Angle Grinders

[NDIHC]

I have a little of everything. 4 inch Makita for tight spots. In 4.5 inch I have a Metabo, a Milwaukee and an elcheapo Tool Shop $9.95 job from Menards. The cheap one has been good except the cord didn't last and needs replacement. Then I have a 7 inch Dewalt that works very well but I don't use it very often due to the weight.

 

[mark1955]

all of the brands are pretty much the same, a motor spins a 90-degree arbor, with a disk attached. the problem is a lack of proper lubrication, from the factory, or the lack of. take apart the cover, and add lube to the 90-degree, and check the bearing lube, if it applies, to your machine. usually, it will run cooler and longer.

 

[wp6529]

I've long had a Makita 4.5" AG which always performs well. Recently I added to my collection of Makita LXT cordless tools and in the batch added a 5" brushless AG which I have been extremely happy with. The grab and go of the cordless is far more handy than you'd think and not having a cord trying to snag when you're working is nice as well. I also have a cheap HF AG which stays loaded with a wire brush and it performs fine as well.

 

[Harold Hubbard]

I have a 9” Black and Decker, a real beast that gets left on the shelf as much as possible. It is over forty years old. Got a Craftsman 4 1/2 that I have had for over ten years, I had to put bearings in it a while back. Also have a 4 1/2 Ryobi, four or Five years old. That one has a rotating grip that can be locked at 90 degree intervals. That can be very handy for working in odd positions. Lastly, I have a Harbor Freight 4 1/2 that is only about a year old, and sounds like it’s going to blow up at any minute.

Having more than one grinder means that I don’t waste time changing wheels, and and use the right wheel for the job. That is very handy if you only need to grind on something for a short time.

The Black and Decker has a grinding wheel on it, and is used only when I need to remove a lot of material in a hurry. I also need to eat all my Wheaties if I plan to use it. The Craftsman has a cutting disk most of the time. The Ryobi has a grinding wheel, and the HF has a flap wheel on it.

I really need one more so I can also keep a wire cup brush mounted.

 

[Walston]

I have a couple cheapies from Harbor Freight and they do fine as long as the job doesn't take long, run them too long and they burn up. I have a few older corded models, Makita nd Milwaukee, they are the work horses on bigger jobs. I recently bought a cordless Dewalt for the times I need to be cordless, it works fine, but was more than $100.

 

[chcase]

Just curious if anyone has recently purchased an angle grinder. I've been using a 4 1/2 angle grinder I bought at Harbor Freight many years ago ( I think it was under $10). It still works, but I thought I'd buy a bit higher quality new one. I was hoping to spend $100 or less, but every one I looked at has some reviews saying that they ran hot, and failed after a couple uses. Sometimes reviews are not all that accurate, so I was hoping someone could recommend one of the newer ones that works well for them...

I have a few cheap grinders so I don't need to change from grinder disc to wire wheel. Tho I still have a older 41/2 inch Milwaukee electric that has held up really well. They all will get hot if pushed hard.

 

[Ellis Kinney]

I consider an angle head grinder to be a throw away item. I buy used ones at pawn shops, not being particular about brand, generally for $30.00 to $35.00. It is usually the switch that goes first. Might be able to get a new Harbor Freight for that price though. When welding I keep one with a grinder, wire wheel and cuttoff disc on a three way. Ellis

 

[WNYBill]

Replaced our corded HF with a corded DeWalt. Huge difference.

 

[J.Wondergem]

I have both the 4.5 and I believe it's a 12 inch from Harbor Freight. I use both, depends on what I'm working on.

 

[zuhnc]

4.5" Milwaukee, and a 9" Milwaukee. The 9" I keep a stone (not a wheel) on for serious, fast metal (and skin, if not careful) removal. Not needed too often. 4.5" Bosch cordless - OK, but goes through batteries. Cut-off wheel on that one. 4.5" DeWalt, as well, but it is "lost" in the shop, somewhere.

I have been replacing damaged or broken, (economically) unrepairable tools with Milwaukee - that brand seems to hold up well. Although I did finally have to replace a 20 year-old DeWalt drill that got lots of use drilling safes and vaults. Armature fried, and cheaper to replace than repair. Very good and long-lived drill. Replaced with Ridgid brushless cordless drill. I don't drill safes and vaults any more!

 

[Bill in Colo]

Just curious if anyone has recently purchased an angle grinder. I've been using a 4 1/2 angle grinder I bought at Harbor Freight many years ago ( I think it was under $10). It still works, but I thought I'd buy a bit higher quality new one. I was hoping to spend $100 or less, but every one I looked at has some reviews saying that they ran hot, and failed after a couple uses. Sometimes reviews are not all that accurate, so I was hoping someone could recommend one of the newer ones that works well for t

Just curious if anyone has recently purchased an angle grinder. I've been using a 4 1/2 angle grinder I bought at Harbor Freight many years ago ( I think it was under $10). It still works, but I thought I'd buy a bit higher quality new one. I was hoping to spend $100 or less, but every one I looked at has some reviews saying that they ran hot, and failed after a couple uses. Sometimes reviews are not all that accurate, so I was hoping someone could recommend one of the newer ones that works well for them...

