I need an occasional use Angle Grinder

[countrytech]

I'm looking to purchase an angle grinder for occasional use in my shop. I won't use it very often and shouldn't be using it very hard. I just want one for those times when something needs ground off a bit, or to put a wire wheel on it to clean up some rust from whatever project I have.

I don't want to put much money into it, cheaper is better.

I don't have an air compressor so the air is not an option.

I considered a cordless one, but they seem expensive and whenever I need a grinder, I am around an electric outlet, so cordless is not really needed. plus I get tired of always making sure my batteries stay charged up.

Are the Harbor Freight HD 4.5's any good? http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-4-1-2-half-inch-angle-grinder-91223.html

 

[spg]

yeah i have that one for like two years now....works fine...i think i paid like $12 for it

 

[ranger302]

I have about a dozen of them (HF). Pick them up on sale, use it till it dies, repete.

 

[itsvegas]

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-1-2-half-inch-angle-grinder-95578.html


ive had this one for awhile and while its noisy it works fine. you can get them on sale for $10 if you wait for a sale.

 

[archirelic]

http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_query=black+and+decker+angle+grinder&ic=48_0&Find=Find&search_constraint=0

I've had this one for close to 7 years now and use it quite frequently. Still running strong!

 

[tool_enthusiast]

http://www.harborfreight.com/4-1-2-half-inch-angle-grinder-95578.html


ive had this one for awhile and while its noisy it works fine. you can get them on sale for $10 if you wait for a sale.

This one is the Drill Master brand while the original post shows the Chicago Electric brand. You can easily get the Drill Master brand for $9.99 as they always go on sale. I own both and it seems to me they both are about the same, but I'm sure the Chicago Electric is a bit stronger and more heavy duty (as the name says). The cheapest I've seen the Chicago Electric grinder go for is $14.99 with a coupon. I also used my friend's Makita angle grinder before and it seemed to be the same as these HF models, at least performance-wise. Of course, I was only cutting some nipping ends off a tool, so it was a small job.

I'd say you can't go wrong with any of these two HF models for occasional use given the low low price.

 

[VWandDodge]

I have DeWalt I bought four years ago because I don't believe in the reasons many people buy H/F garbage like those mentioned above -- cheap and dies, you don't care, buy another, repeat. To me that is stupid and a waste of time and money. Why buy a half dozen pieces of junk for $9.00/ea when one can spent good money ONCE and have a tool that will last a lifetime.

 

[tonydanzah]

i bought a cheapie once from maybe lowes? I used it for about 30mins continous before it got so hot it locked up. Never again.

 

[Monte]

Pleeeeeaaaaaase buy quality !

You will be much happier ! Especially when it comes to power tools !!!

 

[Plump]

+1 for the Harbor Freight. New coupon for it too; think it's $12.99. I just bought one for the same sort of uses and I have absolutely no complaints. I MAY be a dummy (no comments please) but the instructions make no mention of flipping over the inside washer to use a cutting wheel versus a grinding wheel. Luckily, it is mentioned in the video online after I had pondered whether that was the case. I didn't want to do it and have the thing blast a grinder wheel at me.

 

[countrytech]

I'd use a grinder maybe once a month (tops) and most of those times it would be with a brush, not disk.... I'm simply not going to go out and dump a lot of money into something I will hardly use. The price of a single higher end grinder is more than the price of a combination of tools that will last me for a number of years simply due to the rarity I will use them. Plus I'd rather have a wider variety of tools to do a wider variety of tasks. Yes I would prefer to buy only quality, but at this point in my life, I have much more pressing needs.

 

[VWandDodge]

I can understand finances being tight; however, the money you "save" now will actually cost you in the long run. Either way, it's your choice; however, I learned long ago to spend once, cry once.

 

[PaulR]

Just put in my one-use review the other day in the HF thread. It works, I would NOT use it as my primary though. Paul

 

[Jeff]

A cheap tool, even though infrequently used, is not a good idea. It's not the "throw-it-away-when-broke' theory. But 'when-something-shoots-out-of-the-casing-into-my-eyeball-because-I-bought-such-a-cheap-tool' theory.

Amazon has a decent Bosch angle grinder that doesn't cost an arm, leg, or eyeball.

