1, 2, 3+...how many angle grinders do you have?

[Nealcrenshaw]

All these grinders i guess the real question is how many have the guard off.
1.2.3...........
I have two by the way a blue and orange from HF.

 

[alex71]

All these grinders i guess the real question is how many have the guard off.
1.2.3...........
I have two by the way a blue and orange from HF.

The only ones of mine with a guard on them are ones with discs that can explode (grinding or cutoff wheels) or throw shrapnel (wire wheels).

For a sanding disc or a flap disc the guards just get in the way.

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

I don't use a guard either way,i know i'm bad.

 

[Snappy]

2 ..........

 

[G-force]

I'm looking at getting 2 a Metabo and Bosch.

That sounds like a plan. I currently have a Metabo but am constantly thinking how nice it would be to have a secong AG, one for cutting/grinding and one for sanding/stripping.

The biggest piece of advice I can give on grinders is, get one with variable speed. My Metabo has it and I could not imagine being limited to full speed all the time. Bosch also makes a variable speed model. Variable speed is invaluable on cleaning/surface preparation applications.

Metabo makes a sweet machine when it comes to well...anything.

 

[G-force]

Oh yeah I almost forgot. Don't buy an angle grinder without buying a full face shield, Depot sells them for $13. Buy one and love it!

 

[skeletonizer]

A lot of hate going on for the side switches. Back when I worked in plumbing/pipefitting I thougth the paddle switches were a PITA. I would have given anything for a locking switch in some of the contorted situations those fargin welders made me work in.

 

[the spyder]

Metabo W14-150 Quick
Metabo W14-150 Ergo
Metabo W8-115
Milwaukee 7"
5 HF grinders, lol.

 

[wyndycity]

Three 4.5"s for me - 2 Makitas (one cut-off wheel and one diamond blade) and an el cheapo HF with a wire wheel on it.

 

[35mastr]

I have 7 total. All with guards removed. Just double up on the eye protection. Glasses plus a real good face sheild.

 

[ihredo4]

I have 3. Two craftsman 4.5". I have an assortment of wheels and cups for these. And then I have Big Daddy. A 7-9" Bosch. The way that thing jumps around I have to power it up on the floor and take the work to it. However when I have to clean up tractor rims it will make short work out of them wiht a 7" wire wheel on it.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Why would you throw away a perfectly functional tool? Coulda given them to someone like all the guys here (and like me) that is perfectly satisfied with the Chinese ones for our occasional weekend jobs.:

Perfectly functional is subjective when it comes to them, I had two, fried them in under 10 minutes.

I have a dewalt and a milwaukee, it's not enough. I'll be heading to get that $50 bosch pack today before work.

 

[dustin19]

a 4.5black and decker ...
a 7in old full metal body ******* i forget what it is but itll take u for a ride if u let it

 

[tube_guy]

I've found it's much safer to cut the guards back a bit on my angle grinders. That way the guards don't get in the way nearly as often and the guards actually get used. Normally, I cut the guard from nearly 180 degree coverage back to about 120 degrees coverage or so. If lawyers weren't involved, and grinders were designed strictly for performance, that's probably the way they would come right from the factory.

To keep this on topic, I have five angle grinders. Three are the same brand so the guards are interchangeable. I have cut two guards back and still keep a full 180 degree guard for when I really do need it. The 120 degree guards are the ones I almost always use.

 

[Major Ramifications]

I only have one, a 4.5" Craftsman that I bought maybe in the early '90's. It was the better Craftsman 4.5" at the time. I don't use it much. I wouldn't mind getting a Flex brand angle grinder, though.

 

[1stwarrior95]

2 4" Makitas here. Currently 1 flap disc and the other with a grinding wheel. No guards. Sometimes i put the guards on if I have to.

I stick with the locking switch ones myself. I absolutely hate those damn paddle switches.
I always need to find a different way to hold the grinder. (obstruction, comfort, it always something...). With the paddle switch you're pretty much stuck with one position holding.

 

[alex71]

I've found it's much safer to cut the guards back a bit on my angle grinders. That way the guards don't get in the way nearly as often and the guards actually get used. Normally, I cut the guard from nearly 180 degree coverage back to about 120 degrees coverage or so. If lawyers weren't involved, and grinders were designed strictly for performance, that's probably the way they would come right from the factory.

To keep this on topic, I have five angle grinders. Three are the same brand so the guards are interchangeable. I have cut two guards back and still keep a full 180 degree guard for when I really do need it. The 120 degree guards are the ones I almost always use.

Not a bad idea. I've bought grinders before without guards, and whenever I've fabbed one myself that's always how I've made them.

 

[sjt78]

2 4" Makitas here. Currently 1 flap disc and the other with a grinding wheel. No guards. Sometimes i put the guards on if I have to.

I stick with the locking switch ones myself. I absolutely hate those damn paddle switches.
I always need to find a different way to hold the grinder. (obstruction, comfort, it always something...). With the paddle switch you're pretty much stuck with one position holding.

The grinders with the paddle switches have a lock button, wouldn't that take care of the problem? I'm new to grinders so educate me.

