dutchgray
Well-known member
^you know most grinders if you undo the head screws you can rotate the body to any 90° increment you wish, this is usually mentioned in the instructions but we know those never get looked at.
Opinions on a decent 4.5" angle grinder
- Thread starter bumblebee
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mrcrawfish
Member
I saw a great deal at Lowes recently for a 2 pack of DeWalt grinders for $99. If you don't need 2, just check your local big box stores or Amazon for sales on Milwaukee, Makita, DeWalt, Ryobi, Ridgid, Hitachi, or Porter-Cable. Those are all good brands and for light to medium duty in a home shop they should be more than adequate. If you really want to go cheap, the Chicago Electric line at Harbor Freight has good options for under $40 that are nearly always on some kind of sale. I have an old Makita and a Harbor Freight, and I honestly like the HF grinder better for small jobs because it's small enough to hold in one hand. For the big jobs though, the Makita is a beast.
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cherrybomb
Well-known member
In my case,I have a Makita dealer,17 miles away.They are able to repair all makes.If they can't get parts,they sometimes have tools in back to rob parts,so for me Makita all the way.I spent a bit more,but I also got a grinder with super joint system which disengages if jamming occurs.I also am grinding cracks on sidewalk for snow blower season.The grit stone I purchased had a 9000 rpm speed max.So to be safe,I purchased Makita 9564CV.It has speeds of 2800,4000,6500,9000,and 10,500 rpm.It is a very smooth,has a great feel to it.I know you can go cheaper and for some thats O.K.but I wanted quality,good power,performance,safety,a close by dealer support system if needed.This 9564 CV,variable speed was also assembled in U.S.A. so that also is a win win in IMO.
loudog212
Well-known member
I just bought the new Hercules one from Harbor Freight. Only used it to remove a little paint from a tool box. Worked really well. Unfortunately I have never used another grinder so I do not have anything to compare it with
sam.coll
Well-known member
Metabo,Bosch, Makita in that order
I love my Makita... but I keep a cheap o harbor freight in the tool box when I gotta cut something nasty and greasy out like a ball joint or something.. keeps my Makita in better shape. But I agree 100 percent with the noise and vibration.. if I am doing something that needs more finesse or will be cutting a while I don't think twice to grab the makita
maxdustington
Active member
We have a DWE402G at work. I've been using it lately but the cord is wonky so I think it's going back under warranty for that. The paddle switch, One-touch guard and having an allen key instead of the stupid spanner to change the blade is so awesome. It's the first 4.5 that I have seen that someone has tried to address the shortcomings of a conventional 4.5 grinder. I feel safer with the quickly adjustable guard and the fact that your hand is further away from the blade with a paddle switch than the normal side switch. 11 amp motor and made in usa is just icing on the cake. It is pretty expensive for a 4.5 grinder at $110 CAD but we just got a cheap bosch on friday and it blows it completely away in power and ergonomics. I would say it is worth the premium, but I don't have the experience with them like others in this thread do.
sberry
Banned
One of my favorite grinders was the DW402 It is the old industrial BD 2870. Its got a paddle and a great feel. The only thing I didn't like about them was durability. I just tossed a whole box of them in the trash. We had a couple BD as backups and finally tried them out and were impressed, soon they just fell in to regular service.
They may have fixed the new ones but the brushes went fast on the Dewalts, easy not to keep an eye on them and super easy to overheat one. The rubber cords rot right off too. The only reason I went to cheap ones is they all made in China anyway and some of the cheaper models are about the same with a different color jacket on.
I like paddle but got used to the slide, I don't use them at quite the same rate I did earlier on and the cheaper got better. I didn't care for the Bosch so much. Milwaukee was still clumsy and had slide and I gram the BD over it if I have a choice. Its got enough power and we put them on a bench where they got a good workout. Mostly 1 at a time to see how long they would last. The first one went a long time, outlasted a couple good ones, the last one about the same.
I don't use different wheels on them but it would be an option for a different or hobby shop. Using cut off and some sanding types they would last near forever. 1/4 grinding is a bit tougher especially with strong men using them but a guy could buy 4 for the cost of 1 premium and never wear them out.
They may have fixed the new ones but the brushes went fast on the Dewalts, easy not to keep an eye on them and super easy to overheat one. The rubber cords rot right off too. The only reason I went to cheap ones is they all made in China anyway and some of the cheaper models are about the same with a different color jacket on.
I like paddle but got used to the slide, I don't use them at quite the same rate I did earlier on and the cheaper got better. I didn't care for the Bosch so much. Milwaukee was still clumsy and had slide and I gram the BD over it if I have a choice. Its got enough power and we put them on a bench where they got a good workout. Mostly 1 at a time to see how long they would last. The first one went a long time, outlasted a couple good ones, the last one about the same.
