Angle grinder recommendation needed.

[Joevano]

Looking for a lower cost angle grinder to compliment my new welder.

I've never used one but I think I want a paddle switch instead of a locking switch.

Any suggestions?

 

[Ben Iv]

Not sure what you consider low cost but you cant go wrong with dewalt.

 

[Muffduster]

From what I've read on this forum over the years the brand to avoid is Dewalt. People like the $30 Skil from Walmart for entry level. Home Depot also has a $59 Milwaukee that gets favorable reviews.

 

[cundifc]

From what I've read on this forum over the years the brand to avoid is Dewalt. People like the $30 Skil from Walmart for entry level. Home Depot also has a $59 Milwaukee that gets favorable reviews.

We use a dewalt almost everyday in our shop truck and use it hard. Never had any issues with it and it's a couple years old. Lives in a tool box all day gets rode hard and put away wet.

 

[SiGmA_X]

I bought a pair (package deal) of the Bosch 4.5's from Lowes on close out 18 months ago. They were about $80 (I'd have to check Quicken, low dollar purchases don't stick in my mind so well) and were replaced with a lower amp model, same cost, but 1 vs 2 for that same price. They don't get a ton of use, but when I use them, they often get near constant running for a long duration of time. I highly recommend them.

You mention paddle over locking button. I thought I liked paddle until I used one for a long time. It blows. A locking paddle would be great, or if you never leave it running for long durations. I often do, so locking is the WTG for me, and would be what Id recommend. Now as tool guys, I really recommend you have both... But I don't have the money for that, so my pair are locking button.

I should say I bought these because a brand new HF 4.5" started letting the smoke out after about 30min of undercoating removal. Scary. Crappy quality.

Dewalts, as mentioned, are also great, my old mechanics shop had one that was probably from the early 00's and it was trekking along just fine!

 

[astroracer]

I have had excellant service with the Harbor Freight grinders. I have 4 or 5 of them and the oldest one is probably 20 yrs old. It still runs fine... The switch crapped out on it and you have to unplug it to turn it off. I have both paddle and slide switches, use either with no problem. For 10 bucks you really can't beat the price. I considered these throw aways when I bought them... Just haven't had to throw one away yet.
Mark

 

[Muffduster]

...I'd have to check Quicken, low dollar purchases don't stick in my mind so well...

Damn, you're quite the high roller aren't ya?

 

[CWP1616L]

I've never used one but I think I want a paddle switch instead of a locking switch.

Have fun squeezing that paddle switch all day...

 

[Chuck122]

i like my 4.5'' bosch. the 4'' don't get a lot of love but they are sometimes usefull and when the extra power is not needed, they are also lighter, less noisy and les cumbersome. as far a switches go i prefer locking, as it allows you to change your grip as you work. lets face it you do not always grind flat stuff in a vise. at some point, you will try to grind at an odd angle and the paddle switch will be a PITA.

 

[KinzeMech]

What size are you looking for? 4.5" is common.

I've got a $10 HF one that I'm careful to use lightly, and it hasn't quit on me yet, although for any heavy duty work I grab an air hose and the pneumatic one.

Dad uses them fairly abusively at the welding table on his farm. When I got him a 10 amp dewalt, that was the last time we had to replace one. If you're going to use one hard, I recommend getting a 10 amp one.

 

[sberry]

B$D from Walmart, the 7750, 30$ and is hard to beat. It is one of the Dewalt models with a different color jacket.

 

[PatDoody]

I have a few dewalt ones they are reliable and affordable. I have a metabo that was gifted from an eager sales man. The metabo is amazing but the price tag is out of most hobbyists price range. I also have a craftsman grinder I bought probably 10 years ago when I was 21 and I still use it the most.