Son works for company that repairs steel mill his workers prefer Metabo. I have three Makita's a milwakee some harbor freight, just bought new hf. Makitas are still going strong after 35 years, they don't vibrate as much.

 

[Texasmark]

I have HF 4, 4 1/2, 7 and 9. Have had them for so many years I forget when I bought alll but the 4 1/2s which are just a few years old. Price was $14 for the 4 amp and a couple dollars more for the paddle switch equipped 6ish amp.

I don't like the paddle switch unit as the paddle is on the bottom and you need to be careful setting it down or it will compress the paddle and turn on. I don't like the side switch as it is hard to get it to engage and easily disengaged as you work your way around the piece of work. I like the switch on top kind when talking about those smaller diameter machines.

 

[Pitalplace]

I have three of the corded 5" Dewalts. More power than the 4 1/2 grinders and not as heavy as the 6" or bigger grinders. I also have two 4 1/2" Old Craftsman that are used with sanding discs and a 5" Milwaukee cordless. I like the Dewalts the best for grinding.

 

[Brian G. NY]

I have a Porter Gable,HF, and a pawn shop 4.5 inch in the shop. Buy a paddle switch ,and buy the cheapest you can find, unless you are going to use it daily. I take them apart once a year and grease the gear box and then run them. One has a cup brush.one has a cut off wheel and one has a grinding wheel. And for stupid stuff ,I have an old B&D 7 inch.

I agree, the secret to longevity as far as the gears go is taking the gear box apart now and again and simply "redistributing" the grease.

 

[sammydwm]

Just curious if anyone has recently purchased an angle grinder. I've been using a 4 1/2 angle grinder I bought at Harbor Freight many years ago ( I think it was under $10). It still works, but I thought I'd buy a bit higher quality new one. I was hoping to spend $100 or less, but every one I looked at has some reviews saying that they ran hot, and failed after a couple uses. Sometimes reviews are not all that accurate, so I was hoping someone could recommend one of the newer ones that works well for them...

worked at a structural iron place and the only grinders they would buy were Metabo, They lasted quite well.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Just curious if anyone has recently purchased an angle grinder. I've been using a 4 1/2 angle grinder I bought at Harbor Freight many years ago ( I think it was under $10). It still works, but I thought I'd buy a bit higher quality new one. I was hoping to spend $100 or less, but every one I looked at has some reviews saying that they ran hot, and failed after a couple uses. Sometimes reviews are not all that accurate, so I was hoping someone could recommend one of the newer ones that works well for them...

The best one I've had by far is the orange Central Electric (Harbor Freight) grinder I bought when they opened the first Harbor Freight in the area years and years ago. I think it cost $10, but it does everything I ask it to and comes back for more. The only thing I don't like about it is the thumb switch. Hard to operate with gloves on.

None of the cheap grinders I've bought have burned up, but I've had an expensive Bosch and a low-end Dewalt go up in smoke doing the same jobs and sharing the load with Old Reliable.

I currently have a "13A" rated Dewalt, and the 4.5"-6" Hercules as my good grinders. While the Hercules is supposedly able to run 6" wheels, I put the 4.5" wheel and guard on it, hoping that it'll last. It's a nice grinder.

 

[gears]

My vote is the Dewalt paddle switch 4&1/2" - I run 4 of em (2 old, 2 newer - kept with flap/cutoff/wire/etc). The Makita has a weird 10mm arbor and a thumb slide switch, the HF one is a loud gear box. They all work well. If I come across one with a speed setting I might pick it up too - wire wheel and sanding fiberglass is much less messy at low speed.

 

[super99]

My vote is the Dewalt paddle switch 4&1/2" - I run 4 of em (2 old, 2 newer - kept with flap/cutoff/wire/etc). The Makita has a weird 10mm arbor and a thumb slide switch, the HF one is a loud gear box. They all work well. If I come across one with a speed setting I might pick it up too - wire wheel and sanding fiberglass is much less messy at low speed.

I have a paddle switch laying in a drawer in the shop. The cords only last a year or so and need replaced. I quit using it and have 2 from Harbor Freight, one from Farm & Fleet and one from Menards. I like the HF ones, buy a 1 year warranty for a few bucks, take it back for a new one next year. No questions asked.

 

[Hemmjo]

Just curious if anyone has recently purchased an angle grinder. I've been using a 4 1/2 angle grinder I bought at Harbor Freight many years ago ( I think it was under $10). It still works, but I thought I'd buy a bit higher quality new one. I was hoping to spend $100 or less, but every one I looked at has some reviews saying that they ran hot, and failed after a couple uses. Sometimes reviews are not all that accurate, so I was hoping someone could recommend one of the newer ones that works well for them...

You have to be careful how you how electric tools. Some seem more easily held with your hands covering the air vents. This seems to be a design flaw to me. But cutting off the air flow causes any of them to overheat very quickly.

 

[SkipperII]

I recently bought a Ryobi cordless 4 1/2 grinder and a 6ah battery(also carry a spare). Sure beats having to drag out extension cords for quick jobs, or out in the middle of a field. Still have my Makita for heavier jobs.