Bosch 1375A 4-1/2-Inch Angle Grinder $52.80

 

[jimp]

I got a couple cheap HF angle grinders, throwaways, and a IR (cost more than 10X) for when they failed. IR is still in the box. While I don't ues the HF everyday, I do use them alot for a non pro user.

 

[diggerrick]

I've had the $10 HF one for years and it always worked reliably, but never had much power. It's been relegated to wire wheel/surface conditioning disk duty since I bought a DEWALT from the pawn shop for $30.

Don't buy the cheap HF disks though. They are much more likely to fly apart than the grinder, and have never worked very well for me anyway.

 

[Jim Stabe]

I have been using (abusing) HF grinders for years and have yet to have one quit or feel the need for additional power. The last ones I bought are the paddle switch models http://www.harborfreight.com/4-1-2-half-inch-angle-grinder-with-paddle-switch-65519.html which I find to be much easier to use than the slide switch and less likely to jamb up from grinding grit. They are a little more but that is what I will buy from now on. I have several set up with different wheels so I don't have be changing them all the time.

 

[fr0mastaj]

I have the same Bosch one Sharkin posted. Also infrequent user, but has been solid so far. (only used with grinding and cut off wheel though)

But it is Made in China, FYI.

 

[KraftwerkMk1Jetta]

A cheap tool, even though infrequently used, is not a good idea. It's not the "throw-it-away-when-broke' theory. But 'when-something-shoots-out-of-the-casing-into-my-eyeball-because-I-bought-such-a-cheap-tool' theory.

Amazon has a decent Bosch angle grinder that doesn't cost an arm, leg, or eyeball.

Bosch 1375A 4-1/2-Inch Angle Grinder $52.80

B.S talk about exagerating. Any cheap tool will just flat out quit before it "blows out of the casing"

My 25 dollar crafstman has lasted 7 years and tons of use.

 

[stricht8]

One must be judicious when buying from HF but their angle grinders have indeed proven themselves. I have a drillmaster that I bought years ago for $8. I use it occasionally but I use it hard. It performs just fine. There is a reason why so many of us are recommending this tool. Excellent bang for the buck.

 

[coldfusion21]

I have an older makita that is 10 or so years old at least and works great.

I didn't like the cheap feel of the hf units my buddy had, but I loved not switching wheels. He had 3 or 4 with diff wheels but without a good plug situation your still plugging and unplugging them.

 

[crewchief888]

i have a couple of the orange HF models, been 4 years, only issue has been kinked cord in the past 5 years.

also have a dewalt and a hitachi.

FWIW the hitachi is a nice inexpensive grinder. mine came with a nice little case, and 5 or 10 grinding wheels for $30 or so at lowes.

 

[Vicegrip]

I have at least 5 DeWalts, one large Milwaukee and an old Bosch. I have yet to kill an angle grinder but the Bosch looks like I have tried to.

Your posts are worded in favor of getting a cheap $10 grinder. I recommend you do so.

 

[american lockpicker]

Get a new Makita. The ones I seen at Fastenal and Home Despot were American assembled.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

$10 for a grinder?
That's obscene.

 

[tool_enthusiast]

$10 for a grinder?
That's obscene.

Yup, that's Harbor Freight for you! I always see $9.99 coupons for the Drill Master brand at HF.

 

[northernborn99]

I picked up a millwakee 4 and a half inch at home depot for around 80 bucks. Yeh a lil more the HF but she works great. No problems with her.

You get what you pay for sometimes

 

[mchevelle]

Just buy a Metabo and be done. I started using them about 2 years ago and never reach for my dewalts anymore.

 

[Monte]

Lower vibration, more power/amps/torque, longer lasting bearings, brushes etc. features like anti-vibration handle, keyless adjustable guard, auto shut off brushes, safety clutch etc. speak for name brand power tools.

 

[LawnDart79]

I have one of the orange Harbor Freight grinders and it's held up fairly well.

The only reason I have it is because I forgot my grinder at home and needed one right away for a job I was doing.

I also have two small Makitas and one bigger Milwaukee. The HF grinder may not be as pretty, but it works pretty well for what it is. It now lives on my welding cart.