 

[OHMS LAW]

I have a 4.5 ryobi that I bought used once, in 2005, put up in a shed for 8 years, pulled it out two months ago, works like the day I bought it. Used pretty rough the second time, used it when fabricating a project at school trimming and grinding 1/4 angle. I just need a new wheel

 

[KnurledNut]

Check out this Makita. It comes with everything pictured for $80 and free shipping. They are good grinders:
http://www.amazon.com/Makita-9557PBX1-2-Inch-Grinder-Aluminum/dp/B0010DHFTK/ref=pd_cp_hi_2/186-8018172-3266535

 

[fflintstone]

for low buck I would go with the high end 6 amp harbor freight unit. they have a paddle switch and are not bad for the money. if you catch them on sale for $29.99 and use a 20% coupon they are $24.

That being said if you can pony up $50 or more I would look for a used Metabo.
once you use a Metabo it would be hard to use anything else.

 

[lotsoftools]

Check out this Makita. It comes with everything pictured for $80 and free shipping. They are good grinders:
http://www.amazon.com/Makita-9557PBX1-2-Inch-Grinder-Aluminum/dp/B0010DHFTK/ref=pd_cp_hi_2/186-8018172-3266535

I have that very Makita, works great. The paddle switch doesn't bother me, no matter how long I use it. I also have a Dewalt 4802. I don't like the paddle switch on that one so much.

 

[doan]

Have fun squeezing that paddle switch all day...

I just got the same Makita. It has a long paddle switch on the bottom and also has a lock button to keep it on.

My older porter cable died from grinding dust getting in the bearings. The Makita is allegedly sealed.

 

[jake00]

Had. Dewalt dw402 for about 15 years, loved it, Till I used a metabo at work....

 

[cheechi]

if you want inexpensive, you have to define what is inexpensive to you. a 4.5 is inexpensive compared to a 7. a hf grinder is inexpensive to a dewalt.

i have a dewalt paddle switch & a PC trigger/lock style, both 4.5" neither cost a lot, got them both on sale at lowes at different times. i like the PC more & use it more.

if you want a cheap one & think that will satisfy your needs, i suggest get the B&D fro wal mart like was mentioned. if it dies or its not enough power you have a basis for comparison. if you just need to have a working grinder for cheap, i would buy a different brand/style each time you burn one up until you find the right one.

i used to go through a grinder a year or so. finally started spending a little more & the two i have now are over double that still going strong.

 

[crewchief888]

i have a couple of $9.99 HF orange grinders that have help up to 5 or 6 years of abuse.

also have an older CM pro, a dewalt, and a hitachi.

IMHO the hitachi was the best overall deal, grinder, 5 spare wheels and a blow molded case for $39.99 @ lowes.

 

[sberry]

if you want a cheap one & think that will satisfy your needs, i suggest get the B&D fro wal mart like was mentioned. if it dies or its not enough power you have a basis for comparison. if you just need to have a working grinder for cheap, i would buy a different brand/style each time you burn one up until you find the right one.

i used to go through a grinder a year or so. finally started spending a little more & the two i have now are over double that still going strong.

We did this with more expensive grinders and worked our way down the list till we came to the B$D. I am not sure what makes a Metabo so special from a user standpoint? I can say this, have seen a lot of the HF come and go, its about 50 50 maybe but most do not have the power. It would be overloaded quickly in a lot of cases, I suspect when they work they work, cant argue with that.

I have a 4.5 ryobi that I bought used once, in 2005, put up in a shed for 8 years, pulled it out two months ago, works like the day I bought it. Used pretty rough the second time, used it when fabricating a project at school trimming and grinding 1/4 angle. I just need a new wheel

I know this is meant well but how hard is hard use, used twice with one wheel? Not the same test as 3 or 4 boxes of wheels in a welding shop with a couple of men using it daily over years.

 

[85camaro]

Makita is king of the angle grinder.

 

[cundifc]

Makita is king of the angle grinder.

No that's not correct

 

[RCL]

I have three of the the HF angle grinders. Two are the old orange color and one is kind of maroon. They are used hard and have held up very well.
I always replace the goose grease in them with synthetic.

