beginner welder - cheap angle grinder advice

[petee_c]

Looking for opinions on cheap angle grinders (4.25" models).

I've got one, with an abrasive/cut off wheel. I've also got a wire brush, and looking for a wire cup.

I'm starting to fiddle around with welding. Making a utility yard/garden cart for use with the lawn tractor. Using pneumatic dolly wheels that I have laying around for the trailer.

Anyways... The angle grinder I got was on sale for $30. Been working so far. 3yr warranty (provided I can find the receipt). Why do DIY's/homeowners get more expensive ones?

This one is on sale now with a bunch of discs for $40.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brow...ercraft%2BAngle%2BGrinder%2Bkit.jsp?locale=en

Saw a 4" Hitachi grinder at the local TSC store for $35 with a 1 yr warranty.

I might use it a few times a year.

Peter

 

[needmoretools]

I also saw a Hitachi 4" 5A on sale at Princess Auto for 29.99...

 

[Paco Pena]

I bought a Makita 5 inch back in 82. Still going strong. I did have to change the power cord after Dad ground through it with a cutting wheel. The less expensive ones work fine but the question is how long they last under hard use. Average home owner should likely save the money and get a cheap one on sale.
Paco

 

[Major Ramifications]

DIY and homeowners get more expensive ones because they are a pleasure to use. Cheap angle grinders have awkward switches and bog down easily. They also last us a long time.
I had a good friend who was very frugal. He couldn't resist the cheap chinese grinders, but he kept burning them up, as he was very heavy-handed. I bought him a Milwaukee 4-1/2" back when they were still made in U.S.A. He couldn't believe how much more he got done in the same time period and what a pleasure it was to use.

Also, grinders come in 4" and 4-1/2" sizes, I've never heard of a 4-1/4".

 

[peterbilr98]

go with the hiatachi i have one never quit me yet 3yrs now i do have a top of the line milwakee.

 

[rocklobster]

I bought a cheap mastercraft grinder for $14 a few years back and it worked for about 1 year of hard use until it needed new brushes and became too expensive to fix (I wish I kept that receipt!!).

I got a 10 amp 4.5 in dewalt on a boxing day sale for $50 4 years ago and it is still going strong.

I think it is a 6 to one half dozen to another kind of thing. My $14 grinder did the job and paid itself off pretty quick, but so far the dewalt grinder has been worth the money as well... Would I buy another cheap grinder- absolutely! But having the quality grinder has spoiled me because it is light weight and has a stronger motor.

If you do alot of welding you will find that it is a time saver to have more than one grinder at hand with different disks and wire wheels so that you dont have to change them as much.

I say get a nice grinder like Milwaukee, DW, Makita, Metabo etc, and also get some of the throw away units as well to have all different wheels chucked up at once. When you have a dirty, dusty job grab the cheap one and when you will be grinding for a long stretch or doing precision work grab the good one because you will not get as fatigued.

 

[Professur]

Word to the wise .... don't cheap out on the disks. 11,000 rpm is more than enough to make a cheap one explode. pay the extra for high quality consumables.

As for the price .... the cheap ones don't make anywhere near 11,000 rpm. I've got 2 cheap ones that average 7k tops. Actually, that's why I bought them ... i like the lower speed for some things.

 

[SticketsFTW]

Metabo will be the cheapest grinder you ever buy.

 

[diggerrick]

I bought a cheap Harbor Freight angle grinder for $10 several years ago, and it still works same as new - not much power. I only use it with a wire wheel or surface prep disks now.

This is my recommendation for any real grinding or cutting, even if it's only occasional use:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BM6BMS/sr=1-2/qid=1301940620/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1301940620&sr=1-2&seller=

3 year warranty from DEWALT.

 

[Mike007]

You can get a Porter Cable at Lowes for around $40. The quality is actually pretty good for the price.

 

[aidank]

hitachi make damn good stuff

 

[willysrule]

cheap out on the grinder if you wish...but please, Please, PLEASE don’t cheap out on the grinding, cut-off or wire wheels...I have seen many come apart and it's never a pretty site...I have a friend right now that had his tendons and nerves in his left arm severed by a 1/4" cheap grinding wheel that exploded...was only grinding spot welds while doing body work...nothing crazy..

 

[porphyre]

My $0.02 on this is upgrade to one with a paddle-style on/off switch. You only need one accident of dropping it, dropping something on it, or otherwise accidentally turning it on to really ruin your day.

I know it's nice to have 3-4 cheapies with different wheels/disks on 'em. Saves time... but like I said, you'll be wishing for a paddle on/off after your first incident.

I prefer 4.5" because it seems like consumables are easier to find than 4".