 

[domain]

I have owned this Ryobi for a few years and it hasent let me down yet. Seems to have decent power and not to mention a low price. I love the blow mold case and the swivel handle is nice in some situations.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...=3&catalogId=10053&langId=-1&ddkey=Navigation

 

[Alchymist]

Bought a Skil for my BIL for Christmas last - I think it was $29.99. Nice unit. Personally I have 3 of the HF - 4.5, 7, & 9 inch. Thinking about picking up another 4.5 just to keep one with a flap disk so I don't have to keep changing. And I beat the **** out of them sometimes; they seem to hold up well. The above poster was right about disks though, buy some good ones. HF disks are not the best. I like the Milwaukee grind disks, and Metabo flap disks.

 

[fflintstone]

For an inexpensive grinder I recommend the paddle switch upper end HF grinder is a great value.
http://www.harborfreight.com/power-...h-angle-grinder-with-paddle-switch-65519.html
They are always on sale for $29.99 so $24 with the coupon.

That being said, I loved my Milwaukee that got burned in the fire. I think I will replace it with a Metabo

 

[Buford T. Justice]

I have DeWalt I bought four years ago because I don't believe in the reasons many people buy H/F garbage like those mentioned above -- cheap and dies, you don't care, buy another, repeat. To me that is stupid and a waste of time and money. Why buy a half dozen pieces of junk for $9.00/ea when one can spent good money ONCE and have a tool that will last a lifetime.

another DeWalt here. I have used and abused mine for 8 solid years and still works as good as day 1 for me.

 

[-Brent-]

I didn't read more than the first 5-or-so posts after your question, but I'll add this. Instead of buying throw-away tools, buy a used quality one. I've done that with several of my favorite tools. I bought a Dewalt 4.5" new and it's used more than I would have expected. I'm like a surgeon with that thing!

Check your local pawn shops or Craigslist.

 

[GoBlue]

sounds like a great reason to buy an air compressor!

 

[humber2]

I have an older makita that is 10 or so years old at least and works great.

I didn't like the cheap feel of the hf units my buddy had, but I loved not switching wheels. He had 3 or 4 with diff wheels but without a good plug situation your still plugging and unplugging them.

Having 3 small ones assigned to grinding, cutting and a wire wheel is where I'm at.

Small units are too easy to select before reaching for the 7 or 9 inch heavyweights but every occasional job has to be assessed.

It's similar to using a large 3/8 drive socket when a small 3/4 drive would have been appropriate for truck lug nuts.

 

[sberry]

I didn't read more than the first 5-or-so posts after your question, but I'll add this. Instead of buying throw-away tools, buy a used quality one. I've done that with several of my favorite tools. I bought a Dewalt 4.5" new and it's used more than I would have expected. I'm like a surgeon with that thing!

Check your local pawn shops or Craigslist.

I got a box of broke DeWalts and some others. I would not be all that inclined to buy a used grinder more than a few dollars. I have also seen a lot of the HF things, about half them work so if one spends 10 on it you should figure another 10 so we are back to near the 30$ walmart special.
I specifically put one on the bench last year with instructions to use it, wanna see how far it goes. Only issue,, daily use,, has been a switch which we repair in about 10 minutes and it still flys. I would say its about the best small grinder I have ever used considering it cost 30$. I have had others I liked a bit better, not real fond of the switch, etc but the cost, reliability, power are hard to beat, mine has ran several boxes of wheels in severe service. A couple other guys in the welding biz have said the same thing. I almost giggle every time I use it realizing the tool investment x to turn a grinding wheel is in the pennies and I am about done with buying 100$ grinders. It should be listed in the tool hall of fame.

 

[cashishift]

I have DeWalt I bought four years ago because I don't believe in the reasons many people buy H/F garbage like those mentioned above -- cheap and dies, you don't care, buy another, repeat. To me that is stupid and a waste of time and money. Why buy a half dozen pieces of junk for $9.00/ea when one can spent good money ONCE and have a tool that will last a lifetime.

Preach it!

 

[ojh]

I use grinders very often, i have milwaukee and we all know that they work as promised. For about 20years i used an cheap black and decker, couldn't hurt it. When it gave up the ghost i thought i'd upgrade to dewalt - big mistake. The first dewalt lasted the week when something stupid broke on it, no big deal under warrantee and **** happens. I had to buy another and it lasted a few months, now i've got 2 of them and figure what the hell, they're spare parts and i bought a 3rd (i know the classic definition of a fool is somebody that does the same thing over and over while expects different results) the 3rd lasted a few years with a constance source of bearings from mcmaster-carr and pillaging the other 2. I then bought milwaukee and gave myself a good stern talk-to.