How many die grinders are you up to?

[SouthernIllinois]

I hate having to stop and change disks, bits and burrs on die grinders.

Got frustrated yesterday so today I took advantage of some sales at Harbor Freight and picked up two more which I didn't even realize brought my total to five.

Four are Harbor Freight Chief grinders and one is a Dynabrade which isn't really a die grinder in the strictest sense. All have served me well.

I did take a pin punch and removed the "safety" from most of them. I'll probably do the same to the two new ones.

I really want a 120 degree Mac die grinder but I am having a hard time justifying the $175 price tag.

The off brand pine cone burr bit really let me down - Next Thursday Sam the Snap On man is bringing me a new one.




This is the Mac one I am lusting after

 

[j3rf]

Five including the M12 2485 Right Angle. RA Matco that is chunky like the Mac one (possibly an Astro sourced grinder?) IR RA and straight. Chicago Pneumatic 120° that I only find useful occasionally. Kinda thinking I want to try some other ones.

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

Two. Good enough for my needs.

 

[Beerhippie]

One at any given time. Boss says I could increase productivity if I use one in each hand.

 

[Snaparxon]

4-90 degree, one straight.

 

[afazz]

20 pneumatic grinders, plus two dedicated cutoff tools (basically die grinders). I also have an M12 90 degree die grinder, a corded Dremel, and old corded Craftsman heavy duty die grinder from my grandfather that I rarely use. This photo was taken when the Matco ones were new, my dealer went out of business and I bought them all cheap.

It’s pretty easy to have 5+ in use during a fabrication or polishing project

 

[fozzy]

20 pneumatic grinders, plus two dedicated cutoff tools (basically die grinders). I also have an M12 90 degree die grinder, a corded Dremel, and old corded Craftsman heavy duty die grinder from my grandfather that I rarely use. This photo was taken when the Matco ones were new, my dealer went out of business and I bought them all cheap.

It’s pretty easy to have 5+ in use during a fabrication or polishing project

Wow!!!!

 

[dr_clyde]

At least 15-20.

They’re cheap and my time is valuable enough I don’t want to constantly be changing bits and attachments.

I have probably 10-12 in my box at work and the rest in my shop.

I regularly use 2” roloc, 3” roloc, a cutoff wheel, a buffer, bore polishers, assorted carbide burrs, and assorted drum sanders.

Then you get into the “special” die grinders like long neck, tilted head, extra HP, etc.

 

[M.Brane]

3: 2 straight, 1 angle.

 

[ecotec]

5. 3 straight and 2 90 degree.

 

[Old Man Roger]

20 pneumatic grinders, plus two dedicated cutoff tools (basically die grinders). I also have an M12 90 degree die grinder, a corded Dremel, and old corded Craftsman heavy duty die grinder from my grandfather that I rarely use. This photo was taken when the Matco ones were new, my dealer went out of business and I bought them all cheap.

It’s pretty easy to have 5+ in use during a fabrication or polishing project

I was gonna get all cocky and brag about my collection.

 

[Lou's Garage]

I was gonna get all cocky and brag about my collection.

I was gonna say that I'm thinking about buying a second one so I have one in each garage!

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

5. 3 straight and 2 90 degree.

Me too.

Looking at getting a M12 Milwaukee based on recommendations.

 

[fourjeepin]

Only two; I generally use electric grinders. I only have 2 because I had to buy another when a wheel bearing went out on a road trip and welded itself to the front axle spindle. The folks at autozone didn’t bat an eye at me throwing sparks in their parking lot (thankfully).

 

[GeoBruin]

Me too.

Looking at getting a M12 Milwaukee based on recommendations.

The new m12 RA is awesome. The old m12 RA was my go to for a long time but the new one has a lot more guts.

 

[Schurkey]

20 pneumatic grinders, plus two dedicated cutoff tools (basically die grinders).

Woof. You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din.

Worked professionally with a Mac-branded SP Air unit. Fabulous! Except in long use, the aluminum body gets really cold. Have to wrap it with shop rags or it freezes my hand. I don't remember what I paid for it, but buying the SP Air version will be MUCH cheaper. This "1/2-hp" die grinder made brand-new "Company-supplied" IR and CP die grinders look sick. The "Company" grinders had heaps of RPM and NO TORQUE, so they'd stall again and again.

https://www.amazon.com/SP-Air-Corporation-Heavy-Duty-Straight/dp/B002O4WR8S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Got a straight, 90-degree, and long 1/2 hp Snap-On die grinders (used, broken) from the Snap On Man. I took 'em apart, fixed what was wrong, and had to buy some nuts for the chucks. Works great except the orange-plastic jacket on one shattered. I bought the current version of that jacket, but haven't installed it yet. The current versions are PTGR200, PTGR205, PTGR210, etc. but I think mine are old enough to be PT200 and variations.

