Cheapest source for right angle die grinders?

[kythri]

I want to setup a handful of (essentially disposable) right angle die grinders with various abrasive discs/roloc wheels/stones/burrs, and am just looking for the cheapest source of them.

This is looking to be Harbor Freight/Central Pneumatic rear exhaust for $16.99/each or front exhaust for $19.99/each.

That's not necessarily a problem, just figured I'd check in with ya'll here to see if I might have overlooked someplace selling them a couple bucks cheaper, as I'm looking to buy several.

Barring that, is there a "better" product that's not appreciably more expensive? I don't think I need $50 die grinders for my purposes, and I've already got my "good" ones.

Thanks to everyone, and hope the holidays are finding you and yours well!

 

[engineer2]

I've had one of those cheap HF right angle die grinders for a few years. Works very well, but you need to keep it oiled like with any air tool. Only problem is the bearing retainer nut behind the collet likes to come loose once in a while. No big deal, just tighten it back up.

Might be difficult to get one cheaper unless you bought in bulk from China via aliexpress.com.

 

[kythri]

Heh, I did check aliexpress, but no dice. Thanks for the recommendation and feedback!

I don't think I'll have any problems with the HF product, just looking to save a few pennies for other toys.

 

[dr_clyde]

Astro’s blue handle units are about as cheap as I’ll go. Any cheaper and they are either noisy as hell or vibrate like crazy.

 

[driftpin]

You may already use this, but if you don't every time, sooner or later, you will pay the piper.

 

[toolenthusiast]

I bought 5 of the cheap HF grinders for a project. 1 of them was defective in the box. 2 of them died on the first project. The last 2 died on the second project.

 

[toolenthusiast]

You may already use this, but if you don't every time, sooner or later, you will pay the piper.

You are totally correct and totally off-topic.

 

[marak]

I have about 12 to 15 HF die grinders ranging from 15 to 25 years old. All with variable use, with different cutting wheels/abrasives, etc. I haven't had a HF fail, but I haven't purchased HF tools in about 12 years. I have several of the Astro's that Dr Clyde mentioned and like them quite a bit, and are what I now purchase if I was to do it all over again.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have a few older pneumatic angle grinders. Only on of then was more than $50. I have been buying DYNABRADE. The quality and stability is very much improved. Dynabrade is not for everyone as they can be very expensive.
Viva La Difference!

 

[Ray-CA]

Heh, I did check aliexpress, but no dice. Thanks for the recommendation and feedback!

I don't think I'll have any problems with the HF product, just looking to save a few pennies for other toys.

Keep checking this data base: http://www.hfqpdb.com/search/die+grinder for update coupons.

 

[tarbellb]

without fail

"looking for a $17 grinder"

GJ members
"here's my $250 dynabrade get one"

 

[ZRX61]

I bought several from Horrible Fright when they were about $8 each. Plan was to just throw them away when they broke.
That was at least 18 years ago, they still work.

 

[tyyost]

Even Walmarts hyper tough grinders are running $23, so looks like HF is the value leader.

 

[oldmachinenut]

One of my sons employees has a low priced HF right angle die grinder, It is unbelievably loud. It is so loud my son bought him a new higher quality one from the Mac man. He has used the HF one for years and it keeps going but the noise is horrendous.

 

[cvairwerks]

Bought a bunch of the HF straights and right angles for an experiment at work. What was supposed to be a six week test, lasted barely two weeks. By the end of the two weeks, all of the right angles had be replaced under warranty at least once, and all but one of the straights had been replaced as well. This was in an aircraft shop, with the units being take care of, properly serviced and only used an hour or two a day, each.

 

[joel_400]

Another option for cheap is used...I believe I've only ever bought one new. I now have 4 or 5. The Dotson brand seems to be a real good grinder. It doesn't say snap on or craftsman so nobody knows they're any good so they can usually be had cheap. I've got two used that looked rough when I got them for next to nothing and they're still running like new!
Joel

 

[Robinson1]

I been satisfied with my Campbell Hausfeld die grinders. Cant remember what I paid its been several years ago. I have 2 straight and 3 90 degree. They were cheap when Wal Mart sold them. Maybe check ebay?

 

[Hammer1963]

There is a company on Amazon that sells what I call AKA carpal tunnel enablers. They are orange in color. I do not recall the name, but damn do they vibrate.

