. One was bought brand new, the other was purchase at a farm auction for peanuts. The one I bought new is at least 20 years old, and I've owned the used one for about 12 years. I don't know which one is which anymore, but both get used on a regular basis, and neither has given any trouble.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Have you considered trying to have the Porter Cable refurbished? Many times the older grinders can be rebuilt for a fraction of the cost of a new one. Parts are still available for many models.
Just a thought........

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have a big milwaukee that I pulled out of a dumpster and replaced the cord on that has cut many many paver stones and plates. I don't haved a cutting torch so have a 3 4" grinders with cutter, grinder, and wire brush. All cost less than 10 bucks each at the BB store and really take a beating. Thought is that I can buy a new one for half or less the price of repairing a name brand. All have been going 10 plus years though. Rent a tool for a buck a year.

Dave

 

[Anonymous-0]

I buy Harbor Freight grinders at $10 ea and throw away when wore out.

 

[GordoSD]

I've used a pair of Makitas now for 12 years and no troubles.

Gordo

 

[Mike Aylward]

I have a couple of Makita grinders that have served me very well for about ten years. I was told to spend the extra money for the ones with the "B" in the model number. This advice proved to be sound. At one time I was using these grinders hard every day and they just kept on coming. I had to replace a switch in one of them but that is all I ever have had to do. I would have worn out a bushel basket full of the cheap models. It all depends on how hard you are going to use them. Mike

 

[Butch(OH)]

We have 4-5 assorted makes around the shops and I personaly like the Makitas as I like the switch. Youngest boy hates the Mak and uses his Hatachi which is waay to fat around the middle for my hands. Oldest son says what makes the differance, they all grind? LOL I have never worn one out, they get lost, ran over, borrowed, stolen etc so I cant comment on how long any of them live. It realy helps 4" grinder life to have a 7" around and use it when you are doing 7" grinder work. We have an old 7" Milwalkee that must weigh 20 Lbs. I usualy pick up the Makitas at H-D when they have the two for one sales.

 

[bc]

Couple questions for ya Dave and others as well.

1. I have some concrete pavers to cut and notch out. How good does the grinder and masonry blade work? I've tried my skil saw with a masonry blade but it just made a lot of racket, dust, and would hardly cut very deep and it was real slow cutting. I give up on the skil saw as it was just wearing out the blade. Also would I be better off getting a masonry blade for my 14" Dewalt metal chop saw? I don't know if the chop saw would work and if it would spin too fast.

2. I want to cut some places in sheet metal to convert my gas grill into a smoker. Basically want some clean cuts so I can reuse the pieces after adding some hinges. I'd be cutting into the the thin sheet metal of the lid and the heavy bottom which may be cast. Will the grinder with cutoff off wheel give me an easy and clean cut without ruining the pieces?

Thanks.

 

[woodbutcher]

I've used a Bosch for the last 10 years, and I like it. It took me awhile to get used to the paddle switch, but now I like it better than the other types.
Butch

 

[NawlensGator]

Mine is a Dewalt. Works great.

 

[Anonymous-0]

(quoted from post at 08:58:08 08/04/10) Couple questions for ya Dave and others as well.

1. I have some concrete pavers to cut and notch out. How good does the grinder and masonry blade work? I've tried my skil saw with a masonry blade but it just made a lot of racket, dust, and would hardly cut very deep and it was real slow cutting. I give up on the skil saw as it was just wearing out the blade. Also would I be better off getting a masonry blade for my 14" Dewalt metal chop saw? I don't know if the chop saw would work and if it would spin too fast.

2. I want to cut some places in sheet metal to convert my gas grill into a smoker. Basically want some clean cuts so I can reuse the pieces after adding some hinges. I'd be cutting into the the thin sheet metal of the lid and the heavy bottom which may be cast. Will the grinder with cutoff off wheel give me an easy and clean cut without ruining the pieces?

Thanks.

1) get the blade with notches and not the smooth one. I've got the same 7" blade on the milwaukee that we used to cut brick size paver stones when we done our Hof and parking place (1300 sq ft) and a bunch of 14 x14 x2" thich paver plates. Still cuts fine.

2) I have no other means of metal cutting. I buy the 10 packs of cutoff discs for a couple bucks and cut everything I need. Wear eye protection at a minimum though.

Dave

 

[bob15]

Metabo......the this is smooth and built like a brick sh@thouse. Made in Germany unlike many of the other brands which are china now.....

bob

 

[IOWA NORTHEAST]

DeWalt has two differnt grinders in 4 1/2 inch, and you get what you pay for.

I abuse mine, and Maketa, and DeWalts have been the best for us ---results may vary.

I have seen two miles of light extention cords plugged in and the grinders are slowing down on RPM,s -- a good way to fry them. Run a large (wire) cord, and never push it to the point the RPM,s drop off alot.

If you are intrested, I have a large box of grinders made in a certian country, that I will give to you for the price of the freight. Many have less than four hrs on them, and look good as new on the outside. It seemed like a heck of a good deal at the time!

 

[ASEguy]

I bought a Dewalt and like it a lot. I tried to buy American made at Home Depot, but every grinder they had said made in China!

 

[REDPOCADOT]

USE GRINDERS AND CUTOFFS EVERY DAY METABO ONLY THING I BUY NOW

 

[Welding man]

I have no less than 15 used 4 1/2 in grinders laying around in different conditions. probably 5 of them still work.Bought a new one last week. All that are still working are Milwaukees. They last me from 1 to 2 years. All the others last from 3 to 6 months.Dewalt is the worst.I buy wheels 100 at a time, so they do get used more than the average guy would use one.

 

[lucas boy]

Bought a harbor fright one for 10.00 . It started smoking after about 10 minutes.. but i couldnt complain, i got the job done and exchanged it for one that didnt smoke after 10 minutes.... btw,I bought a factory reconditioned ryoby 14'cutoff tool about 18 years ago,used the ell out of it and its still good..