Help with Angle Grinder

[BoydS]

I need a tool that will cut through Bubba's old welds on a restoration I am about to begin. Some of the welds are in a place that are difficult to get to, but I was thinking an angle grinder would be the best choice. What is ya'lls opinion on a good quality angle grinder..?

Thanks...

 

[D.J.]

Dewalt with a Lawson wheel!
________
VAPIR NO2 VAPORIZER

 

[bobbleheadhillbilly]

If I can't reach it with the angle grinder, I'll break out the carbide burrs and the die grinder.

 

[saabman]

Whizzy wheel (cut off wheel)

 

[reinhardt]

get a grinder w/ a on/off switch u have to hold. not a 'click on' switch. when the 'click on' grinder takes off it keeps going......

if ur doing any kinda resto work/ metal work, a 4 inch grinder is a must.

 

[DaleK]

I got one of the Ridgid 7" twist handle grinders this spring to replace a dead Dewalt, for a big grinder I've been surprised at how much easier it is to get in places when you can turn the handle around to get a better angle.

 

[sberry]

I like a 4 1/2 inch grinder. Being a career welder I have used several of most brands and for giggles bought a Walmart B&D for my pickup, used it only a little there but the other day bought another one for the shop bench where they get worked hard. It doesn't have paddle switch which I prefer but worked the snot out of it today sharpening some heavy brush hog blades, it really flies, I am impressed. I like it as well as the Milwaukee I am currently using, actually more comfortable. For 30$ I am tempted to buy another one before they change it, ha. I am going to run it just to see how long it lasts, another guy on welding forum said he has one he worked hard for a year so far and its still going strong. At 30$ I am not fixing them, toss it and get another. Its smooth and has a lot of power.

 

[Nailbender]

Metabo is the way to go.

 

[D KRAGER]

I like a 4 1/2 inch grinder. Being a career welder I have used several of most brands and for giggles bought a Walmart B&D for my pickup, used it only a little there but the other day bought another one for the shop bench where they get worked hard. It doesn't have paddle switch which I prefer but worked the snot out of it today sharpening some heavy brush hog blades, it really flies, I am impressed. I like it as well as the Milwaukee I am currently using, actually more comfortable. For 30$ I am tempted to buy another one before they change it, ha. I am going to run it just to see how long it lasts, another guy on welding forum said he has one he worked hard for a year so far and its still going strong. At 30$ I am not fixing them, toss it and get another. Its smooth and has a lot of power.

I bought a Black N Decker at least 5 years ago. I can't kill it. I've had it so hot that I couldn't hold on to it anymore, still keeps chugging along!

 

[bronc3buster842001]

I had a B&d that I beat on for 4 years. I do most of my work outside in the yard, so it had a hard like.

 

[Racer_X]

My Black & Decker 4.5" grinder is about 23 years old and still works as well as the day I bought it.

 

[lawfarm]

Personally, I like DeWalts...the higher amperage DeWalts have a great deal more power than B&D's units, and it shows when grinding. I haven't seen the benefit of Metabo when it comes to grinders, and DeWalts are easier to get parts and service for where I'm from.

That said, I know a lot of guys that go and buy 2-3 grinders at Harbor Freight, open them up and lube the gearbox, then run them until they die...and then return for new units.

 

[sberry]

The HF ones I have seen didn't have the power, thats what really impressed me with the Wallyworld B&D. They are not the B&D of old but at 30$ it beats "getting parts" for a yellow one. The yellows are the old B$D design, I like the handling, feel and the paddle switch but too much issue with brushes, one needs to look at them on occasion and replace before they puke out the armature. I got no reason to think these orange things wouldn't give great service especially to the home/hobby/car crowd. A couple of my guys used the thing the other day and said the same thing. Could afford 3 or 4 of them for the cost of ones we been using.

 

[csp]

For a one-time use or very infrequent use after that one time, Harbor Freight. Saw them in a newspaper ad Sunday for $10.

That said, I love my 15 yr old Makita which doesn't get used as often as some, but still has a lot of miles on it.