 

[Haukur]

Makita is king of the angle grinder.

I have Makita, Metabo and Hitachi grinders. The Makita is good, but the title of king would have to go to Metabo or Fein.

 

[85camaro]

No that's not correct

Of course, it comes down to opinion. I've used angle grinders daily for over twenty years and have owned all the top brands, Milwaukee, Dewalt, etc. I admit it's been a while since I've owned a Dewalt, they just didn't seem to hold up as long as the Makita, same with the Milwaukee.

Maybe they've gotten better over the years, but the longevity was always superior with the Makita, therefore I stuck with Makita and never looked back.

 

[BD1]

I have Makita, Metabo and Hitachi grinders. The Makita is good, but the title of king would have to go to Metabo or Fein.

METABO ! Mine is going on 30 years and still kickin.

Here's the variable speed model. Great for a wire wheel.



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0027IQGPG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[SiGmA_X]

In my prior post I didn't mention model. I have the Bosch 1380SLIM-2P. Lowes said they were discontinued (and HD's site says that right now, actually), but apparently that isn't the case with Lowes and the pair can be had for $90.

Damn, you're quite the high roller aren't ya?

Ha! I wish! My memory just works in a weird way I can tell you I spent $1,025 on my MIG off hand (And Quicken says I was $3 off, it was $1,028!), but I had to look up the grinders to tell you I spent $91.95 out the door for the pair of them. They were actually only $79.98, but I bought the 2yr service plan.. I never do that, but being I had just had a failure and they were seemingly cheap...Seemed like an okay idea. They have dozens of hours of use on each now, and no issues at all, so it was a waste of $11.97 as it usually is. Hence why I never do it lol!

Have fun squeezing that paddle switch all day...

For the ~30 min I had my HF paddle grinder before it started smoking and smelling like burnt electronics, I can tell you I wouldn't want to use a paddle for my primary grinder. It took a lot more effort to keep my hand on the switch vs moving my hands around as need be to get the wheel where I needed it. I think they (may) have their place, but if you're just buying one grinder, get a locking switch!

i like my 4.5'' bosch. the 4'' don't get a lot of love but they are sometimes usefull and when the extra power is not needed, they are also lighter, less noisy and les cumbersome. as far a switches go i prefer locking, as it allows you to change your grip as you work. lets face it you do not always grind flat stuff in a vise. at some point, you will try to grind at an odd angle and the paddle switch will be a PITA.

Totally agree!

for low buck I would go with the high end 6 amp harbor freight unit. they have a paddle switch and are not bad for the money. if you catch them on sale for $29.99 and use a 20% coupon they are $24.

This is the one that started smoking on me within ~30min of constant grinding when stripping undercoating and prepping metal for welding.

 

[BK13]

I was just looking at Bosch's website, and they offer some variable speed models. Is there any advantage to multi-speed? (grinder noob here)

 

[sberry]

Speed control could be useful. I will agree with 85camaro that in comparison the Makita may be superior to Dewalt, we also had durability issues when we ran the snot out of them, considered them a consumable hence the search for a good replacement, **** cords, brushes smoked with a lkittle overload. I bet I burned half a dozen like that. I fibnally went to clunky Milwaukee to get some miles out of one, so so but these cheap ones really run, no more gut wrenching cost issues with them and they work.

 

[ilovevocs]

My fav is my metabo; however I have a HF unit at my cabin. While it certainly doesn't have the fit, finish or power that the metabo has, it works just fine for light duty and occasional use.

 

[Sureshot]

Best value IMHO is Makita. Not the cheapest or best but will outlive 99% of the users.

 

[HMCFab9]

I've had a Makita for many years & it works fine.
I've also got several Menards cheapo's that I got for 10 bucks on sale. I've used them hard & they still keep on running.
I think many are made by the same company... the housing looks the same on a lot of 'em.