 

[dmw56]

I have 4. 2-4.5" Milwaukees, 1 4.5" Makita, and 1-7" Milwaukee. I only bought one of them. One of the 4.5" Milwaukee.

 

[GN4WHLN]

Craftsman Industrial with an extra long cord and a sanding disc
Makita with a grinding disk
Several air grinders with cutoff wheels or carbide cutters

Not a guard in sight...

I need to get another electric for a wire cuo

 

[Kjbakke2]

I guess I should rephrase it, we got them because they were thrown out. It was cheaper, I guess for the company to throw them out instead of fix them, perks of knowing a maintenance man

aaaah......well in that case.....1 good score and 2 you suckkkkkkkkk!!!

 

[Joe69]

I have this one at work

And this one at home

Both are 4 1/2" grinders.

Joe

 

[shovel]

Just FYI Home Depot has Bosch 2 packs of 4.5 inch, 6amp angle grinders for $49.99 right now on clearance.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=732499#post732499

I bought a set and went halvsies with a pal. $25.00 for a Bosch isn't too bad even if it is made in China now. The regular price for the Harbor Freight 4.5 is more than that.

As of yesterday the HD nearest me still had 5 boxes. FYI they are up by the pro desk at that paricular store.

Alright, Y'all made me go to the Depot on the way home from work. All they had left were the two displays. Manger said I could have them both for $25.00. I said OK, lets get them off the display. Well, to display these two brand new, better than any other grinder I have... They drove (2) 2" self-tapping screws right into the meat of the grinder to attach to the display. I left feeling a little sick. No good deal for me tonight.

 

[alex71]

Alright, Y'all made me go to the Depot on the way home from work. All they had left were the two displays. Manger said I could have them both for $25.00. I said OK, lets get them off the display. Well, to display these two brand new, better than any other grinder I have... They drove (2) 2" self-tapping screws right into the meat of the grinder to attach to the display. I left feeling a little sick. No good deal for me tonight.

That should be an offense punishable by law.

 

[skeletonizer]

That should be an offense punishable by law.

I've seen that done at a Lowes, they also cut all the cords off?

 

[stricht8]

5 for me. A makita 4", a HF 4.5", a taskforce 4.5", a HF 9", and a MAC 2" air angle grinder.

 

[1stwarrior95]

The grinders with the paddle switches have a lock button, wouldn't that take care of the problem? I'm new to grinders so educate me.

Do they? I guess the only paddle switch grinder I've used much is my boss's 4.5" Dewalt. I don't think it has a lock, but I couldn't say for sure I guess.

If they have a lock that'd be great.

Side note; I see a few with cordless dewalt 4.5". 18V? How do ya like 'em? Do they have the power of a corded one? I've got a few 18v dewalt tools and have been considering picking up the grinder.

 

[shovel]

SCORE! Went by another Home Depot today. Picked up the 2-pack of Bosch for $49. Right next to it was a 2-pack of Black and Decker, marked $19. Brought them both to the checkout and those were the prices that rang up. Left with all of them. I am now up to my **** in angle grinders. Should not need another for a long time. Thanks for the heads up y'all!

 

[ephotrod]

I have four electric 4.5 dewalts one nine inch dewalt a makita 4.5 and that about it.
Josh

 

[1stwarrior95]

My makita's home. LOL

 

[bobemmerich]

I've got 2 electric..1 Black & Decker and 1 from Harbor Freight that I've had for about 10 years. I beat the hell out of the Harbor Freight one(my 1st one) and the case is cracked, but it still works like new. Bought it cause it was "cheap". Who would have guessed it would last that long

 

[senlow]

I have a Crapsman and a Dewalt, both in 4.5". Quite frankly, neither of them impress me.I don't do much fab work, so they don't get alot of use.

 

[smooth72]

I have 9 not all shown 3-Dewalts 4"-4.5", 1-HF 4", 2 Ryobi 4" 1 Sears 4",1 Sears 8" I Makita 8" Polisher-Sander.

 

[riley.m]

I have 3, two Metabos and a Dewalt. I use the dewalt 4.5'' for an aluminum cutting blade, i call it the killer saw or meat axe. I have a 5" variable speed metabo for cutting and polishing stainless, and a 4.5 metabo for basically everything else. no guards.

 

[Keep]

3 two Makitas and one Mastercraft. The Makitas were 2 for $59 I could not pass them up. Much quieter then the mastercraft.

 

[1stwarrior95]

I have 3, two Metabos and a Dewalt. I use the dewalt 4.5'' for an aluminum cutting blade, i call it the killer saw or meat axe. I have a 5" variable speed metabo for cutting and polishing stainless, and a 4.5 metabo for basically everything else. no guards.

Any pics/info on that aluminum cutting blade? Sounds like somethin I might need! LOL

 

[riley.m]

Any pics/info on that aluminum cutting blade? Sounds like somethin I might need! LOL

Yeah man, i have two actually, one that is five inch, scary, and the 4.5 inch. look up Eastside Saw here in washington. 800-962-0279. i couldnt imagine doing what i do without them.

 

[Monte]