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Bosch vs Ridgid Angle Grinder 2 Pack

Loscaldazar

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Feb 23, 2013
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2,385
So Lowes has a good deal on a two pack of Bosch angle grinders and Home Depot has a similarly good deal on a Ridgid two pack of angle grinders.

Both are on sale for $79.99+ tax online only. I can use a $10 off $50 at lowes (home depot online won't accept the coupon unless I buy an item that is exactly the same as what is offered at lowes). No such discount online at Home Depot.

The two pack of bosch will come out to $74
and the two pack of Ridgid will come out to $84

The Bosch two pack is the Slim line 7.5amp angle grinders. The guards are not quick adjusts (they take a tool still) and all of the attachments for their other 4.5" angle grinders are not compatible. This makes me think that these Slim Line angle grinders are maybe more of a homeowner grade tool?

The Ridgid 2 pack has quick adjust guards, 8amps, and are a bit heavier and larger. They also have an e-clutch (for if/when the attachment binds in the work), which is suspiciously absent on the Bosch slim line grinders. They also have the lifetime service agreement (and yes, I understand all the facets and purposely complicated hoops on this).

Neither come with a type 1 guard (or the option to purchase one), but since they won't be used for cut off operations, that's not a big deal for me.

I already have two Milwaukee 13amp 5" angle grinders (real powerful beasts) that I use for cut off (type 1 discs) and grinding (stone and flap discs).

These two angle grinders are going to be used for the wire wheel and wire cup brush. Since cup brushes (especially) can be hard on the gear case and bearings over time, that is why the lifetime service agreement on the Ridgid is tempting. I don't want to chew up my Milwaukee angle grinders (even though, admittedly, they would probably last longer and manage the stress of an unbalanced cup brush better than these other two angle grinders) and would prefer to use them with the flap discs.

The quick adjust guard will also be useful for the regular wire wheel (yes, I'm one of the "weird ones" who actually uses the guards) to protect from thrown wires. The other one will have the guard taken off as a guard is useless for a cup brush.

The Bosch is cheaper, but I worry that the slim line is maybe more of a homeowner type tool, and not as good as their regular 4.5" angle grinders (if the slim line was so good, why not produce the 4.5" angle grinder in the slim line version only, and get rid of the bigger and heavier 4.5" grinder they sell alongside it?).

I don't want some cheap HF angle grinders, because I worry about using a 4.5 amp motor to turn a cup brush. I know many have had great results with these units, but I feel like a cup brush might just burn them up too easily, and then I am out almost $20 each time.

So I suppose I want some other opinions on this....open to other options too
 
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Bobcat753

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Feb 24, 2014
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New Hampshire
I've had the Bosch grinders and they where horrible. I dropped one and the guard bent too easily and they would heat up real quick. A Home Depot near me has the Ridgid 2 Pack for $56. They have 2 of the two packs and I've been thinking of getting one.
 

Burgerkong

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Apr 17, 2010
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Markham, Ontario, Canada
I bought the Bosch 1380 Slim 2 pack at Lowe's recently and haven't really had a chance to use them aside from spinning them up - they are LOUD and sound kinda rough. Can't remember my Makita ever sounding like that. Oh, plus that guard. That awful guard.
 

acer66

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Dec 4, 2010
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Western North Carolina
I was tempted by the Bosch 2 pack once but they are not like their regular grinders which are way better.

They look, feel, sound and what I read about them are just some very low end grinders made by whoever with their logo on it.

While they might work for a quick job here and there for a DIY person
but then which person like that would need two grinder?
I would rather buy a single Bosch, Makita etc for that money or more a used Metabo.
 

BK13

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Mar 1, 2013
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PDX, OR
I bought the Bosch 1380 Slim 2 pack at Lowe's recently and haven't really had a chance to use them aside from spinning them up - they are LOUD and sound kinda rough. Can't remember my Makita ever sounding like that. Oh, plus that guard. That awful guard.

I have to agree. I have a 4" Makita, a 4.5" DeWalt, one of the 1380 Slims. The Bosch is a whole other level for the awful racket it makes. Then I bought a Fein 5". I guess that model has turned me into a grinder snob. Only Fein or Metabo for me from now on....
 

exmaxima1

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Jun 25, 2011
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Midwest
I have to agree. I have a 4" Makita, a 4.5" DeWalt, one of the 1380 Slims. The Bosch is a whole other level for the awful racket it makes. Then I bought a Fein 5". I guess that model has turned me into a grinder snob. Only Fein or Metabo for me from now on....

I have Metabo and Bosch 5-inch grinders, both made in Germany and both variable speed. They are equally quiet and smooth IMHO.
 

BK13

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Mar 1, 2013
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PDX, OR
I have Metabo and Bosch 5-inch grinders, both made in Germany and both variable speed. They are equally quiet and smooth IMHO.


Yeah, I could have been a little more clear. I check out the 5" Bosch variable speed grinder every time I see it at the big boy toy store. The 1380 is NOT what I expect from Bosch, though.

But then, with four angle grinders, I'm running out of justifications for more, even to myself.... "Just one more, a Metabo, and I'll be through...."


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Loscaldazar

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Feb 23, 2013
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Okay, so it does seem like the Slim grinders are kind of a joke from Bosch.

Metabo/Fein/Hilti/etc are out of the question. I've already got two nice grinders and if those break (depending on when and how), then those brands will be in the running for the replacements of the nice grinders.

Right now I just need a good quality but still cheap angle grinder for the wire brushes (which again, are hard on bearings and gear cases). I'll probably go for the Ridgid two pack.
 

Voi

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Oct 10, 2010
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Location
Western South Dakota
Okay, so it does seem like the Slim grinders are kind of a joke from Bosch.

I hurt my the thumb in my (dominant) right hand about six years ago. Sometime after that I picked up one of the slim Bosch grinders and gave my other bulkier angle grinder with paddle switch to a friend.

Thumb still gives me problems and I do like the ergonomics of the Bosch. Won't rule out getting another one when this one dies but will hope for something similar but better.
 

pennsylvaniaboy

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May 28, 2014
Messages
417
i got the rigid set, haven't used them yet, but the seem like decent tools.

bumping this up, I have worked these pretty hard, maybe even putting a 6" cut-off disc on it, and they have been flawless, never get hot, etc. quick adjust guards work great, easy to remove, the but can be flipped for .045 cut-off wheels, or thick grinding discs, etc. best tool buy i have had for a while.
 
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