 

[Falcon67]

I have one of the $9 HF specials. I put Norton flap disks and cut wheels on it and used the hell out of it. It's working good so far. It'll eat some metal and zing through welds with the right wheel on it. The shroud was designed for metric 4 1/2" disks and so was a little small in the diameter for a real USA flap disk, but the first Norton flap disk "reshaped" it right quick.

However - I'm all for a new tool, so I will check out the B&D item next trip to Walmart.

 

[leftyz]

Just bought a Milwaukee 4 1/2 inch angle grinder at a garage sale for $20, it'd work perfect for that,

 

[Steve in Mi]

I like power in a grinder so I look for high amps (8 or more amps in a 4.5" angle grinder). It turns out that the more powerful grinders have longer cords (12 foot) which I find very convenient.

I have a couple of HF units also. They are what they are.

 

[crewchief888]

ive had pretty good luck with a couple of HF orange grinders i bought 4 years ago on sale for $9.99
i also have a dewalt and a hitachi.
i keep a wheel on the dewalt, wire wheel on a HF, cutoff on the hitachi, and 24 or 36 grit disk on the other HF

i did have the screws loosen up on one HF using the wire wheel, never had it happen before or after that

 

[fflintstone]

I really like my 4 1/2 milwaulkee grinder, it has served me well for over 10 years. However it was over $100 back then. If you are on a budget the NEW red 6 amp harbor freight grinders with the paddle switch are GREAT. they are $30 on sale and with the 20% coupon that puts them @ $24.
the cheap 4.2 amp (blue) and 4.4 amp (orange) are OK but the new 6 amp modles will take alot of continuous grinding. I have 2, one with a cut off disk and one with a wire wheel.

 

[Scout Driver]

Bought a Makita 4 1/2" this spring for $20 brand new! (internet price anywhere from $60-$80) Of course it was bought from some dude that was selling items out of a pickup and trailer in the church parking lot.
Anyhow, I have not used it much yet but its been fine.

Been using a Skil grinder for the past 10 or 15 years and its been troublefree. Great little grinder.

Like a previous poster said, a small cutting disk on an air tool may work better.

Scott

 

[Indy_500]

I love my craftsman. My grandpa gave it to me, i bought tons of grinding discs and cut-off wheels for it, it's a lot more handy than you think.

 

[gary300]

Based on what I read in this thread, and the fact that I had to go to Wallyworld yesterday to get something for my wife I picked up one of the BD 4 1/2" angle grinders for 30 bucks. From what I see so far, it looks like a good deal. This thing is heavy and I cut a 1/2" piece of rebar in nothin flat. My question is, I have a bunch of rust to remove from some outdoor wrought iron funiture before painting it. What would be the best type of wire wheel to get for this grinder? 7/8" arbor. Ten K RPM.

 

[DCarr]

Just bought a Milwaukee 4 1/2 inch angle grinder at a garage sale for $20, it'd work perfect for that,

Agreed with the Milwaukee brand ... have one that I have abused for years and it wont die.

Makita also is very reliable

 

[Leadfoot3232]

Based on what I read in this thread, and the fact that I had to go to Wallyworld yesterday to get something for my wife I picked up one of the BD 4 1/2" angle grinders for 30 bucks. From what I see so far, it looks like a good deal. This thing is heavy and I cut a 1/2" piece of rebar in nothin flat. My question is, I have a bunch of rust to remove from some outdoor wrought iron funiture before painting it. What would be the best type of wire wheel to get for this grinder? 7/8" arbor. Ten K RPM.

The dewault cup wheels with the 5/8"-11 threaded end have held up very well for me.. has anybody else noticed how hot the dewault grinders get..I've had just about every brand out there the dewault I have gets ALOT hotter than any other I've had,even cheap ones..it gets too hot to hold with leather gloves

 

[78Bird]

Northern tool has pretty good wire wheels for 4.5" grinders. The red-centered ones I use a lot.

They hold up as well as more expensive ones.

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