 

[jblnut]

I picked up 3 HF Right angle die grinders a few years back and they get used quite a bit. One has a wire wheel deal on it for cleaning tire rim beads and gets a lot of use and is holding up great.

Reading this thread has made me realize that none of them have ever been oiled .... oops .... the must be enough blow-by from the ancient compressor to keep them going

 

[dnschmidt]

The words cheap and good seldom go together. ASTRO is the best value per dollar. I have several and they're fine. I hate vibration and the HF just have too much of it.

 

[Nutria]

Another option for cheap is used...I believe I've only ever bought one new. I now have 4 or 5.

Another vote for used. They seem to sell for small money everywhere, and they generally have many more years in them. One worth picking up in particular: the older Black and Decker 7/9" grinders.

If you do decide to go used, just make sure that they have guards and handles, as those are sometimes AWOL.

 

[lbhsbz]

I bought several from Horrible Fright when they were about $8 each. Plan was to just throw them away when they broke.
That was at least 18 years ago, they still work.

Same here. I've had a few blue points lock up, one Matco, and a MAC. The MAC was the first one I bought off the truck, and I paid a lot, so I kept it I guess thinking I'd get it repaired one day, but I didn't...and found it in the back of a drawer 20 years later, hooked an air hose to it and it worked fine. Still works, used it today lol.

I've had a few of the harbor freight units quit...the fancy 45° one didn't last very long at all, but I've got 10 more that are at least 20 years old, just as noisey as the day I bought them, but still keep going.

 

[xjfish]

One of my sons employees has a low priced HF right angle die grinder, It is unbelievably loud. It is so loud my son bought him a new higher quality one from the Mac man. He has used the HF one for years and it keeps going but the noise is horrendous.

I have a couple cheapie "Cummins Industrial" die grinders that are probably 15 years old and still working. Also extremely loud. I had a co-worker who would complain about the noise when I used one.

 

[kythri]

The words cheap and good seldom go together. ASTRO is the best value per dollar. I have several and they're fine. I hate vibration and the HF just have too much of it.

Understood, which is why I was clear that I was looking for, and I quote myself, "essentially disposable" and "the cheapest source of them"

I'm sure someone will disabuse me of my opinions, but I do have some Astro Pneumatic die grinders, amongst others, and consider them as my good ones.

 

[kythri]

If you do decide to go used, just make sure that they have guards and handles, as those are sometimes AWOL.

What guards and handles do pneumatic die grinders have that none of mine have ever had?

 

[cvairwerks]

A lot of the new ones come with those infernal trigger guards....

 

[dr_clyde]

I consider the Astros to be disposable. They're about as cheap as it gets while still being useable. A guy I used to work for bought MPP brand die grinders in bulk, but even then they're about $10 more than the HF. But they're arguably 2-3x in quality.

I wouldn't send a HF die grinder to my worst enemy. They're so obnoxiously loud. I won't allow them in my shop, my employees can buy something else or use mine they're so disruptive.

If you care so much about getting the cheapest tool possible that you're willing to sacrifice literally every creature comfort available to you then HF is the bottom of the barrel, cheapest of the cheap. But holy cow, my hearing and the feeling in my hands is worth the extra money.

Your money, your choice I guess.

 

[dr_clyde]

A lot of the new ones come with those infernal trigger guards....

An automatic center punch makes short work of those.

 

[cvairwerks]

An automatic center punch makes short work of those.

Unless they are company property and altering tools without expressed consent is considered a terminating offense.....

 

[finn]

$15 die grinder today.

$5000 hearing aids when you’re 50.

Doesn’t seem like a good value proposition, does it?

 

[ZRX61]

A lot of the new ones come with those infernal trigger guards....

I use safety wire to hold them closed

 

[cvairwerks]

I use safety wire to hold them closed

Tape is what we use. We seldom use safety wire anymore. All of our stuff is done with Safe-T-Cable these days. We've got areas that the cable has been authorized to use instead of cotter keys! I haven't seen a roll of wire around our work place in probably three years now.

 

[ZRX61]

I've probably got 8 or 9 cans of it in the garage.

I have Dewalt 4.5in grinders that have paddle switches. Took a while to learn how to pick then up with turning them on as I did so. Buzzed my arm 3 or 4 times with the damn things.,

 

[kythri]

$15 die grinder today.

$5000 hearing aids when you’re 50.

Doesn’t seem like a good value proposition, does it?

Good thing I have excellent noise cancelling hearing protection!