I don't use different wheels on them but it would be an option for a different or hobby shop. Using cut off and some sanding types they would last near forever. 1/4 grinding is a bit tougher especially with strong men using them but a guy could buy 4 for the cost of 1 premium and never wear them out.
Ign
Well-known member
Yeah last I knew the Ridgids to be Metabos was around '07. Just don't hold your breath on that. If you can find 'em at pawn though (I did recently) very few know they're Metabo so they're not valued that high. I'd be surprised if Ridgid was contracting anything through Makita as Emerson has TTI do all their dirty work AFAIK
I use grinders daily and haven't used a spanner in years. One thumb on the brake and a good snug w a gloved hand at the periphery of the disc is all you need.
Ign
Well-known member
Here's the last Ridgid Metabo I grabbed at pawn almost exactly a year ago for $40
edit: Ridgid spec'd these with a much-longer-than-normal cord which is actually really nice. Often eliminates the need for a small extension cord. You also get the Ridgid plug with an illuminated grinder logo so no guessing in a power strip which is the grinder.
edit: Ridgid spec'd these with a much-longer-than-normal cord which is actually really nice. Often eliminates the need for a small extension cord. You also get the Ridgid plug with an illuminated grinder logo so no guessing in a power strip which is the grinder.
Last edited:
Here's the last Ridgid Metabo I grabbed at pawn almost exactly a year ago for $40
edit: Ridgid spec'd these with a much-longer-than-normal cord which is actually really nice. Often eliminates the need for a small extension cord. You also get the Ridgid plug with an illuminated grinder logo so no guessing in a power strip which is the grinder.
I got mine in 02 and it's great. Had a known them to be Metabo grinders back then I would have bought a few more. The new ridgid grinders are nice. The lever button slide thingy takes some getting used to.
i have about a half dozen. 4.5/5 inch grinders. all of them either dewalt or b and d industrial. the old b and d industrial and the matching early dewalt models are identical. i have never had a motor or brush failure but had one bevel gear fail. there was also a snap-on grinder that was identical.
i think any brand would be ok but grinders are so cheap that i surely would not by a 10 or 20 dollar cheapie. even the big names can be had for 50-60 dollars on sale and pretty top of the line for around 100.
the amount of abuse any of the better ones take is amazing. take most any other power tool and lean on them til they nearly stall for hours on end and see how they hold up.
i think any brand would be ok but grinders are so cheap that i surely would not by a 10 or 20 dollar cheapie. even the big names can be had for 50-60 dollars on sale and pretty top of the line for around 100.
the amount of abuse any of the better ones take is amazing. take most any other power tool and lean on them til they nearly stall for hours on end and see how they hold up.
I'd put Fein before the Bosch or Makita, from my sample of one each. But they all seem overkill for the OPs use.
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Re: Opinions on a decent 4.5" angle grinder
My original one was a mastercraft (Canadian tire brand). It lasted about 10 years and then the gears wore out. It had been noisy for awhile. Should I take my new one apart and make sure the gears have plenty of grease?
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My original one was a mastercraft (Canadian tire brand). It lasted about 10 years and then the gears wore out. It had been noisy for awhile. Should I take my new one apart and make sure the gears have plenty of grease?
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why is the one with side switch better?
HA! Just got back from HF with same one / same price. I have one project in mind for it, will be done within the 90 days. As I told the clerk trying to sell me extended warranties, for $10, if it does that job, I got my money's worth!I got this one on sale for $10:
https://www.harborfreight.com/4-12-in-43-amp-angle-grinder-60625.html
I was out using it today to get some rust off of an old bar clamp; not the heaviest use in the world, but it worked great.
I have some rust spots to grind off of a body panel, and might need to weld in a new piece of metal, so I would use it to grind the welds down.
I got some cutting wheels for it, but I don't really intend to do more than maybe square off some holes in sheet metal with it.
WittHay
Well-known member
Is it possible that Walter is made by Suhner? I think someone has mentioned this before.
Thanks
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What about Suhner; maybe another overkill
I'm not sure I've ever heard of Suhner, I was just commenting about grinders I've actually used. Now I kinda want to try one out....
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pepi
Well-known member
Go 5inch and variable speed.. consumables last much longer.
Greg
Greg
sberry
Banned
Yes, especially wire wheels. I don't care for them on electric for that reason, safety too. Hi speeds fling them everywhere.
I am the opposite, I have heard of most tools around but I have used only a handful of them
Me and my dad we have had only Bosch professional because at that time they were the only ones locally that could be guaranteed.