Snap-on Store

shop.snapon.com

Picked up a big, long 1-hp NAPA 6-1052 die grinder at a pawn shop. Works perfectly.

NAPA 6-1052

NAPA 6-1052 – 1/4" Extended Heavy Duty Air Die Grinder, 1 hp – buy now, order replacement parts, browse accessories, view product details and warranty info, and download documentation.

powertoolrepair.com

Most recent purchase is a Sioux 5979A "mini" die grinder, the very-small kind sometimes called "pencil" die grinders. A friend of mine said that the tiny grinder and 1/8" rotary files were good for removing broken bolts. Still untested. Might have been a mistake for me to buy it.

 

[Rinspeed]

I have three that are set up and I use on a regular basis. One has a cookie wheel, one for sanding disks and the other has a SS wire brush on it.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Somehow I'm still at zero, but I've been eyeing the Milwaukee M12 versions. Not a tool I use that often, so I borrow one from work when needed. Angle grinders on the other hand, I always have minimum three ready to go.

 

[M635_Guy]

I've got an M12 right-angle, and it's been super-useful when I've needed it...

...but that's been pretty rarely. I tried to convince myself to get the Gen2, but I legit couldn't come up with a need for it other than I kinda just wanted one, and these days that's not good enough.

That pic from @afazz puts me fully in my place...

 

[M635_Guy]

Somehow I'm still at zero, but I've been eyeing the Milwaukee M12 versions. Not a tool I use that often, so I borrow one from work when needed. Angle grinders on the other hand, I always have minimum three ready to go.

If you can find one in stock (super-hard since they dropped) and don't mind having another battery platform/charger, the Hercules right angle seems to be winning a lot of hearts, though if you're already on Milwaukee a used Gen1 can probably be found for ~$20-$30 more...

 

[Dave455]

Currently running about six die grinders. Mostly reasonable quality ones, but often bought used. I only have air grinders. I’m so used to them that the electric seem cumbersome.

Some of them, such as the Desoutter shown below, I am so used to that I could not do a lot of jobs easily without. It’s like using a favourite fountain pen. So much so, that I have a spare one just in case!


The Taiwan made grinders, even some of the Chinese made, are not bad. In fact, for the price, they are incredible value.

I don’t, personally, see the value in buying a Taiwan made grinder from a tool truck, when you could get a comparable tool for a lot less, but there are reasons.

If you do a lot of grinding, especially quick operations, having multiples of the same tool, preferably in different colours, would be invaluable. I totally “get” this and could see me going down this route for some jobs - especially 1/4” grinders where I am using Roloc‘s as well as the usual accessories.

I do see the value in getting a better quality tool. If you have used a top end Desoutter, Dotco, or whatever, then the lesser ones are noticably lacking in some areas. Generally, less power, less smooth, more noise, and greater air consumption. But again, everybody has to make their own decisions, and you pay a lot more for small improvements.

What does make a huge difference is the quality of the accessories. I only generally buy decent burrs, stones, etc. The cheaper ones, at best do not perform so well, and at worst are totally useless.

If on a budget, I can do better work with a mid grade Taiwan grinder, and good accessories, than the other way around!

 

[The Cobbler]

several years back I bought 20 CH diegrinders that were warranty returns, I might have paid about $10 or $15 for them. Figured I would make as many as I could out of the bunch.
most of them the nut that holds the bevel gears & shaft assembly had spun loose and the gears had become un meshed.
quick clean and lube , some locktite and they were mostly good. problem is I seldom use them LOL

 

[dnschmidt]

At least 10 pneumatic and an equal number of electric with four Cordless (3 Milwaukee and 1 DeWalt). I follow the same logic as the original poster above. I hate changing bits which probably explains why I have at least 25 routers. Can't stand changing bits that's for the hoi-polyol

 

[Wamsutta]

I'm up to one single die grinder. A Sioux 1954HP. It's the old original version before Snap-on bought the company.

Very powerful. Even more powerful if you take the silencer out.