Now that they have moved most of the production abroad I am looking to buy other brands made in Germany, Japan, UK, USA etc.
driz
Well-known member
True. Do those also fit 4.5" wheels or do they have a different post or do they make you buy different gear like those small M10 grinders?
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Ign
Well-known member
TTBOMK 5" wheels are still 7/8" arbor. It's really just if your guard will accommodate. If I used guards LOL
driz
Well-known member
I like that guy comment that was the first thing that hit my mind because I never have and I never will use one. I tried a couple times but it's just useless. Besides that you're still should be wearing safety glasses and more likely would I do a shield anyways
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Yep. There's a reason Mike Finnegan calls cutoff discs 'death wheels'. I caught a piece right on my cheekbone even WITH a guard on my DeWalt... that was seriously lacking in bueno...
Also , 5" consumables MAY last longer, but in my neck of the woods at least, 4.5" wheels are much, much more common. But 4.5" will work on a 5" grinder, 5" on a 4.5" not so much...
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Ign
Well-known member
LOL, I knew the mere mention of guards would detour into an immediate A Christmas Story you're-gonna-shoot-your-eye-out
Good ol' GJ
Good ol' GJ
Codejack
Banned
Which is why I wear a faceguard over my safety glasses when grinding.
That, and I am already blind in one eye, so if I lose the other...
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I have the 1375A. Couldn't ask for a better grinder.
cherrybomb
Well-known member
On my earlier post I stated how I upgraded to a 4 1/2 Makita 9564 cv.It has the sjs clutch that prevents jam ups and variable speed.My project was grinding cracks and ridges on sidewalk for snow blower season.One of the carbide wheels had a max speed,so for safety I was able to slo it down.My flats I could safely speed up.I am extremely happy with my purchase,it was money well spent.The grinder is so smooth,not once did vibration bother my hands.I've had two wrist surgerys so believe me.I worked it hard with long run times,no gloves as I wanted to feel heat if that happened.It never even got warm,the grip or the alum. drive system.It also is USA.I know some feel the need to go cheap,but in my case,I got smooth,well built toughness and versatile with the variable speed.Buy quality, once,definitely a home run IMO.
driz
Well-known member
I just used the Guard again yesterday For a particularly gnarly long ugly grind. It was on a 7 1/2 foot pipe that I dug it out using some old welding rod and a whole Lotta amps. I even managed to use it but the Lord I hate those things.
Here’s what I do and I don’t feel I am endangering myself beyond having to dig a piece of shrapnel out of me somewhere unimportant. just wear safety glasses leather gloves and a shield. Make sure you keep that chin tucked down because the only place that’s really going to get you that’s soft and exposed is your throat and that’s easy to take care of. Wearing both is more for the gnarly stuff. A lot of the times I don’t even wear the damn safety glasses for anything I just grab a shield. If you’re in the cold world like where I live the glasses fog up constantly where is the shield isn’t so bad. HF shields sort of **** . the weld shop shields don’t cost much more if you just change out the view plate anyways.
The big thing with those grinders to worry about is your ears. I’ve seen a lot of guys over the years that use earmuffs or less is a convenience. Not me I’ve got about eight pair at Harbor freighters kicking around the shop. I use some for anything loud almost always. They may not be the end of the ratings but they’re good enough. I also love the way that they’re free castering so that you can put them on and roll that connector piece that goes over your head around and back of your neck so you can put things on like a shield. Not good enough for you you can also stuff some foam rubber inside the hollow spots to improve them and it’s three dollars a pair and they’re almost throw aways .
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sberry
Banned
I use guards and can use it to my advantage. You can learn to fabricate where you don't back in to a corner. Earlier in my career I had a little trouble with that but cant even remember the last time I had to remove a guard.
Rabid Badger
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2018
- Messages
- 1,338
It's over your budget but you'll never have to buy another:
https://www.amazon.ca/Makita-GA5020C-Grinder-Electronic-Control/dp/B01KJXH8UM
You can save a little if you can do without the lock-on button:
https://www.amazon.ca/Makita-GA5020-5-Inch-Grinder-System/dp/B002BA5YNK
https://www.amazon.ca/Makita-GA5020C-Grinder-Electronic-Control/dp/B01KJXH8UM
You can save a little if you can do without the lock-on button:
https://www.amazon.ca/Makita-GA5020-5-Inch-Grinder-System/dp/B002BA5YNK
sberry
Banned
I have a welding shop. Have used a lot of grinders over the years. I got tired of replacing hundred dollar grinders made in China and looked till we found a 30$ one that worked. I dont grind hours, seconds or minutes is more average. Turns out the cheap were outlasting the better and certainly no worse with the benifit of the cords lasting forever on them vs rubber,,, which may be a good sales point but they got off.