 

[senlow]

I have 5 die grinders.

• Blue Point – It’s big and powerful. I like it for hogging out lots of material. This is the first die grinder I bought about 40 years ago.
• Dotco – This is a small die grinder that gets into tight places. It’s been used so much that the ribs and logo on the housing are almost completely worn away. It still works great!
• Aro – This thing twists up to 40,000 rpm and is smooth as silk.
• Unknown manufacturer (Made in Japan) – This is my only 90 degree die grinder.

I also have two cut-off tools and a couple of pistol grip, high speed air sanders that are dedicated to Roloc discs.

 

[Steve_P]

I have four "good" ones: a Dynabrade and a SO straight, and two Dynabrade angled ones. One of the angled ones is 90*, and the other is like 75*; I like the 75* one much more. I use the Dynabrade straight one the most. I also have at least two POS old HF ones that are worn out, but still work- but almost no power under heavy load. No idea why I haven't thrown them out.

I also have two SO cutoff tools- one with a ~.03" thick wheel, the other with ~.06" thick wheel. Everything listed is pneumatic.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

#6

Cheap-O from Menards for a regular wire wheel

 

[imagineer]

8 - 4 corded, 1 battery, 3 pneumatic. I'd say 98% of the time I'll use a corded one.

Looking forward, I would like to get another battery one, but not another Porter-Cable. The one I have depletes the battery in only a minute or so.

 

[txvwnut]

Three. Unless we count my Fordome flex shaft tool then its ten, or eleven maybe more I kinda went on bender buying hand pieces.

 

[PugetDude]

(3) M12 right angle cordless
(1) M12 straight cordless
(1) Makita straight heavy duty corded electric (The Beast of the bunch)
(1) Amazon "Whoflungpoo Brand" straight corded electric (Warehouse deal at $20)
(1) Astro right angle pneumatic (still new in the box)

 

[zimman]

20 pneumatic grinders, plus two dedicated cutoff tools (basically die grinders). I also have an M12 90 degree die grinder, a corded Dremel, and old corded Craftsman heavy duty die grinder from my grandfather that I rarely use. This photo was taken when the Matco ones were new, my dealer went out of business and I bought them all cheap.

It’s pretty easy to have 5+ in use during a fabrication or polishing project

That's about enough of that ****. Stop it.
LMAO Nice flex Sir.
Zim

 

[PoorUB]

Geez, I will never pick on the hammer collectors again!

I have two, a straight and a 90 degree. That is all I need!

 

[seber]

I am sure I still have a pneumatic die grinder laying around somewhere but I haven't seen it in years. I do have a pair of electric Makitas that I dig out on rare occasion. Plus a Milwaukee monster that takes two hands to hold. It gets even less use.

 

[finn]

Probably about six or eight. I regularly use one straight and two angled, with different attachments.

I prefer right angle, that don’t throw swarth towards my eyes.

 

[wjjeep]

Just a DIYer so, two. M12 Fuel right angle and M12 Fuel straight.

I do have several impact drivers with different bits on them though.

 

[ALinCarolina]

13 I believe. I keep most on this one cart.

 

[SouthernIllinois]

#7....if this cut off tool counts.

 

[Outlier]

Currently, I have 5. The oldest one I have is an angle grinder I bought from Harbor Freight back in 2003. I have a straight/angled pair from Astro that I bought last year that came with some carbide burrs and an IR B-series pair that I picked up recently.

 

[partsguy5768]

I hate having to stop and change disks, bits and burrs on die grinders.

Got frustrated yesterday so today I took advantage of some sales at Harbor Freight and picked up two more which I didn't even realize brought my total to five.

Four are Harbor Freight Chief grinders and one is a Dynabrade which isn't really a die grinder in the strictest sense. All have served me well.

I did take a pin punch and removed the "safety" from most of them. I'll probably do the same to the two new ones.

I really want a 120 degree Mac die grinder but I am having a hard time justifying the $175 price tag.

The off brand pine cone burr bit really let me down - Next Thursday Sam the Snap On man is bringing me a new one.




This is the Mac one I am lusting after

Without going out to the two shops and counting.... at least 10... I to hate changing out... lets see grinders... hmm at least 12 of those... same issue hate changing out.. now drills... probably 15...

 

[mikey03]

Only ever Use mine for brakes what you guys using them for? I know they got lots of uses so just seeing what the guys here are doing